new rules for hearing aids

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frank

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I was just reading an article in the new york times that states later this year hearing aids will be sold over the counter. does anyone here that uses hearing aids think this is good? my wife uses hearing aids and has to have adjustments every so often. If you buy over the counter is there a way to adjust them yourself and make sure they will work for you? I am thinking that pretty soon I will also need them. the biggest question is what brand to look at, and what sort of self adjustment will be available, plus how much will this change the pricing? any thoughts? tia

frank
 
While I don't use hearing aids I think the development of being able to buy hearing aids over the counter is a great idea.

I presume the market for such sales would be people with light to moderate hearing loss that would not require much adjustment. Perhaps the store selling these hearing aids would have a technician on site that could make adjustments. Or, audiologists would adapt to the changing marketplace and offer adjustments on over-the-counter hearing aids for a slight fee.

I believe over the counter hearing aids is going to be a boon for the consumer and will result in dramatically lowered costs. Consider how the ability to order eyeglasses online has given people much lower prices for eyeglasses. I presume the same thing would happen with hearing aids.

As a former hearing aid repair technician, I can tell you as far as electronic components go there isn't much inside hearing aids. There's no reason for hearing aids to cost $1,000 or more, considering the amount of electronics inside.
 
If there is no medically sensitive reason to restrict to script/behind the counter, then great. These things are barriers to purchase, and make it harder for someone to buy one for someone else.
 
I predict Apple with become one of the biggest sellers of “hearing aids” in the next couple of years.

With all the processing power and other hardware contained in the AirPods Pro, they are essentially hearing aids already.

They already provide software based noise canceling, transparency mode, and adaptive equalization. Tuning this to provide hearing aid specific functions would be very straight forward paired with an app that analyzes your specific hearing.

Now maybe you don’t like the look of AirPods? Apple already makes variations like the Beats Fit Pro or PowerBeats Pro that fit the ear on alternate ways and look different. And they use essentially the same hardware (including custom processor). It’s easy to image a variation that’s completely inside the ear canal like some hearing aids today.

All this for $250. When Apple does this, they will own the market.
 
I think they already have hearing aids that the user can adjust with a phone app.
 
I think they have hearing aids available that are adjustable with a phone app also, but what I am looking for is a direction to look a company or brand to look for when they become available over the counter.
 
frank said:
I think they have hearing aids available that are adjustable with a phone app also, but what I am looking for is a direction to look a company or brand to look for when they become available over the counter.
Click to expand...

I've been using hearing aids from Costco made by Resound. Very much suggest going the Costco route, as they have techs on who can adjust the HA as needed - free. The hearing test with on-site audiologist was cheap and gave the same result graph as the graph from a doctor covered by my insurance. Warranty repairs gratis.

You do have to realize that the assisted hearing is not the same as the hearing from undamaged ears and it takes the brain a while to adjust to the assisted version of what you are hearing. That said, while I can adjust my HA via a phone app I'm still tied to the tech for some adjustments - suspect there may be some liability concerns regarding blasting out remaining hearing by an insensitive/inept user.

When hearing aid prices drop and become over the counter I'll look to a trusted source, like probably the place that I'm happy with currently.
 
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The incumbent manufacturers and industry players have been fighting this for years. Now ... game over.

My guess is that it will take the market at least 3 years to stabilize at a new level where prices of even the higher-end products will collapse and we may see some bankruptcies of slow-to-react companies. But in the end, we consumers will have benefited substantially.

Now, all we need is for the Luxottica monopoly in eyewear to be similarly vanquished.
 
calmloki said:
I've been using hearing aids from Costco made by Resound. Very much suggest going the Costco route, as they have techs on who can adjust the HA as needed - free. The hearing test with on-site audiologist was cheap and gave the same result graph as the graph from a doctor covered by my insurance. Warranty repairs gratis.

You do have to realize that the assisted hearing is not the same as the hearing from undamaged ears and it takes the brain a while to adjust to the assisted version of what you are hearing. That said, while I can adjust my HA via a phone app I'm still tied to the tech for some adjustments - suspect there may be some liability concerns regarding blasting out remaining hearing by an insensitive/inept user.

