Vivatone Hearing Systems

Vivatone Hearing Systems was a pioneering medical device company in the audiology sector, credited with inventing the Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE) hearing aid technology. Their signature "Totally Open Canal" (TOC) design addressed the common patient complaint of the "occlusion effect" by keeping the ear canal unobstructed while delivering sound directly via a micro-speaker. This innovation significantly improved sound naturalness and comfort for individuals with mild-to-moderate high-frequency hearing loss. Headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, the company's intellectual property and operations were acquired by Great American Hearing in 2008. Vivatone's legacy continues as the RITE architecture has become a standard format across the global hearing aid industry.