Testing the New iOS 18.1 Hearing Aid Functionality

[WarmWinterHat]

Out of curiosity, what hearing aids (not mere sound boosting earphones) are available for a few hundred dollars? I did a lot of research and bought the Sonys which were about $1000. And those were the least expensive high-quality hearing aids I found.

$289

Audien Hearing Aid

Audien Hearing's Atom Pro 2 is the most advanced CIC OTC Hearing Aid for the price. It has 4 listening modes, a wireless charging case that carries 3 additional charges, and a UV light. It is rechargeable, nearly invisible when worn, with our patented Comfort+ design.

a.co

 

[eboychik]

$289

Audien Hearing Aid

Audien Hearing's Atom Pro 2 is the most advanced CIC OTC Hearing Aid for the price. It has 4 listening modes, a wireless charging case that carries 3 additional charges, and a UV light. It is rechargeable, nearly invisible when worn, with our patented Comfort+ design.

a.co

Thank you. I didn't think these would be great. But thank you.

 

[Night Spring]

$289

Audien Hearing Aid

Audien Hearing's Atom Pro 2 is the most advanced CIC OTC Hearing Aid for the price. It has 4 listening modes, a wireless charging case that carries 3 additional charges, and a UV light. It is rechargeable, nearly invisible when worn, with our patented Comfort+ design.

a.co

Thank you. I didn't think these would be great. But thank you.

To me, those sounded more like sound-boosting earphones with minimal hearing aid functionality. I foresee lots of arguments about what counts as "real" hearing aids as these OTC devices proliferate.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

To me, those sounded more like sound-boosting earphones with minimal hearing aid functionality. I foresee lots of arguments about what counts as "real" hearing aids as these OTC devices proliferate.

All hearing aids are OTC devices now, according to the FDA, regardless of how you get them or who made them.

I'm not suggesting that particular set are good, however.

 

[Night Spring]

All hearing aids are OTC devices now, according to the FDA, regardless of how you get them or who made them.

I'm not suggesting that particular set are good, however.

Um, like if your doctor gives you aspirin, it's still an over the counter drug?

I do love that assistive listening technology is now more affordable and more readily available. Like, I no longer interact frequently with other people, so paying thousands of dollars for hearing aids I'd use only a few hours a month doesn't make sense. But trying to figure out which devices have the features I need, and price comparing devices has gotten a lot trickier.

 

[allenvanhellen]

No, about 5-7 would be more typical, but sometimes they will need replacing sooner than that. In my comment I used 7 years as the replacement schedule.

Thanks. What’s the primary reason for their needing replacement?

 

[Night Spring]

Thanks. What’s the primary reason for their needing replacement?

They are like any electronic device. Parts fail. Newer versions come out with more/better features. How many earphones / headsets are you still using after 5-7 years? And what were your reasons for replacing them? Same thing with hearing aids.

 

[LlamaLarry]

Plus they are in a warm moist location and prone to dropping, but they never really feel like they are built to take hard falls.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

So excited to try this!!! Apple so awesome…

im curious tho…the same exact test is being administered to every single person?….maybe ears not only have a different shape but even hear differently…

 

[ultratiem]

Running 18.1 RC. Went and got AirPod pro 2 from Costco today. Software updated to 7a305 but no section for hearing assistance here in Canada for me 🤷🏻‍♂️. Disappointed. Is there anything else I need to do? Or maybe when 18.1 is released?

It’s not available in Canada yet. Usually health related products need to be cleared before marketed as such. Like the heart monitor, blood pressure, etc. Likely will take a while before Canadian gov rubber stamps it.

 

[lozion]

It’s not available in Canada yet. Usually health related products need to be cleared before marketed as such. Like the heart monitor, blood pressure, etc. Likely will take a while before Canadian gov rubber stamps it.

Arg, not working here either..
Maybe with the official release candidate?

 

[raythompsontn]

I just updated my AirPods Pro to the latest firmware. I am hearing impaired and wear hearing aids. One ear is worse than the other. I thought it might help.

I did the hearing test. One major observation is when taking the test find a very quiet location. Turn off the air handlers, TV, dishwasher, basically anything that makes noise. This will make the test much more accurate and provide a better result.

I am impressed with what Apple has accomplished. Music through the AirPods is much better, balance between the ears is much improved and mono tracks (early Beatles) are now balanced between the ears. Turning Media Assist on, and off, is a significantly noticeable difference. With the Media Assist on the music is crisper, has more sparkle, and just sounds a whole lot better.

Listening to "No More Cloudy Days" by "The Eagles" there are several spots in the music where soft chords are played on a synthesized instrument that are now hearable. There are also places where some chords are played on a guitar that can now be heard. I have not heard those sounds in years.

I tried the AirPods with a movie on the iPhone. I can now hear dialogue that I was unable to hear in the past. Voices come through without being muddy. Movies on the MacBook are much better although there is no setting in the MacBook to toggle Media Assist. Apple needs to add that in a future release.

