Hearing 101

Soundtracks, Science, and New Horizons: Meet Dr. Matthew Seldine, Au.D.

Dr. Matthew Seldine, Au.D., brings a lifelong love of sound to Fortell's new Palm Beach clinic.

What an Audiogram Tells You (and What It Doesn't)

An audiogram maps what you hear, but not always how you experience sound day to day. Learn more.

Meet Our New NYC Audiologist: Dr. Janet Kim, Au.D.

From a psychology major at JMU to top-tier clinical work at Cornell, Dr. Janet Kim brings both expertise and heart to Fortell's Park Avenue clinic.

What to expect during your first Fortell appointment

Learn what happens during your first 90-minute appointment at a Fortell clinic.

How Fortell Helped Howard Show Up for Life Again

Howard tried hearing aids for 15 years with no luck. Then he found Fortell. Read his story of rediscovering sound, connection, and confidence.

Meet Dr. Mitch Aquilina, Palm Beach Clinic Director

Dr. Mitch Aquilina grew up in South Florida, trained at UF, and has spent his career helping patients hear better. Learn what brought him to Fortell.

Meet Fortell Greenwich Director of Audiology Dr. Samantha Morgan, Au.D.

Meet Dr. Samantha Morgan, Au.D., Director of Audiology at Fortell Greenwich.

The science behind the small signs you need a hearing test

Learn what's actually happening in your ear and brain, and why getting tested sooner matters.

Inside the Booth: What Happens During a Hearing Test?

People wait an average of ten years after noticing hearing problems before doing anything about it. But getting a hearing test is simpler than you might expect.

How Fortell Helped Eugene Reclaim His Core Sense of Self

Eugene's core identity centered on listening and connection. His hearing loss slowly chipped away at this sense of self until he discovered Fortell.

Why Can I Hear But Not Understand? The Case for Speech in Noise Testing

A person might understand speech perfectly well in a quiet room but struggle enormously in a restaurant, a car, or a crowded hallway. Learn why.

How Fortell Helped Libby Rewrite Her Retirement Story

Libby had cycled through many pairs of hearing aids over the span of 20 years. It wasn't until she found Fortell that she felt her hearing had finally improved.

The Cocktail Party Problem: Why Isolating a Single Voice is One of Science's Hardest Challenges

Despite all the competing voices in a crowded room, a healthy hearing person is able to lean in and follow a conversation. Learn why.

How Fortell Helped Andres Move Past the Limits of Hearing Loss

Andres had tried other hearing aids, but found them irritating to wear. He often pulled them out of his ears in loud environments because the sounds were painful. Now, with Fortell, he keeps his hearing aids in all day.

Why Can't I Hear in Restaurants? The Science Behind the Struggle

Restaurants are one of the hardest place to hear — even with hearing aids. This guide explains why.

How Fortell Helped a New Yorker Reclaim Her Love of the City

For years, progressive hearing loss had begun to shrink Susane's world. Learn how Fortell AI Hearing Aids helped her reclaim her sense of confidence.

How Fortell Helped this Artist Reconnect with Her World

When you’re an international artist, communication is everything. For Meryl, conventional hearing aids weren’t cutting it. They amplified both speech and noise, leaving her struggling to follow conversations in noisy places. Read Meryl’s story to see how Fortell helped her reconnect to the things that matter most: art, theater, and the people she loves.

How Do AI Hearing Aids Work?

Is AI the key to clearer hearing? Many hearing aids now feature AI, but they don't all use it in the same way or to solve the same problem. Learn how Fortell's AI helps you focus on the people you want to hear while naturally softening the background noise around you.

How Fortell Helped Rajen Find His Way Back to the Family Table

After two decades of missing pieces of the conversation and withdrawing from family dinners, retired finance director Rajen thought he’d simply lost his seat at the table. See how he got back in the conversation with Fortell.

Back in the action: How Fortell helped Jon restore his social life

Fortell’s AI-powered hearing aids helped Jon cut through background noise and enjoy conversations again. Read his story.

Why Fortell Built its Own AI Chip, and Why it Matters

For thirty years, hearing aids relied on rigid sound processing that struggled to separate speech from background noise. To break this ceiling, Fortell bypassed off-the-shelf components to design a custom, AI-native chip.

Signal Over Noise: How Fortell Helped Cory Reclaim the Conversation

Cory struggled with hearing aids and eventually decided not to wear them at all. He relied on lip reading for 15 years, until he discovered Fortell.

A Letter from the Founders of Fortell

The story of how Fortell came to be. Most people understand hearing loss as an ear problem. But that’s only half the story.

About Hearing Loss

Most people understand hearing loss as an ear problem. But that’s only half the story.

In Blinded Trial, 95% of Participants Preferred Fortell Over Top Competitors

From the start, our mission at Fortell has been to build a hearing aid worth building: one that would sound meaningfully better in noise.

Clinical Trial Demonstrates Breakthrough Intelligibility Gains with Fortell