FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software • Hacker News Board

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

#91

Post by josefresco » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:27 PM UTC

car wrote: post #66

With the AirPods now officially becoming hearing aids, it will hopefully reduce the stigma and attitude towards hearing aids and allow many more people to realize how bad their hearing actually is. I have been wearing hearing aids for a few years now (Phonak). I've also used the AirPods Pro with the accessibility audiogram feature (basically making them hearing aids), which is really good and has also been around for…

You're certainly not alone in resisting hearing aids. My dad just got some from Costco (most affordable) and really likes them. He probably waited 5-10 years too long.

My father-in-law however doesn't like hearing aids because he feels they amplify things he doesn't want to hear. Granted he's never been fitted to actual hearing aids. I understand his concern, but he's told me multiple times his hearing loss leaves him isolated during conversation. He told me one night that he has a lot to say, but can't hear so he spends a lot of time just smiling. It makes me sad that his pride (and stubbornness?) is causing him this stress.

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

#92

Post by _fat_santa » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:27 PM UTC

This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250.

Even if you use them everyday and assume a shelf life of 1.5yrs (which is roughly mine and others' experience with AirPods), you would be replacing your Airpods for 12 years before the cost caught up with a single pair of hearing aids.

Even if you think Airpods are not on the same bar as regular hearing aids, this will certainly help depress market prices. Every manufacturer will probably start releasing sub $1000 hearing aids just to not get destroyed by Apple.

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

#93

Post by kevin_thibedeau » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:40 PM UTC

StressedDev wrote: post #13

neilv wrote: post #2

Consider the plausible scenario of Apple developing a superior hearing aid -- a medical device. If that happens, will people be able to use best medical device without being subject to the various liberties that tech companies take with users -- violating privacy, and exercising leverage to other purposes? We've become acclimated to expect violation from the "tech" industry, but what about the medical field?

How is Apple violating people’s privacy? They have done a far better job than other companies from what I'm have seen.

Scanning for image hashes on everyone's phone is one.

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

#94

Post by magicalhippo » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:45 PM UTC

alias_neo wrote: post #85

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note also phonaks are traditionally a couple thousand euros a piece while even the most expensive airpods are still around 300 the pair. Certainly the phonaks are impressively small, lasting, good quality, and imperceptible, but is the almost 10x price markup justified? The biggest problem with hearing aids (and doctors/calibrators/whatever) is that they are ridiculously expensive... the attitude/stigma much less so.…

I don't think I've ever seen someone with a hearing aid and though anything negative of it, I get it people can be self-conscious, but for something like a hearing aid I think it's unjustified. On the other hand, I can't bring myself to keep earbuds (airpods or w/e) in my ears while talking to someone, regardless of if I can hear them properly, I just seems incredibly rude. My uneducated opinion, is that someone usin…

A buddy had a girlfriend who had reduced hearing. I noticed that people would raise their voice and really dumb down when speaking to her, like they were talking to a senile elderly. It'd happen before she'd said a word, so they clearly saw the hearing aid and assumed.

She admitted she disliked wearing the hearing aids, due to such things. But the alternative was not following conversations, which meant she'd get excluded because she missed important information.

Gave me a whole new perspective on hearing loss.

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

#95

Post by HumblyTossed » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:48 PM UTC

_fat_santa wrote: post #92

This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Even if you use them everyday and assume a shelf life of 1.5yrs (which is roughly mine and others' experience with AirPods), you would be replacing your Airpods for 12 years before the cost caught up with a single pair of hearing aids. Even if you think Airpods ar…

> This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250.

Woah there fella. Hearing aids last a very long time before needing a new battery. AirPods needs to be charged several times a day. That's a bit of an inconvenience. As is some hearing aids are made to fit one's ear. Where as AirPods are 3 sizes fits all.

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

#96

Post by HumblyTossed » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:51 PM UTC

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.

What in Apple's statement made you think the FDA promised them anything? They were probably all the way through with everything they needed to do for the FDA process and, well, there's a timeline for this process so that's why they knew.

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

#97

Post by jeffhuys » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:53 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #95

_fat_santa wrote: post #92

This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Even if you use them everyday and assume a shelf life of 1.5yrs (which is roughly mine and others' experience with AirPods), you would be replacing your Airpods for 12 years before the cost caught up with a single pair of hearing aids. Even if you think Airpods ar…

> This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Woah there fella. Hearing aids last a very long time before needing a new battery. AirPods needs to be charged several times a day. That's a bit of an inconvenience. As is some hearing aids are made to fit one's ear. Where as AirPods are 3 sizes fits all.

That’s a much, MUCH lower barrier of entry, though, fella… and that can be celebrated in my opinion

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

#98

Post by freedomben » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:56 PM UTC

car wrote: post #66

With the AirPods now officially becoming hearing aids, it will hopefully reduce the stigma and attitude towards hearing aids and allow many more people to realize how bad their hearing actually is. I have been wearing hearing aids for a few years now (Phonak). I've also used the AirPods Pro with the accessibility audiogram feature (basically making them hearing aids), which is really good and has also been around for…

> In contrast, the AirPods run out after a few hours and are also destined to become landfill due to their built in battery.

Also will entrench the user in a walled garden ecosystem from a very specific giant tech company that isn't big on making their products compatible with other companies.

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

#99

Post by echoangle » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 1:58 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #95

_fat_santa wrote: post #92

This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Even if you use them everyday and assume a shelf life of 1.5yrs (which is roughly mine and others' experience with AirPods), you would be replacing your Airpods for 12 years before the cost caught up with a single pair of hearing aids. Even if you think Airpods ar…

> This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Woah there fella. Hearing aids last a very long time before needing a new battery. AirPods needs to be charged several times a day. That's a bit of an inconvenience. As is some hearing aids are made to fit one's ear. Where as AirPods are 3 sizes fits all.

Just to be pedantic: AirPods Pro 2 come with 4 sizes for tips. Also, I'm sure you can get third-party tips with different shapes if you wanted to.

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

#100

Post by some_random » Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 2:03 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #95

_fat_santa wrote: post #92

This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Even if you use them everyday and assume a shelf life of 1.5yrs (which is roughly mine and others' experience with AirPods), you would be replacing your Airpods for 12 years before the cost caught up with a single pair of hearing aids. Even if you think Airpods ar…

> This is huge. Previously if you were hard of hearing, a pair of hearing aids could cost upwards of $2,000. Now Apple just brought that price down to ~$250. Woah there fella. Hearing aids last a very long time before needing a new battery. AirPods needs to be charged several times a day. That's a bit of an inconvenience. As is some hearing aids are made to fit one's ear. Where as AirPods are 3 sizes fits all.

A condescending reply showing you didn't read the whole comment isn't the best look. The point isn't that they're the bestest hearing aids ever, the point is that they are an option at all at a tiny fraction of the typical price which will force manufacturers to innovate.