My opinion, and from my experience, the AirPods are the best there is for listening within the Apple ecosystem. There is simply nothing on the market that compares to the increase in the enjoyment of music for a mere $200 (on sale). If a person has moderate hearing loss the AirPods, with the latest firmware, is a game changer.

Now the downside. Battery life. My rechargeable hearing aids last 18+ hours. The AirPods not so much. Recharging every few hours is a real annoyance. I can see myself using the AirPods on the long flights across the U.S. or an international flight to Europe. The AirPods will not make the trip without the battery running down. I suppose that would be a good time to nap.

Anyway, the AirPods are highly recommended by my experience, environment and use.

 

[raythompsontn]

The Costco hearing aids need to be totally replaced every 2-3 years?

The largest supplier of hearing aids in the US, is the Veterans Administration. They provide top of the line hearing aids. I have them. About $6K on the open market. The VA will replace the devices every three years if needed. The VA will replace the devices every five years at the veteran’s request.

My ”real” hearing aids are rechargeable. They work as well as the battery units. The only difference between both types is the power source. Electronically they are identical. Thus, both are “real”.

The second largest supplier of hearing aids in the US is Costco. Costco also has the best prices on hearing aids.

While I will not use the AirPods as hearing aids the frequency curve applied to the AirPods makes listening to music much better. That alone is worth the price.

Another way I use my AirPods is at sporting events. The noise cancelling is excellent but still allows speech through. They are better than earplugs or ear muffs as they are less conspicuous than earmuffs and are better at managing sound than earplugs.

 

[raythompsontn]

What’s the primary reason for their needing replacement?

Technology improvements. Rechargeable batteries wear out. If I had replaceable battery units, the devices still worked, I would keep them for 10 years. I would have them reprogrammed every couple of years.

 

[allenvanhellen]

They are like any electronic device. Parts fail. Newer versions come out with more/better features. How many earphones / headsets are you still using after 5-7 years? And what were your reasons for replacing them? Same thing with hearing aids.

I buy things that are reparable. I make my best effort to maintain and repair them so I can use them for as long as possible. I’ve had my over the ear headphones for several years now. I regularly use a Mac that is over 12 years old.

 

[Night Spring]

I buy things that are reparable. I make my best effort to maintain and repair them so I can use them for as long as possible. I’ve had my over the ear headphones for several years now. I regularly use a Mac that is over 12 years old.

A Mac isn't something you wear every day, so not very relevant to this discussion. I too have earphones and headphones that are several years old, and as much as I try to take care of them, parts eventually wear out. And a hearing aid is worn for much longer periods of time than earphones/headphones. And the way technology has been improving, by the time a hearing aid needs repair, there's improved models available, so the cost calculation becomes, pay to have the device repaired, and stick with old technology for a while longer, or pay some more and enjoy the benefits of latest technology. And that is if you are even able to find someone willing to repair your hearing aid.

 

[allenvanhellen]

A Mac isn't something you wear every day, so not very relevant to this discussion. I too have earphones and headphones that are several years old, and as much as I try to take care of them, parts eventually wear out. And a hearing aid is worn for much longer periods of time than earphones/headphones. And the way technology has been improving, by the time a hearing aid needs repair, there's improved models available, so the cost calculation becomes, pay to have the device repaired, and stick with old technology for a while longer, or pay some more and enjoy the benefits of latest technology. And that is if you are even able to find someone willing to repair your hearing aid.

I still think it’s a step in the wrong direction to make stuff without replaceable batteries. Batteries are often the first thing to cause usability issues.

 

[lozion]

Arg, not working here either..
Maybe with the official release candidate?

No dice..

 

[Karjar]

Well after installing official 18.1 (as opposed to RC) and insuring AirPods up to date being in Canada and cannot access hearing test. 😡. Ironically if I reboot phone it shows greyed out for a few seconds then goes away so only hearing protection is showing

 

[johnsawyercjs]

For Airpod Pros to work as hearing aids for all users, Apple will need to fix the bug preventing a lot of Airpods Pro users from using any of the Noise Control features, especially Transparency mode.

This bug seems to have been fixed, at least for my APP2, once I installed the first firmware update that activated the hearing aid feature. It's still fixed after the most recent firmware update that followed it. But I still can't test the hearing aid feature since Hearing Test says my ears are too good for it, so my 94 year old mom will be the guinea pig.

 

[tivoboy]

Has anyone had the issue where the hearing test says, “put the AirPods back in the case, they will perform a diagnostic first” but then it never works, and I’ve tried resetting the AirPods Pro 2, the phone, rebooting, etc.. Sometimes, it says “take the AirPods out” but then I take them out and put them in my ears, and run the hearing test and it says “put them back in the case” or something to that effect.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

I had crazy issues until I just visited apples maintenance page and followed to the T their instructions on cleaning em….that did the trick. Best wishes.