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FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

fda.gov

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Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#31

Post by BOOSTERHIDROGEN »

duskwuff wrote: post #28
Nursie wrote: post #18

I’m very positive about this development. I don’t personally need hearing aids (yet) but I know people that do, and dear god are they expensive pieces of equipment. Even if the AirPods aren’t perfect for everyone (not everyone wants in-ear devices) a big name like this getting in at that price-point might shake up the market.

> I don’t personally need hearing aids (yet) but I know people that do, and dear god are they expensive pieces of equipment. They aren't as bad as they used to be. You can get over-the-counter hearing aids in the $200-500 range nowadays. Even so, at $250, AirPods Pro are in a pretty good spot. The main drawback I see is that the earbuds don't have all-day battery life; users will need to recharge them in the case per…

any recommendations ?

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#32

Post by wpollock »

garyfirestorm wrote: post #25
mgerdts wrote: post #22

I’m conflicted on use of AirPods as hearing aids. I use one hearing aid and have normal hearing in the other ear. I often listen to things on my phone over the one hearing aid. It would be nice to have stereo. For this reason, AirPods for both listening to stuff and hearing assistance would be great. On the other hand, when I see someone wearing AirPods I assume they are listening to something else or are otherwise t…

This problem could be solved easily. One could put some kind of tiny sticker on their AirPods - it would take sometime for it to become mainstream - like an orange color ring - indicating the user is using the AirPods as hearing aids. (This is a people problem…)

The answer is handicap hang tags, like those used in cars, but worn as earrings.

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#33

Post by Nursie »

duskwuff wrote: post #28
Nursie wrote: post #18

I’m very positive about this development. I don’t personally need hearing aids (yet) but I know people that do, and dear god are they expensive pieces of equipment. Even if the AirPods aren’t perfect for everyone (not everyone wants in-ear devices) a big name like this getting in at that price-point might shake up the market.

> I don’t personally need hearing aids (yet) but I know people that do, and dear god are they expensive pieces of equipment. They aren't as bad as they used to be. You can get over-the-counter hearing aids in the $200-500 range nowadays. Even so, at $250, AirPods Pro are in a pretty good spot. The main drawback I see is that the earbuds don't have all-day battery life; users will need to recharge them in the case per…

I guess the big question there is, which market segment will the airpods be comparable to - OTC or prescription?

Because the 'good' hearing aids cost thousands of dollars, and a lot of their added value is in various forms of sound processing. I can see apple doing quite well at that.

> The main drawback I see is that the earbuds don't have all-day battery life; users will need to recharge them in the case periodically.

Yeah definitely, though if we are comparing them to 'good' hearing aids then at that price you could buy two pairs and rotate them through the charging case and still come out ahead.

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#34

Post by hunter2_ »

garyfirestorm wrote: post #25
mgerdts wrote: post #22

I’m conflicted on use of AirPods as hearing aids. I use one hearing aid and have normal hearing in the other ear. I often listen to things on my phone over the one hearing aid. It would be nice to have stereo. For this reason, AirPods for both listening to stuff and hearing assistance would be great. On the other hand, when I see someone wearing AirPods I assume they are listening to something else or are otherwise t…

This problem could be solved easily. One could put some kind of tiny sticker on their AirPods - it would take sometime for it to become mainstream - like an orange color ring - indicating the user is using the AirPods as hearing aids. (This is a people problem…)

The sticker/paint could change all of the white into a skin tone, the way many hearing aids are. Maybe similar to wrapping a car with vinyl, or nail polish.

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#35

Post by mgerdts »

sureIy wrote: post #26
mgerdts wrote: post #22

I’m conflicted on use of AirPods as hearing aids. I use one hearing aid and have normal hearing in the other ear. I often listen to things on my phone over the one hearing aid. It would be nice to have stereo. For this reason, AirPods for both listening to stuff and hearing assistance would be great. On the other hand, when I see someone wearing AirPods I assume they are listening to something else or are otherwise t…

Is it? I think that thanks to transparency mode and conversation detection people are keeping them in “full time”. In noisy environments I just keep them on without music and they help me hear people talk.

It really depends on the awareness of product features and evolution of the actively used devices. My lived experience is that those with white things in their ears can’t hear you or can barely hear you and have to pull one out to have a conversation.

Those that know you probably understand how you use them. If I were to see you walking in my neighborhood with your AirPods I would probably not bother saying hi unless I already knew you. If you were a new neighbor that always wore AirPods, that means we would probably never become more than strangers to each other unless you initiated conversation.

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#36

Post by adgjlsfhk1 »

userbinator wrote: post #29

The rule enabled consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without the need for a medical exam, prescription or seeing an audiologist Is it just me or does this article sound (pun intended) a bit tone-deaf? All this talk of them "authorizing", when earphones with built-in mics, transparency modes, and adjustable equalisers have exist…

Authorization is a big deal. It means it can be payed for by insurance or explicitly prescribed.

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#37

Post by [deleted] »

userbinator wrote: post #29

The rule enabled consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without the need for a medical exam, prescription or seeing an audiologist Is it just me or does this article sound (pun intended) a bit tone-deaf? All this talk of them "authorizing", when earphones with built-in mics, transparency modes, and adjustable equalisers have exist…

[deleted]

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#38

Post by herpderperator »

It's kinda crazy hearing Apple mention during their event that they expect FDA approval "very soon", and it actually happening 3 days later. I would have thought that governments can't promise timelines to anyone, especially something like FDA approval.

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#39

Post by playingalong »

herpderperator wrote: post #38

It's kinda crazy hearing Apple mention during their event that they expect FDA approval "very soon", and it actually happening 3 days later. I would have thought that governments can't promise timelines to anyone, especially something like FDA approval.

I don't think they can promise. But in a formal process with so many steps involved, you know what else is left to be done. And if there's nothing left, you assume "very soon" completion. Also Apple's announcement was kind of a pressure put on the gov: "hey, enough, unless you want everyone angry at you".

Re: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

#40

Post by 14 »

This is so cool to see. As a health care worker I see lots of people who simply can not afford heating aids as they run for thousands of dollars and then things like they hop into a shower and they stop working happen all the time.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that hearing loss is a loss of ability to hear certain frequencies. You can’t simply turn up the volume although that does help to some degree. So what happens is you see a doctor who determines what frequency loss you have and the hearing aid when it picks up that frequency shifts it to another frequency that you can hear. So I do see why up until now ya it was regulated. We don’t want some company selling a device that simply cranks the volume and potentially causes more damage. But with today’s technology we are more then ready for this to be a reality. With an app we can offer hearing tests and determine what areas the client needs improved. This I feel will be a game changer for some.

The only thing I wonder about is how well do air pods hold up to waxy ears? With regular hearing aids they need cleaning and often have things like a wax trap which is a tiny plug that catches wax and can be swapped out easily.

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