When hearing aid prices drop and become over the counter I'll look to a trusted source, like probably the place that I'm happy with currently.
Click to expand...


I use the Rexton hearing aids from Costco. I am mostly pleased with them, but they’re not perfect. I can control some functions from my iPhone app, but some need to be adjusted by the tech. My biggest complaint is sometimes one will disconnect from Bluetooth for some reason, and I have to shut down and restart it to get the sound back.
 
I hope the DW doesn't read this thread... I don't need to "hear" :) about hearing aids anymore than I already do. If I were to get one I wouldn't have the excuse "I did hear you" when she asks me to fix this or that. That usually buys me an extra day or so. :)
 
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Costco let me try out a pair of $1400 hearing aids, which I decided were not yet necessary. The audiologist basically graphs out your hearing loss vs frequency then adjusts the hearing aid via Bluetooth to have the boost match the loss curve. I don't see why this could not be done very cheaply by someone like Bose or Apple using apps. People with severe hearing loss may still need a tech but that is still available.

All in, I think it is a great victory over crooked lobbyists. Now to get real prescription drug reform.....
 
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Car-Guy said:
I hope the DW doesn't read this thread... I don't need to "hear" :) about hearing aids anymore than I already do. If I were to get one I wouldn't have the excuse "I did hear you" when she asks me to fix this or that. That usually buys me an extra day or so. :)
Click to expand...

My grandma had 6 boys and 2 girls. When I was young and they got together they would argue endlessly, she would turn down her hearing aid, smile and have this serene look on her face. :)

I guess one advantage to a modern hearing aid with phone app is it is much more inconspicuous to use the phone to turn down the volume and zone out.
 
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None of these will cure "selective hearing" that my late DW used to accuse me of.
 
ls99 said:
None of these will cure "selective hearing" that my late DW used to accuse me of.
Click to expand...


My ex used to accuse me of that. Then my new wife. Apparently many years of flying C-130s in the Air Force hurt my hearing in the range some women speak. Now I wear hearing aids from Costco.
 
Does any current user know if current aids work with both iphones and other types? I would assume they'd mostly all work with either.
 
I had heard before the the Costco HA's didn't have tinnitus masking capabilities.
 
I'm probably overdue for hearing aids. I was primed to go to Costco soon, but I'm thinking I'll wait a bit and see what can be done at a cheaper price. I am concerned about adjustments as that is key. I hear sound reasonably well, but I don't understand - especially DW! She refuses to speak up or turn toward me when she wants to say something (all her fault!!) Anyway, I've heard it's important to stave off, for instance, dementia to have good hearing. That would be worth a lot.
 
GenXguy said:
I had heard before the the Costco HA's didn't have tinnitus masking capabilities.
Click to expand...
Damn. As soon as I hear or see the word my tinnitus jumps into awareness.

I didn't know some hearing aids help tinnitus. Do they run a compensating tone that cancels it out?
 
I think it will be interesting to see the changes and adaptations that come from this over the counter sale capability. I am looking forward to something that is far cheaper than the 5k per pair my wife is being quoted now with something that can be adjusted with apple or android.
 
frank said:
I am looking forward to something that is far cheaper than the 5k per pair my wife is being quoted now with something that can be adjusted with apple or android.
Click to expand...

If you live near a Costco you can get quality HAs and professional audiology service for under $1,500. And they are adjustable using your smart phone.
 
I am so hopeful that Apple will get into the hearing aid business. I have 6000$ Phonak hearing aids as I have significant hearing loss from Meniere's Disease. They are not that great. Definitely not waterproof like my apple watch or apple phone. I can not hear in crowds....weddings are excruciating and I no longer want to attend as the noise is amplified and painful. If I take my hearing aids out I can't hear anything either. If I exercise too much and get them wet from sweating they need to be sent in. Ridiculous.

I have high hopes!!!!
 
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