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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

#121

Post by mcculley »

korhojoa wrote: post #112
Terretta wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 Are you suggesting AirPods aren't Bluetooth 5.3 and aren't compatible with Bluetooth audio sources? Or that it doesn't play AAC, MP3, and FLAC? The proprietary capabilities (such as instant smart switching between active devices) are all incremental, tak…

Seems like a rage bait post but: how do you update the firmware without an apple device?

You need to do more than update the firmware. You need to upload your personal audiogram into the device.

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

#122

Post by vel0city »

systemtest wrote: post #101
freedomben wrote: post #98

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. 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.

I have no issues using my AirPods on Android. Automatic device switching doesn’t work but that doesn’t work on my Sony headphones either.

The new hearing aid features are gatekept behind an iOS app. You can't tweak the hearing aid settings without an Apple device.

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

#123

Post by mitemte »

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.

Existing hearing aid products are still available for purchase for those who want them. I don’t think AirPods are going to replace hearing aids. Hopefully they lower the barrier for entry and perhaps lower the price of existing products.

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

#124

Post by davweb »

korhojoa wrote: post #112
Terretta wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 Are you suggesting AirPods aren't Bluetooth 5.3 and aren't compatible with Bluetooth audio sources? Or that it doesn't play AAC, MP3, and FLAC? The proprietary capabilities (such as instant smart switching between active devices) are all incremental, tak…

Seems like a rage bait post but: how do you update the firmware without an apple device?

At an Apple Store[1].

[1]: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/106340

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

#126

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

echoangle wrote: post #102
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue would be battery use. The batteries in these things are tiny , and using them as hearing aids could mean longer use. Having a phone lockscreen indicator of status would be a good way to show this. I think the phone interface for audiograms is ridiculously complex. They need to improve that.

How would a phone lockscreen indicator work? If someone walks up to you in a store with AirPods in, how are you seeing the indicator on the phone in their pocket? The situations where I can look at the lock screen of the phone of the person I'm speaking to are pretty limited.

Good point.

But LEDs would probably take too much battery power.

Not sure if the new color eInk would be useful.

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

#127

Post by cruffle_duffle »

righthand wrote: post #110
_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…

[flagged]

Good thing most people carry those around for other purposes. That $1000 tiny computer in their pocket just swallowed yet another thing that was once discrete.

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

#128

Post by slama »

righthand wrote: post #110
_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…

[flagged]

Many people already have an iPhone, so that's a sunk cost.

Even not looking at the used market, a new iPhone SE is $430 (and likely to be substantially updated soon)

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

#129

Post by AshamedCaptain »

ghaff wrote: post #88
alias_neo wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

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...

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

#130

Post by righthand »

mitemte wrote: post #119
righthand wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

If iPhone owners can improve their hearing for $250, that’s a win for a large number of people. Sure, it doesn’t solve the problem for everyone, but neither does a $2000 pair of hearing aids.

Great. But it doesn’t mean Apple Airpod hearing aids are only $250.
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