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FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

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221–230 of 258 posts

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

#221
post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you're better off with them not in your life. Offer not valid if it's your in-laws, nurse, kid's teacher, your teacher, civil servant who you need to convince, and overall anyone in a position of authority or otherwise capable of gatekeeping you. You can't always just opt out of dealing with people without consequence.

[edit] Disregard, I forgot that HN has been infested with normies with poor reading comprehension. Further posts will be strictly technical.

Being summarily pulled out of school isn't without consequence, especially to your kid!

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

#223
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 hi…

> He probably waited 5-10 years too long.

What's the downside of waiting?

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

#224

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…

Do you need an iPhone to use them, or only for the initial setup/audiogram?

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

#225
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have got to say it was fantastic seeing my grandmas eyes glow when, for no reason, I thought "wait my xm4's could help her" and put them on her. She was then able to hear our conversations even though the xm4 are not as good the real thing. She didnt want hearing aids before that, but afterwards she wanted ones.

The Sony WH-1000XM4? I'm still on the Bose QC 35, but you got me curious. Could you explain how using it as a hearing aid works? I searched the web but couldn't find good references.

There is a noise canceling mode that let's you hear what is received by the microphone array and an option to "filter in voices while suppressing noise" (they call that voice passthrough). That section of the app is called "Ambient Sound Control" if that helps your research.

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

#226
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. Just looked up AirPod battery run time. Wow - that's short. I have Anker A40 earpods.[1] 10 hours, and the case has enough charge for 50 hours. 10 minutes of charging gives you 4 hours. They're a lot cheaper than Airpods, so you could easily buy a pair (for much cheaper) and be good! Not sure h…

Depends on the form factor and what functions are active.

I'd say 4-6-8 is low-average-high duration for the standard form factor and ANC will reduce the duration by 25-30%

10 hours is exceptionally high, i don't think i even seen that claim

But year, they don't even have ANC, they are just a good pair of buds, the 10h claim is good.

Pro tip:

You know that a pair of buds is good if they offer Multipoint. It is such a hard feature to find in the mid and low end market

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

#227
post #79
post #72

cue teenagers with "hearing problems" so they must wear the pods during classes in 3 .. 2 ..

What's your actual complaint? Is it that teenagers sometimes have hearing issues? That's definitely true; many people are born Deaf or with hearing impairments. Some people get injured. Is it that teenagers might fake having hearing issues in order to wear pods? Either they will be paying attention in class or they won't; this will be obvious from their grades shortly.

Is it that teenagers might fake having hearing issues in order to wear pods? Either they will be paying attention in class or they won't; this will be obvious from their grades shortly.

You can ignore lectures, not participate in teacher-led activities, generally be a nuisance, and still get an A such that your parents would never catch on to you.

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

#228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 hi…

> He probably waited 5-10 years too long. What's the downside of waiting?

Diminished quality of life during the waiting period

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

#229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, if anything that showed we need more regulation and even more importantly a better justice system. They knew their devices were going to cause cancer and kill people, and they not only continued to sell their devices, but they went out of their way to try to hide the facts from the public so that they could continue to kill as many people as possible. The people at Philips Respironics were/are literal serial ki…

Eh, we need better regulation. Regulation proponents should distinguish between bullshit hoops that only the big boys can jump through vs targeted regulations that prevent this kind of thing from happening.

You're right. Regulations are critically important, but they're just tools and they can be used for evil or good depending on what they're doing and whose interests they serve.

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

#230
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don’t wear hearing aids because they don’t like how it looks and think their hearing isn’t bad enough to warrant social stigma from it. I don’t see how Airpods solve that problem as they are very unsightly, no matter how much pundits say they love them. In fact you mentioning how they are like hearing aids has made me justify never wanting a pair.

The advantage of AirPods for social stigma is they aren't solely hearing aids, so you have a type of (casual) plausible deniability about why you're wearing them. They won't draw people's attention in the way that hearing aids (because they're different/unique) do.

I think that's more of a negative though. I always remove Airpods/earbuds if I'm in a situation when I may be interacting with others because otherwise I come across as rude, uninterested or unsocial, like having a "do not disturb" sign on.

Whereas I can see myself wearing a hearing aid (and probably need one) because people will recognize that I'm not trying to shut them out but I may have difficulty hearing.

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