Behind the scenes at chip firm NXP

Research scientist Steven Daemen demonstrated hearing aids that use low-power chips and magnetic induction radio to communicate with each other.

With magnetic induction over a short distance, there is a low degradation of radio signal strength through the human body. This enables the hearing devices to communicate and to give a stereo effect to the wearer.

"It's important to have a bi-directional link," says Daemen. "Normal hearing devices miss a stereo effect."

Spacialisation, where sounds heard in the earphones appear to be coming from specific points in space rather than through the inside of the head, can be added via an external processor, NXP said.