4 ms·

Airpods are not hearing aid replacements (yet). Hearing aids are specifically designed to compensate for loss, not simply to filter out background noise and boo

Airpods are not hearing aid replacements (yet). Hearing aids are specifically designed to compensate for loss, not simply to filter out background noise and boost voices. Hearing aids frequently need an audiologist to tune them to get maximum value out of them. In fact, AirPods might actually make hearing worse for those with hearing loss!

solardev 3y ago
> Hearing aids are specifically designed to compensate for loss, not simply to filter out background noise and boost voices. Can you explain what "compensating for loss" means in this context? How do hearing aids work beyond filtering out noise and boosting voices? From https://youtu.be/X-CqJFSWkHk?si=xLV3eTmZ-5GV9Iq2&t=227 https://youtu.be/X-CqJFSWkHk?si=xLV3eTmZ-5GV9Iq2&t=227, it sounds like it's doing what an equalizer would, just tuned to particular ear's response. Can't an app test that too and adjust the output accordingly? I mean, real hearing aids are being sold COTS now, aren't they? Do those still require a medical consultation? --- Actually, this has a much better overview of the kind of calibration they do for real hearing aids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSQemYlC80 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSQemYlC80 (not sure if the COTS stuff do anything similar) The Airpod calibration is nowhere near as thorough.
- Jemaclus 3y ago
  Yeah, that last part is the right part. AirPod calibration is nowhere close to the level of calibration that an audiologist would put you through. It's more than simply boosting voices and filtering out background noises, it's calibrating to a much higher level of precision for this. On top of that, the difference between "just right" and "too loud" is pretty small, and you really want a professional to set it to the point where it aids your hearing without damaging your hearing further. If you just pump the volume up, you can hear better, but you're also potentially causing even more damage. A professional can help you do that better. OTC hearing aids are still calibrated by professionals, although probably not to the degree that a more serious hearing aid would be.

solardev 3y ago

> Hearing aids are specifically designed to compensate for loss, not simply to filter out background noise and boost voices. Can you explain what "compensating for loss" means in this context? How do hearing aids work beyond filtering out noise and boosting voices? From https://youtu.be/X-CqJFSWkHk?si=xLV3eTmZ-5GV9Iq2&t=227 https://youtu.be/X-CqJFSWkHk?si=xLV3eTmZ-5GV9Iq2&t=227, it sounds like it's doing what an equalizer would, just tuned to particular ear's response. Can't an app test that too and adjust the output accordingly? I mean, real hearing aids are being sold COTS now, aren't they? Do those still require a medical consultation? --- Actually, this has a much better overview of the kind of calibration they do for real hearing aids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSQemYlC80 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSQemYlC80 (not sure if the COTS stuff do anything similar) The Airpod calibration is nowhere near as thorough.

Jemaclus 3y ago
Yeah, that last part is the right part. AirPod calibration is nowhere close to the level of calibration that an audiologist would put you through. It's more than simply boosting voices and filtering out background noises, it's calibrating to a much higher level of precision for this. On top of that, the difference between "just right" and "too loud" is pretty small, and you really want a professional to set it to the point where it aids your hearing without damaging your hearing further. If you just pump the volume up, you can hear better, but you're also potentially causing even more damage. A professional can help you do that better. OTC hearing aids are still calibrated by professionals, although probably not to the degree that a more serious hearing aid would be.