2025 CARL State of the Art

Happy New Year! 

As we look towards the future of the hearing industry in 2025, CARL is being used more than ever to facilitate better learning, better care, and better technology. Below we will dive into CARL state of the art for 2025, and the ways in which CARL will continue to be implemented by users around the world in 2025.

1. End to End Applications

2025 marks the year where CARL has end to end applications for the hearing industry. With the addition of the hearing loss simulator and masking in 2024, CARL is more complete than ever. CARL has been proven to be an industry leader in facilitating early career education and training, but applications for professional development, learning and development programs, and even engaging with patients are continuing to grow.

  • Training Programs: A stand in patient to incorporate hands-on learning in as many courses as possible, to minimize chance of harm, standardize training, and to deliver an exceptional trainee experience.

  • Hearing Clinics: Incorporating more hands-on learning opportunities in existing Learning and Development programs, reskilling or upskilling staff members, and demonstrating technology to patients and family members.

  • Device Manufacturers: Development, testing, and validation of hearing devices/technology, demonstration of technology to customers, training customers on new technologies.



2. Enhanced Connectivity for Ease of Use in New Environments and On-the-go Use

The Flagship CARL Pro unit that has microphones in his ear canals and facilitates audiometry, masking, and a hearing demo with hearing loss, has undergone several improvements leading in 2025. These improvements are guided around increasing the ease of use of CARL, while opening up new and exciting ways to make the most of him.

  • Wireless Connectivity - Instead of always having to hardwire your CARL Pro into your computer, you can now connect CARL wirelessly through WiFi. This both reduces the number of parts that are required to operate CARL, and simplifies the set up of CARL. Whether connecting to CARL in a sound booth, making recordings from CARL while in a different room, or you want to sit a little farther away than a cord allows, all of that is now possible.

  • Compatible With Any Computer with No Software Downloads Required - CARL Pro was originally supplied with a Chromebook for operating the included software. With these new improvements in 2025, CARL is capable of connecting to any computer of your choosing, and no longer includes the Chromebook in the package. This reduces the number of laptops/equipment you need in your set up, opens up new ways to use CARL such as with an iPad on-the-go, and makes use cases such as a hearing loss recording even easier to save directly to your own computer.

3. Customized and Improved CARL Accessories

  • CARL Ears - Improved ear models to facilitate more realistic training. In particular, the lower crus of the antihelix is now disconnected from the helix allowing for impression material to more realistically fill the gaps directly above the concha, and allow for better removal of the impression material after curing.

  • CARL Mounts - Two mounts are now available for CARL depending on the set up. The Desk Mount (https://aheadsimulations.com/products/mount) is mainly used for desktop setups for hearing aid fitting or cerumen management (while not taking up desk space and swinging out of the way when not in use). The Floor Mount (https://aheadsimulations.com/products/mount?variant=42836951859376) is typically used for CARL Pro when making freefield recordings for CARL, moving him in and out of a sound booth, or for a set up where attaching to a desk is not possible.

  • CARL Carrying Case - The new CARL carrying case is carry-on size meaning he can travel very easily, and has custom foam folders for additional ear anatomies on the go. The carrying case facilitates CARL on the move for community events,  travelling trainers, travelling reps, or consistent shipping location to location.


What's Next for CARL

  • More Local Distribution Options for CARL - With CARL's full capability within the clinical workflow, AHead is partnering with organizations around the world to act as a CARL distributor in new regions. This means more local support, local demonstrations, and communication in your own languages.
  • Integration with Theta Audiology Simulator - The Theta Audiology Simulator (https://audiologysimulator.com/) has been making waves since its introduction for an easy computer-based case-based simulation software for Audiology. CARL is now compatible and integrated Theta to pair extensive case-based tools with hands-on learning with CARL. Get in touch with Theta or AHead for more details.

  • Expanding on Hearing Demo Use Case - After promising interest and feedback regarding CARL Pro's Hearing Loss Simulator, we are continuing to facilitate the CARL Hearing Aid Demo use case for both clinicians and patients to learn and experience new hearing devices.

Still have questions? Be sure to send us as email at sales@aheadsimulations.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can!

Happy 2025! 

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