An in-depth look at Fortell’s artificial intelligence, real-world performance, clinical evidence, advantages, limitations, and the growing opportunity for more accessible AI-powered hearing technology.
The biggest problem with hearing aids isn’t always hearing louder.
Imagine sitting in a crowded restaurant. You hear the music, clattering dishes, and nearby conversations—but struggle to understand the person across from you. This is the cocktail party problem: separating speech from competing sounds.
Traditional hearing aids amplify all sounds and attempt to reduce background noise, but distinguishing one voice from competing noise remains a major challenge.
Fortell aims to solve this problem using artificial intelligence that separates speech from competing sounds, helping users understand conversations in noisy environments. Its approach has attracted media attention and encouraging laboratory results.
What is Fortell?
Fortell makes premium prescription receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids designed to improve speech understanding through AI-powered voice enhancement.
Rather than simply making everything louder, Fortell combines specialized processing hardware, neural-network algorithms, and professional audiological fitting to help wearers focus on conversations while reducing competing sounds.
How Fortell’s AI hearing technology works
1. AI-powered speech separation
Traditional hearing aids use microphones, directional processing, and noise reduction to improve listening. However, competing voices are particularly difficult to filter because they share many of the same characteristics as the desired speech.
Fortell uses neural networks to analyze incoming audio, distinguish speech from interference, and reduce competing sounds in real time. The goal is clearer conversations, even when multiple people are talking.
2. Specialized hardware for real-time processing
Hearing aids must run sophisticated algorithms within strict limits on size, battery life, and processing delay.
Fortell incorporates a dedicated machine-learning coprocessor designed to run its AI efficiently. Integrating hardware and software helps deliver real-time speech enhancement without relying on cloud processing.
3. Listening modes for different situations
Fortell offers several modes to accommodate different listening environments:
- All-Day AI: Reduces background noise while preserving voices from different directions.
- Front Voices: Prioritizes speech from the front while suppressing competing voices behind the wearer.
- Conventional mode: Provides a more traditional hearing-aid experience.
- Live Music: Offers an alternative processing approach for musical environments.
These options allow wearers to choose between hearing a group conversation, focusing on someone directly ahead, or enjoying music.
Does Fortell actually improve speech understanding?
Fortell’s technology has produced encouraging results in both company-reported studies and independent laboratory testing.
In September 2026, HearingTracker reviewed Fortell’s hearing aids using testing from HearAdvisor, an independent hearing-aid evaluation laboratory. The review reported a SoundScore of 6.0 and exceptionally strong speech-in-noise performance, suggesting meaningful advantages over many premium prescription hearing aids.
However, laboratory scores cannot guarantee identical results for every wearer. Outcomes depend on hearing profile, fit, listening mode, and environment.
Fortell has reported a randomized, blinded study in which its Front Voices technology improved speech intelligibility in challenging multitalker noise. The company reported a 9.2-decibel signal-to-noise ratio improvement over the next-best AI source-separation competitor under the specific test conditions, alongside favorable user-preference results.
These findings are promising, but company-reported research should be distinguished from independent testing and long-term real-world outcomes. The evidence supports Fortell’s potential to improve speech understanding in noise—not a guarantee that it will eliminate every hearing difficulty.
The advantages of Fortell
Fortell has several notable strengths:
- Addresses a major unmet need: Speech understanding in noise remains a common source of hearing-aid dissatisfaction.
- Includes professional care: Personalized fitting and follow-up adjustments can help optimize performance.
- Continues to improve its AI: Model updates may enhance performance without requiring entirely new hardware.
For people whose primary frustration is understanding speech in noisy environments, Fortell is worth considering.
The drawbacks: price, access, and convenience
Despite its technological promise, Fortell is not an option for everyone.
The price is substantial
Fortell lists its prescription hearing aids at $6,800 per pair. The price includes a broader care package, including five years of audiological care, a three-year warranty, and a 100-day home trial according to its published product information.
That package provides more than the hardware alone. Professional fitting, follow-up care, and warranty protection have real value.
Nevertheless, $6,800 is a considerable investment, particularly for consumers whose insurance or Medicare benefits do not cover the purchase.
Access requires a clinic-based process
Fortell’s model emphasizes hearing evaluations, personalized demonstrations, and professional fitting. This can improve the experience for people who want hands-on support, but it also introduces practical barriers.
Consumers must be able to reach a clinic for the initial evaluation and fitting. Currently there are only 4 locations:
- New York City: 530 Park Avenue
- Greenwich, Connecticut: 380 Greenwich Avenue
- Palm Beach, Florida: 100 Village Crossing
- Boston, Massachusetts: 2 Newbury Street
That may mean traveling, taking time off work, or arranging multiple appointments. For people not living in those cities, the cost and geographic requirements may make access difficult.
A prescription device is not right for everyone
Fortell is designed for adults with hearing loss who are candidates for prescription hearing aids. Its technology should not be assumed to suit every hearing profile or to replace an audiological evaluation.
Anyone experiencing new or unexplained hearing loss should seek appropriate medical evaluation, especially if the loss is sudden or accompanied by other concerning symptoms.
The bottom line: Fortell is promising, but advanced hearing technology should be more accessible
That raises an important question: does experiencing advanced AI-powered speech enhancement necessarily require spending thousands of dollars and visiting a specialty clinic?
Fortell deserves credit for focusing on one of hearing technology’s hardest problems: understanding speech when multiple voices and background sounds compete for attention. Its specialized AI processing, dedicated hardware, published research, and encouraging independent laboratory results distinguish it from many conventional hearing-aid offerings.
Its $6,800 price may be reasonable for some consumers who value the complete prescription-care package. But price and access remain significant barriers for many people who simply want to understand conversations more easily.
The broader opportunity is to make advanced voice-extraction technology available to more people, without requiring every consumer to enter the same expensive, clinic-based purchasing process.
The ClearCast AIR offers an alternative for consumers seeking AI-powered speech extraction technology at a fraction of Fortell’s price.
Developed by an ENT surgeon, ClearCast partnered with a Stanford Univeristy led team to develop a custom AI chip that can identify and enhance voices while reducing competing background noise. ClearCast AIR is designed to bring that voice-focused listening approach to a discreet, portable, rechargeable device that can be ordered online and shipped directly to the customer’s home.
At under $400 a pair, it is 90% less than Fortell’s $6,800 prescription system.
For people who want to experience the benefits of advanced AI speech-isolating technology without a major financial commitment or a trip to a distant clinic, ClearCast AIR is an appealing, accessible option. The company also offers a 45 day risk-free in-home trial so customers can see if ClearCast AIR is right for them.
Explore the ClearCast AIR – Voice isolating FDA-registered AI-powered hearing – as low as $399.99 a pair.