The Future of Cognitive Auditory Intelligence
Our Story: From Personal Challenge to Global Impact
From Personal Struggle to a Global Mission
HearGym was founded by Andrew Huang and Clarisse Huang, two mission-driven innovators who witnessed firsthand how the world overlooks the critical link between hearing and the cognitive understanding.
●A Personal Catalyst—Andrew Huang’s Story
●Grown up in San Francisco Bay Area, Andrew was identified in elementary school as both a gifted student and a child with early-stage hearing loss. This duality shaped his commitment to building tools for people facing similar hurdles. A perfect SAT scorer (1600) and STEM advocate, Andrew founded HearGym as CEO and technology development, and co-founded Hearing Advocacy Action with Clarisse Huang.
●Bridging the Gap—Clarisse Huang
●Clarisse’s experience across Taiwan and California revealed a universal truth: students struggle quietly with listening fatigue and comprehension. As a President of Business Club in high school and co-founder of Hearing Advocacy for Teens Action, she partnered with Andrew to move beyond advocacy and into life-changing innovation. Clarisse leads the business development as COO in HearGym.
Mission, Vision & Identity
"Train your brain, not just ears. Stop the hearing decline."
●Our Mission: To provide the world’s first adaptive neuro-auditory training system that helps people not just hear, but understand.
●Our Vision: To set a new global standard in auditory-cognitive health, ensuring that hearing difficulty never leads to cognitive decline or social isolation.
What is HearGym?
More Than a Device—It’s Preventative Care for Your auditorial cognition.
HearGym is a consumer cognitive training platform designed for cognitive listening optimization. It functions like a "gym for your brain," specifically targeting the neural pathways involved in processing sound and speech.
●Companion for Hearing Aids:We fill the technical void by training the brain to process the signals that hearing aids provide.
●Preventative Neuro-Care: By keeping auditory pathways active, HearGym acts as a shield against the onset of dementia and cognitive decline.
●Holistic Wellness:Our system addresses the secondary effects of hearing struggle, including sleeping disorders and the mental fatigue caused by "listening effort".
●Active Training: Every conversation, song, or video becomes a personalized "brain gym" session that strengthens auditory cognition.
The Problem We Solve: The "Unmet Middle"
We Serve the Millions Left Behind by Traditional Audiology
We serve the millions of people who fall through the cracks of traditional hearing care:
●The Early-Stage Strugglers: Those noticing hearing decline but who are not yet "ready" for clinical hearing aids.
●The Non-Adherent Users: The 65% of people who own hearing aids but don't wear them consistently because they don't solve the "understanding" problem.
●The Disconnected Seniors: Those who can hear sounds through their devices but find the meaning of words remains blurry—a leading cause of social withdrawal.
●The High-Risk Group: Individuals at risk of hearing-loss-induced dementia who need proactive, neuro-cognitive intervention.
The Innovation: HearGym + AIONA system
Headline:The World’s First Adaptive Neuro-Auditory Training System.
Our solution combines cutting-edge hardware with intelligent software to close the loop between the ear and the brain.
The Hardware: HearGym Helmet
●Multi-Sensor Fusion: Equipped with EEG (brainwave monitoring), eye-tracking, andHRV (heart rate variability) sensors to capture real-time physiological data.
●Behavioral Tracking: Monitors user engagement and listening signals continuously.
●System Architecture Overview
1. Bone Conduction (BC) Acoustic Stimulation
2. Multimodal Sensing(EEG / Pupillometry / HRV)
3. Mobile App (HMI)
4. LEI Calculation Engine
5. OPB Calibration Engine
6. AIONA AI Closed-Loop Regulation Engine
●Subsystem of HearGym Helmet
Subsystem Part / Spec
MCU/Connectivity ESP32-S3-WROOM
Audio Amp/DAC MAX98357A (I²S)
Bone Conduction Drivers 16 mm transducers, 8 Ω, 1 W
EEG AFE 2–4 ch dry-electrode module
EEG Electrodes Dry, snap-in pads ×2–4
MEMS Mic (opt.) ICS-43434 (I²S)
Battery 3.7 V Li-ion 1200–1500 mAh
Charging/PMIC TP4056/MP2615 + fuel gauge
Haptics + LEDs 10 mm coin motor + RGB LED
Sensors (opt.) 6-axis IMU
PCB/Interconnect 4-layer main + FFC
Mechanics PC/ABS shell, rails, ratchet
Padding/Liners Silicone + foam kit
Fasteners/Gaskets Screws, O-rings, clips
●The core of the HearGym architecture is a Dual Closed-Loop System:
〇Auditory Task Adjustment Loop
〇Cognitive Load Monitoring Loop
The Software: AIONA System
The Software: AIONA System
Adaptive Intelligence: AIONA analyzes sensor data to measure "listening effort."
Real-Time Adjustment: It automatically adjusts speech clarity and audio profiles in real-time based on the user's cognitive load.
System Interaction Workflow
1.Preparation: User puts on the HearGym device.
2.Connectivity: The App establishes an automatic connection.
3.Initiation: User selects "Start Training."
4.Stimulation: Simultaneous activation of Bone Conduction + tES (transcranial Electrical Stimulation).
