Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#1

Post by chmaynard » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 5:12 AM UTC

Using AirPods as a hearing aid
daringfireball.net

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#2

Post by deafpolygon » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 5:54 AM UTC

As a deaf person, I don't use Airpods. But I'm aware of hearing aids and their pricing. AirPods are far far cheaper than hearing aids for slight hearing loss and I'm hoping that Apple will do something in this area to improve actual hearing aids.

Many hearing aids for profoundly deaf people (like myself at the 80-100dB mark in hearing loss) are just insufficient.

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#3

Post by spicybright » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 7:55 AM UTC

My mom tried the same thing with not much luck. It just amplified background noise too much according to her to be useful.

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#4

Post by rawland » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:01 AM UTC

deafpolygon wrote: post #2

As a deaf person, I don't use Airpods. But I'm aware of hearing aids and their pricing. AirPods are far far cheaper than hearing aids for slight hearing loss and I'm hoping that Apple will do something in this area to improve actual hearing aids. Many hearing aids for profoundly deaf people (like myself at the 80-100dB mark in hearing loss) are just insufficient.

Let's get in touch.

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#5

Post by rawland » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:02 AM UTC

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Detailed Hearing Aid Review:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gsTz1sSDE

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#6

Post by dusted » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:06 AM UTC

A family member is always complaining that her hearing aids are crap, noisy, harsh and yet, not allowing her to actually hear very well.. Shes had them readjusted multiple times with no improvement.

I tried putting some Beyer-dynamics 990 Pro 80 Ohm on her, and then plugging that into the line-out of a hand-held zoom recorder with the sensitivity turned up. She heard _EVERYTHING_ and she told that the sound was pleasant too..

This leaves me with the impression that hearing aids are way behind off-the-shelf consumer parts.. Maybe too much sound quality (you had ONE job!) is being sacrificed for size ?

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#7

Post by rawland » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:10 AM UTC

dusted wrote: post #6

A family member is always complaining that her hearing aids are crap, noisy, harsh and yet, not allowing her to actually hear very well.. Shes had them readjusted multiple times with no improvement. I tried putting some Beyer-dynamics 990 Pro 80 Ohm on her, and then plugging that into the line-out of a hand-held zoom recorder with the sensitivity turned up. She heard _EVERYTHING_ and she told that the sound was pleas…

Yes.

Size (= compute+battery limitation) and the ear also being a somewhat hostile environment for electronics.

PS: Is that zoom recorder able to "beamform" (~= directional mics / mic modes inside?)

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#8

Post by ThePowerOfFuet » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:33 AM UTC

Gruber is reblogging someone else's post, which itself was guilty of the same thing.

Credit where credit is due:

https://toot.cat/@garry/110005074038777944

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#9

Post by rawland » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:55 AM UTC

ThePowerOfFuet wrote: post #8

Gruber is reblogging someone else's post, which itself was guilty of the same thing. Credit where credit is due: https://toot.cat/@garry/110005074038777944

Thank you!

Re: Using AirPods as a hearing aid

#10

Post by olliej » Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 9:19 AM UTC

rawland wrote: post #5

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Detailed Hearing Aid Review: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gsTz1sSDE

Cheers, this is vastly more interesting and informative than Gruber's post.