If you've been keeping an eye on ReSound's lineup, you already know Vivia turned heads when it launched as one of the smallest AI-powered hearing aids on the market. GN has now followed it up with ReSound Sensia, which arrived in the U.S. in August 2026, and we're excited to offer it right here at Sioux Falls Audiology Associates.

What's Actually New Here

Sensia looks a lot like Vivia on the outside. The rechargeable microRIE has the same compact form factor and the same two-chip hardware, including a dedicated deep neural network (DNN) chip. What's changed is how the hearing aid decides when and how to use that processing power, and that's where things get interesting.

At the center of Sensia is a feature called AcoustIQ. Think of it as the traffic controller inside the hearing aid. It listens to your environment, sorts speech from noise, and decides which processing tools to turn on and when. GN reports that AcoustIQ is 88% more accurate at classifying environments and engaging the right features than the closest competing premium hearing aid. It also keeps things simple. Rather than guessing, it looks at the levels of speech and noise around you and turns on the features that fit, so the right help arrives when you need it.

Sensia also doesn't automatically treat music as its own environment. A hearing aid can't know whether you want to hear the band or the friend across the table, so Sensia prioritizes speech in its automatic program. When you want to focus on the music, you can switch to a dedicated music program.

Here's the part patients tend to notice most. In the premium level 9 rechargeable microRIE, Sensia automatically combines its 4-microphone beamforming with DNN noise reduction when conversation gets challenging. Instead of simply boosting whoever happens to be loudest, it's designed to favor the person you're facing. At a busy table where another voice nearby is louder than the friend you're talking with, Sensia works to keep your focus on the person in front of you. You already turn toward the people you want to hear, and Sensia is built to follow that natural cue.

Vivia vs. Sensia

So which one is right for you? Vivia remains an excellent choice, especially for patients who want GN's AI-driven sound processing in a proven, well-established package. Sensia builds on that foundation with:

• Automatic speech-in-noise support in level 9, with no need to switch programs yourself
• More accurate environment classification through AcoustIQ
• All-day battery life, rated at about 24 hours of typical use in the rechargeable microRIE and custom ITC/ITE styles
• Auracast broadcast audio that works right out of the box on wireless models
• New bimodal options designed to work alongside Cochlear Nucleus sound processors

Sensia comes in several styles and technology levels, and the features vary between them. The fully automatic experience described above is available in the level 9 microRIE. Level 7 includes DNN noise reduction through a dedicated hearing-in-noise program you select when you need it, and the custom in-ear styles use directional focus without DNN processing at launch. Dr. Norgaard will help you understand exactly what each option offers so you can choose with confidence.

If your biggest complaint with hearing aids has always been "I can hear that everyone's talking, I just can't tell who I should be focused on," Sensia was built with exactly that frustration in mind.

Who May Do Well With Sensia

Sensia may be a strong fit if you spend real time in group conversations, whether that's family dinners, church groups, or meetings where several people are talking at once. It's also worth considering if you've tried a hearing aid before and felt like it amplified everything equally instead of helping you focus on what mattered. If you'd rather put your hearing aids in and go without adjusting settings throughout the day, the level 9 automatic program is designed for exactly that. And if you or a family member uses a Cochlear Nucleus processor, GN's new bimodal models are worth a conversation on their own.

That said, no single hearing aid is the right answer for every person. Your hearing loss configuration, lifestyle, and what you actually struggle to hear all factor into whether Sensia, Vivia, or something else entirely makes the most sense for you.

See What Sensia Sounds Like for Yourself

Reading about a hearing aid only gets you so far. The real test is hearing it in your own ears, in the situations where you actually struggle, whether that's a crowded restaurant or a living room full of grandkids talking over each other.

Dr. Mandy Rounseville-Norgaard has built her practice around understanding exactly what that frustration feels like. She's worn hearing devices herself since she was 3 years old, and that perspective shapes how she walks patients through choosing the right technology instead of just handing them the newest thing on the shelf.

If you're in Sioux Falls and curious whether ReSound Sensia is the upgrade you've been waiting for, give us a call at 605-306-3050 to schedule a consultation. We'll talk through how Sensia performs in real conversations, compare it with Vivia and the other options we carry, and help you find the hearing aid that fits your life, not just your ears.