Over-the-counter hearing aids have blurred the line between hearing aids and hearing aids. According to a new iScience study, a $249 pair of AirPods Pro can sometimes perform as well as prescription hearing aids that cost thousands more. It is not easy to find an affordable hearing aid alternative.
A group of people were recruited to test how well second-gen AirPods and AirPods Pro performed compared to a basic hearing aid. The participants were told to repeat short sentences that were read to them. The premium hearing aids were found to be better than the basic hearing aids, but the AirPods Pro was only marginally worse. The second-gen AirPods were better than the others.
The results are encouraging from a cost standpoint. Hearing aids are more expensive than earbuds. Medicare doesn't cover prescription hearing aids that cost more than $2,500 per ear. Despite the fact that 30 million Americans could benefit from hearing aids, most don't wear them due to stigma and the lengthy process to acquire them. OTC hearing aids can be purchased for as little as 99 cents and don't need a doctor's visit. No one would blink twice if you wore them on the street because they are inexpensive and easy to purchase.
There are a few hearing-related accessibility features in Apple's AirPods. The former allows users to amplify sounds and the latter is a custom transparency mode. These types of features can work well. It doesn't make them adequate hearing aid replacements for people with more advanced hearing loss
The authors of the study said that the AirPods Pro are more similar to personal sound amplification products. PSAPs are more affordable than hearing aids, but can't be tailored to a person's hearing loss. All sounds are amplified. They are intended for people with normal hearing who would like a boost. Birds and hunters listen for small, faint sounds. PSAPs aren't regulated by the FDA and may not meet the same requirements as hearing aids.
Personal sound amplification products are similar to the AirPods Pro.
According to the founder and CEO of Soundly, a website that helps consumers compare OTC and prescription hearing aids, the whole hearing aid wearer experience is more complex. According to the study, the earbuds don't pick up sounds in front of the person wearing them. People need to hear the voices in front of them the most.
Cadwell explained that the in- ear hearing aids are more comfortable for all day wear. For certain occasions, such as dinner parties or business meetings, they may be too visible.
Consumers shouldn't confuse AirPods Pro with hearing aids, but they can be useful in a pinch.
The OTC hearing aid game is gaining in popularity. Bose's SoundControl hearing aids were released in 2021. The tech is still used in hearing aids. Two hearing aids were launched by Sony. Hearing tech that works similar to hearing aids and PSAPs continues to be innovated by tech companies. It's good for innovation, but it also means that people new to hearing aids may be overwhelmed with options.
Cadwell says he's not too worried about the device. There is little doubt that AirPods can compete on certain technical aspects, but in the real world there are very few consumers that actually use them for hearing amplification.
The class of devices that look like hearing aids with invisible styles or tubes that reach into the ear is something Cadwell is concerned about. The devices appeal to people who want all-day support but don't get it.
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