The New and Improved Flex Toy

We’ve been hard at work throughout 2025 building some exciting new things at Flex. One project we’re especially excited to share in 2026 is the next generation of the Flex Toy Visual Reinforcement Audiometry System.

The original goal was simple. We wanted to convert the Flex Toy to our zoned radio-frequency wireless technology to make installation easier and improve compatibility with our wireless video reinforcers. But once we opened the box and started updating internal components, it became clear that this was an opportunity to rethink Flex Toy entirely and push traditional toy VRA further.

The problem with traditional toy VRA

I’ll admit something up front. I’ve never been a huge fan of traditional toy VRA.

At Flex, we design VRA systems to not only capture attention, but to hold interest and genuinely delight patients and families during a hearing evaluation. The idea of lighting up the same box with the same figure inside, over and over, has always felt a bit underwhelming.

So, if we were going to redesign the Flex Toy, it couldn’t just be another box that lights up a figure. It had to approach reinforcement differently.

The flashing LED light bar had to go

One early thought was simple: if novelty matters, maybe we change the color of the flashing light each time the toy activates.

Old Flex Toy

Still boring.

So we went further. We removed the traditional light bar entirely and replaced it with a dynamic light panel capable of producing different colors and patterns on every activation. That change made an immediate difference.

New Flex Toy

Now, each activation produces a new light pattern dancing around the border of the toy.

We placed early versions into trial sites, and the feedback was unanimous:“The kids LOVE it.” That was all the confirmation we needed to make it a permanent part of the new design.

Reducing mechanical parts and breakage

The original Flex Toy contained a number of moving parts, boards, speakers, and gears that were vulnerable to breakage during shipping or installation. If we were rebuilding the system, that risk had to go away.

We upgraded the internal motors to a drop-resistant design, reinforced mounting for internal boards and speakers, and moved the external sound card inside the enclosure so it could not be accidentally disconnected. The result is a Flex Toy that is more durable and reliable than ever. Combined with wireless operation, the likelihood of mechanical issues is now extremely low.

Rethinking power

Wireless toys introduce a new challenge: power.

Audiology booths are notorious for having limited outlets, and with Flex Combo systems capable of supporting up to 6 reinforcers, requiring one outlet per device simply wasn’t realistic.

So we didn’t just rethink power for Flex Toy. We reworked power options across the Flex VRA system as a whole.

After a lot of trial and error, it’s now possible to run up to five reinforcers (monitors, toys, or any combination you can think of) from a single power outlet. Will that configuration be used every day? Probably not. But as someone who spent years installing systems, knowing you have flexible power options when you need them matters. The clinician may never notice, but the installation technician who’s an hour away from the nearest hardware store certainly will.

Looking ahead

To say we’re happy with the results of this redesign would be an understatement. Dare I say it...I’m genuinely excited about traditional toy VRA now.

Thank you to the audiologists whose feedback guided each design decision, and to our distribution partners who have patiently waited for this release.

We’re excited to usher in the new Flex Toy in 2026.