Case Study: Knowles Corporation achieves faster, more accurate hearing‑aid feedback control with Comsol

Engineers at Knowles bring the hearing aid industry together to fi ght feedback with multiphysics simulation

Knowles Corporation, a global leader in hearing‑aid transducers and acoustic components, faced persistent feedback problems that lengthened product development cycles (commonly 2–6 years). Engineers needed simpler, robust transducer models to predict how tiny receivers couple electrical, mechanical and acoustic physics in compact hearing‑aid packages. To validate and apply these simplified models, Knowles used the Comsol Multiphysics simulation platform from vendor Comsol.

Working with Comsol, Knowles converted a streamlined "black box" electroacoustic circuit into a coupled vibroacoustic finite‑element model and validated it against standardized tests (including a 2‑cc coupler and complex tubing) measuring sound pressure level and structural forces/torque. The Comsol simulations showed excellent agreement with measurements, enabling designers to rapidly compare hundreds of transducers, reduce feedback risk, and accelerate and economize hearing‑aid development while improving device performance for users.

Knowles Corporation

Brenno Varanda

Senior Electroacoustic Engineer