His grandpa paid $4,700 for a hearing aid that barely worked. So Ramin Syed and two McMaster classmates built one for $20. The idea started after Ramin watched his grandfather struggle to hear for 18 months. When the device finally arrived, it was noisy, expensive, and disappointing. So they studied the ear itself. Instead of building another tiny computer, they designed Amano to work with the ear’s natural ability to amplify sound. It’s 3D-printed, custom-made from an ear photo and a quick hearing test. Cost to make: $1. Retail price: $20. Now they’re testing with Harvard Medical School. Three students saw a broken industry and made it harder to defend.
