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FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software

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

#231

Post by insane_dreamer »

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.

> AirPods needs to be charged several times a day. That's a bit of an inconvenience.

that's if you wear them all the time. I have hearing difficulties and know I need aids even without taking a test. But I wouldn't want something in my ear all day long and most of the time I don't need to hear better because I'm working or whatever. But there are situations where it's hard for me to understand what people are saying and that's when I would put them on.

So with that in mind the AirPods would work great. It's unfortunate that it doesn't work with the regular AirPods which are only $100. (I don't have the Pro's).

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

#232

Post by [deleted] »

echoangle wrote: post #99
HumblyTossed wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

[deleted]

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

#233

Post by ghaff »

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #129
ghaff wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It almost certainly depends how social norms develop. When Borg bluetooth earpieces first came out, they definitely carried a tech bro/fin bro/VC/etc. vibe that, at any moment, someone more important than you might want to get in touch with me. I do think Airpods today carry a certain I'm not necessarily giving you my full attention vibe whereas an obvious hearing aid is a medical prosthetic. To the degree that Airpo…

The one thing that I do believe Apple managed with the iPhone is the removal of this "tech bro" vibe from carrying a smartphone overall. So I guess it's not entirely out of the question that Apple will remove the stigma from wearing huge headsets 24h long...

One of the other things that was happening at the time--though not disconnected--is that data charges were getting to the point where normies (or at least reasonably well-paid ones) could at least reasonably consider owning a phone with a data plan even if their company wasn't footing the bill. I bought a Treo a while before the iPhone came out and paid for it on my own after a foot injury that made it difficult to travel with a laptop.

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

#235

Post by astrange »

josefresco wrote: post #91
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 hi…

> My father-in-law however doesn't like hearing aids because he feels they amplify things he doesn't want to hear.

I have this issue with AirPods too, in the "adaptive" mode. It feels natural outdoors, but sometimes indoors and especially in rooms with echo it feels like it makes distant chatter unnaturally loud and closer-sounding.

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

#236

Post by astrange »

BeetleB wrote: post #213
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. 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…

Landfill isn't so bad though. Segregating identical waste into one place is a fine approach, because once it becomes possible to recover it, now you know where it is. Think of it as a mine. (It's a problem if it leaks into the groundwater of course.)

But lithium is not at all rare so it's not going to be hard to make more batteries.

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

#237

Post by astrange »

spookie wrote: post #75
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…

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.

I haven't tried XM4, but the noise cancelling on XM3 had a very uncomfortable "sucking" feeling even though it is very strong, especially on a plane. The AirPods aren't as bad about this and NC is about as good.

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

#238

Post by astrange »

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.

AirPods Pro have replaceable tips, and there are third parties who sell different tips.

Actually the better the tip fits you, the more I'd think you'd take them out once in a while, because a perfect seal means your ears will get sweaty.

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

#239

Post by BeetleB »

Iulioh wrote: post #226
BeetleB wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

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

Are you talking about the ones I linked to? They clearly have ANC, and Wirecutter claims it's among the better ANCs they've tested.

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

The claim is right there in the product description. Wirecutter also confirmed it with a test:

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-wireless-ear...

They do say it can be reduced depending on how you use it.

Finally, here's a snippet of an Amazon review:

> I just played 7 hours of continous music with the noise canceling activated at high volumes and there's still almost 30 percent battery avaliable.

And another:

> I used the earbuds for 8 hours between ANC & transparency mode, ... Considering how often I use the earbuds after 8-10 hrs per day and 4-5 days of use from a full charge, the battery life is still 2 lights remaining.

One review does state lower life with ANC:

> But, a full charge only lasts me 6 hrs with anc on auto and volume at 50% or less.

A few reviews talk about even lower battery life, but given Wirecutter's tests and the preponderance of those who get long battery lifes, I'll assume the exceptions are defective products.

In any case, is ANC even relevant for hearing aids? I would have thought ANC would be a hindrance.

(In general, several reviews refer to using it continuously for their work shift).

The one thing that may not be particularly good is the mic.

Edit: Here is someone who tested with ANC on. They got 7hr 55 min:

https://www.soundguys.com/anker-soundcore-space-a40-review-8...

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

#240

Post by RHSeeger »

car wrote: post #197
josefresco wrote: post #91

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…

Costco is great for this I found out. Free audiogram, and all name brand hearing aids. I used to be like your father-in-law, pride, vanity, stubborn, not wanting to be told what to do, whatever it was. And my dad was like this too (the hearing loss is heritable), I used to mock him about not wanting hearing aids before my own hearing declined. When I finally got fitted, it was shocking to me how much my hearing had s…

My hearing is on the border; the doctor told me hearing aids would help, but I don't "need" them. I've been resisting getting them because

- I've always (decades) had issues with distinguishing speech when there's background noise. Even when my hearing was "perfect", my brain just had problems separating the two. This is _especially_ true in a crowded area (mall, restaurant, etc) where the background noise _is_ speech. My father had the same issue, tried many different aids, and _never_ managed to get a pair that worked.

- Cost. I'm not interested in experimenting at thousands of $ per try. With the expectation that I'll wind up at the doctor's office a dozen+ times while they try something new to help me (with the first issue), and a likelihood that they'll never succeed; I'm very hesitant to shell out the money involved.

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