Otos strives to create a world where everyone has access to better hearing health. The team is one of 10 promising startups selected for the fifth Health Incubator Helsinki program in the spring of 2024.

By 2050, an estimated 2.5 billion people will experience hearing loss, causing an annual global cost of approximately $1 trillion. Despite the availability of high-quality hearing aids, most patients receive the right treatment too late.

Otos, an Aalto University research-to-business project, is committed to making hearing care more accessible and efficient on a global scale. With roots in the Biodesign Finland program and the HUS University Hospital, the team brings together decades of experience in clinical practice, medical research, audiology technology, engineering, and business development.

Answering the demand for streamlined diagnostics

Hearing loss, particularly in the elderly, often leads to social isolation and cognitive decline that can affect both the patients and their loved ones. Still, around 80% of individuals with hearing loss remain undiagnosed.

Saku Sinkkonen and Ville Sivonen, Clinical Experts and Researchers at Otos, have worked over 15 years with patients of various ages and levels of hearing impairment at HUS University Hospital’s ENT department. They see the current diagnostic process as a major barrier to timely treatment.

“The system is too complex. In Finland, for instance, a person with hearing loss must undergo several rounds of testing and appointments before finally receiving a hearing aid,” Sivonen explains.

Otos offers a solution that allows clinicians to diagnose multiple patients in just minutes.

“Our goal is to make hearing care as simple and accessible as getting glasses from an optician,” Sinkkonen summarizes.

Ville Sivonen, Wycliffe Raduma, Tanja Tervonen and Saku Sinkkonen from Otos

Optimizing resources with advanced technology and automation

The current care pathway not only delays treatment but also ties up valuable healthcare resources. Moreover, the global shortage of ENT specialists and audiologists highlights the pressing need for new solutions.

Otos tackles this challenge through advanced technology and automation.

“Modern technology allows us to capture detailed images of the ear and measure hearing thresholds accurately using automation. This provides clinicians with reliable data for both diagnosis and referrals,” says Wycliffe Raduma, Commercial and Technical Lead at Otos.

The high-quality data enables early detection and intervention, while also supporting better resource allocation and care pathways.

“Instead of allocating equal time to every patient, we can quickly distinguish between those with age-related hearing loss and those whose condition requires more in-depth clinical attention. This frees up clinicians’ time to focus on more complex cases”, Raduma notes.

Aiming for global impact

Launched as an R2B project in 2023, Otos has already conducted clinical investigations at Helsinki University Hospital, along with usability studies completed at Aalto University. The team is now focusing on refining their solution and preparing for entry into the U.S. market.

“We see the U.S. as a particularly promising market for us, and our next step is to obtain FDA approval. We also plan to apply MDR certification in Europe, and pilot our solution in Finland to gather more data”, explains Team Lead Tanja Tervonen.

Tervonen emphasizes that no one develops a medical device alone, which is why the team applied to Health Incubator Helsinki in the spring of 2024.

“The experts at Health Incubator Helsinki have wide networks in the health sector, both in Finland and internationally. We also wanted to join to get help with regulatory matters and connect with the community, including mentors and other companies”, she says.

In addition to the support from Health Incubator Helsinki mentors, the team has been excited to see the growth of Helsinki’s health ecosystem.

“When I worked on a medical device with a small team in 2011, support networks like this didn’t exist at all. It’s great to see how the ecosystem has evolved, with initiatives like Health Incubator Helsinki, Biodesign Finland, Spark Finland and Terkko Health Hub now helping companies move forward in their journey”, Raduma concludes.

Otos is currently looking for funding. If you’re interested in collaborating with the project, please contact the team!

Contact details:

Tanja Tervonen, Team Lead

tanja.tervonen(at)aalto.fi

+358 40 024 0800

Check out all the companies in the Health Incubator Helsinki program.

Text: Saana Lehtinen, Uoma Media Oy

Photos: Otos