5.Data Acquisition: Multimodal data (EEG / Pupils / HRV) is transmitted to the App.
6.AI Analysis: The AI engine calculates the LEI (Listening Effort Index).
7.Real-time Optimization: If the user deviates from the OPB (Personalized Plasticity) target, the system automatically adjusts the stimulation intensity and task difficulty.
8.Completion: Session ends à Display progress report à Provide recommendations for the next day's training.
What Makes HearGym Unique?
HearGym stands alone because it combines:
●EEG + pupil + HRV + RT sensing
●Real-time LEI + OPB personalization
●Closed-loop signal optimization
●Dual-path (bone + air) conduction
Horizontal comparison
Feature HearGym Hearing Aids Earbuds Training Apps
Physical indicator sensing ✔ × × ×
Optimal plasticity calibration
Listening effort index AI
RT-based training ✔ × × ×
Closed-loop audio adaptation ✔ × × ×
Cognitive Load Monitoring
Daily passive training ✔ × × ×
The Meaning of HearGym Logo
The HearGym logo represents a belief that hearing is more than what the ears receive—it is what the brain understands.
The ear symbolizes sound input, but the brain at the center reflects where true hearing happens. Sound waves only become meaning when the auditory nerves and neural pathways are actively engaged, trained, and strengthened. Without the brain, hearing is incomplete.
This is why our logo connects the ear to the brain: to show that hearing is a cognitive process, not just a physical one. It embodies our mission to move beyond amplification and toward understanding.
Train your brain, not just ears.
HearGym stands for Cognitive Auditory Intelligence—a new way of thinking about hearing health, where we train the brain to interpret sound, restore comprehension, and protect long-term auditory cognition.
This logo is not just a symbol of hearing.
It is a symbol of understanding, resilience, and the future of auditory care.
FAQ
Q: I already have hearing aids, but I still can't understand what people are saying. Why?
A: This is the most common complaint among seniors. After years of hearing loss, the brain’s "understanding center" becomes weak. Hearing aids bring the sound in, but your brain doesn't know what to do with it. HearGym acts as a companion for hearing aids, providing the "physical therapy" your brain needs to turn those amplified sounds back into meaningful words.
Q: I don’t have "hearing loss" yet. Is this for me?
A: Yes. We call this the "Sub-clinical Gap." Many adults pass standard hearing tests but feel they have to "strain" to listen. HearGym uses the Listening Effort Index (LEI) to detect this strain before it becomes a disability. It’s "Pre-hab" for your brain—keeping your cognitive processing sharp so you stay engaged in your professional and social life longer.
Q: How does "Cognitive Training" actually feel?
A: It feels like a personalized brain workout. Through our multimodal sensors (tracking your brainwaves and behavior indicators), the system knows exactly when your brain is working too hard. It adjusts the difficulty in real-time to trigger neuroplasticity—literally rewiring your brain to process sound more efficiently.
Q: What is the "Unfair Advantage" of HearGym’s technology?
A: We own the Dual Closed-loop Architecture. Unlike generic "brain game" apps, HearGym integrates real-time physiological data (EEG + Pupil + HRV). We aren't guessing if the user is focused; we are measuring it. This allows for OPB Optimal Plasticity Band), a system that adapts at the speed of thought. Our strong patent portfolio protects this hardware-software integration, making it extremely difficult for competitors to replicate.
Q: What is the value of the "Proprietary Dataset"?
A: Data is the new oil. We are currently the only entity collecting large-scale, synchronized data on how the human brain struggles with auditory signals in real-world environments. This dataset is a goldmine for future AI development in MedTech, Longevity, and even consumer electronics (like "Smart" earbuds), creating a massive valuation moat.
Q: Why is the "Consumer" positioning better than "Medical"?
A: Speed to market. By positioning as Consumer Cognitive Training, we bypass the 5-7 year clinical trial cycles required for "therapy" devices while still delivering science-backed results. This allows us to scale globally, capture the "Aging Well" market immediately, and establish HearGym as the household name for auditory fitness.
Q: What is the "Listening Effort Index" (LEI) and why is it a game-changer?
A: Before HearGym, "listening effort" was invisible and subjective. LEI makes it quantifiable. For the user, it’s a progress bar for their brain health. For the clinician or investor, it is a standardized metric that proves the intervention is working. It turns "I think I hear better" into "My LEI score improved by 30%, and my cognitive load is down."
Q: Does this prevent Dementia?
A: While we do not claim to treat medical conditions, the Lancet Commission has identified mid-life hearing strain as the number one preventable risk factor for dementia. By reducing the cognitive load required to listen, HearGym aims to keep the brain active, healthy, and connected, potentially delaying the onset of cognitive decline.
Q: Why is now the right time for this technology?
A: We are seeing a "perfect convergence":
Mainstream Acceptance: AirPods have made audio enhancement normal.
Tech Growth: Consumer neurotech is rising (e.g., Muse).
The Crisis: Global noise levels and "remote work" cognitive load have skyrocketed.
AI Capability: AI now allows for the real-time personalization required to train the brain.
Contacts
HearGym Introduction Video
