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I won't speak for everyone but my $1,500 hearing aides are terrible Bluetooth earbuds. Music streamed from my phone is full of static and I end up going back t

I won't speak for everyone but my $1,500 hearing aides are terrible Bluetooth earbuds. Music streamed from my phone is full of static and I end up going back to my trusty wired headphones. If the AirPods work as hearing aides I'm never going back.

gedy 2y ago
Yeah I was very underwhelmed by sound quality of my not cheap hearing aids. Bose Hearphones and Airpod Pros were way better and much cheaper
kshacker 2y ago
Curious as a future patient. How long do the prescribed hearing aids lost? I don't know when the AirPods came but I have used only 2 generations and with a price tag of 200-250 odd, I don't mind replacing every 2-3 years, just trying to see comparison with the medical industry (whether we pay or the insurance pays)
- Retric 2y ago
  In the US clinical hearing aids cost 2,000 to 7000$ for a pair (half that if you need one) + whatever the audiologist charges. Like a lot of medical expenses you can drop that significantly with over the counter options available for under 1,000$. That said, hearing loss varies quite a bit and high end devices have meaningful benefits in terms of customization.
- desert_rue 2y ago
  My dad’s were in the 2k range and are expected to be good for about three years. Not that they don’t last longer- just that all the features like Bluetooth should last for three years.
LooseMarmoset 2y ago
I have a set of the Pro 2s. The noise cancellation and adaptive listening is really great, but the damn things will not stay in my ears no matter what tip I use or how I orient the things in my ear. Talking, chewing gum, and even just leaning my head back is enough to make the things fall out. I really wanted to like these things as I have terrible hearing, and the assistive hearing on these is already pretty nice, but they don't do me any good if they won't stay in my ears. I haven't had this issue with any other earbud I've ever owned. Do yourself a favor and try a pair out first before you buy, if you can. EDIT: I am very open to specific recommendations on 3rd-party eartips for these things.
- nomel 2y ago
  There are many third party foam tips that should make them work for you. They give better hold and noise isolation.
  - tstrimple 2y ago
    This is what I do. The foam tips wear out faster, but as mentioned fit and noise isolation are superior. I've also noticed that some brands of foam tips interfere with charging the AirPods. You've got to sort of jam them down into the case to get contact. But that has been very size / brand specific.
- crazygringo 2y ago
  > but the damn things will not stay in my ears no matter what tip I use Look at third-party tips. There's no set of 3 tips that can work for everyone, but with third-party tips you're much more likely to find some that work.
  - selykg 2y ago
    Yup, my friend has some of these that were custom made based on his ears. They seem to be much much better for him as a result. I don't believe they were inexpensive though, at least what he had made.
    - BobaFloutist 2y ago
      They're still probably pretty price competitive with hearing aids.
      - selykg 2y ago
        As I recall it was a couple hundred bucks for the ear pieces plus the cost of the AirPods. So, yea, probably around the same price as MSRP AirPods Max.
  - numpad0 2y ago
skybrian 2y ago
Yes, bluetooth in hearing aids is great for answering the phone, but it's disappointing for music. It's not really what hearing aids are for. But I expect that we will still be switching between hearing aids and AirPods because they are different enough problems that they need different hardware. AirPod battery life isn't good enough and using them when talking to people is off-putting; it's a social signal you're not listening or don't want to be bothered.

gedy 2y ago

Yeah I was very underwhelmed by sound quality of my not cheap hearing aids. Bose Hearphones and Airpod Pros were way better and much cheaper

kshacker 2y ago

Curious as a future patient. How long do the prescribed hearing aids lost? I don't know when the AirPods came but I have used only 2 generations and with a price tag of 200-250 odd, I don't mind replacing every 2-3 years, just trying to see comparison with the medical industry (whether we pay or the insurance pays)

Retric 2y ago
In the US clinical hearing aids cost 2,000 to 7000$ for a pair (half that if you need one) + whatever the audiologist charges. Like a lot of medical expenses you can drop that significantly with over the counter options available for under 1,000$. That said, hearing loss varies quite a bit and high end devices have meaningful benefits in terms of customization.
desert_rue 2y ago
My dad’s were in the 2k range and are expected to be good for about three years. Not that they don’t last longer- just that all the features like Bluetooth should last for three years.

LooseMarmoset 2y ago

I have a set of the Pro 2s. The noise cancellation and adaptive listening is really great, but the damn things will not stay in my ears no matter what tip I use or how I orient the things in my ear. Talking, chewing gum, and even just leaning my head back is enough to make the things fall out. I really wanted to like these things as I have terrible hearing, and the assistive hearing on these is already pretty nice, but they don't do me any good if they won't stay in my ears. I haven't had this issue with any other earbud I've ever owned. Do yourself a favor and try a pair out first before you buy, if you can. EDIT: I am very open to specific recommendations on 3rd-party eartips for these things.

nomel 2y ago
There are many third party foam tips that should make them work for you. They give better hold and noise isolation.
- tstrimple 2y ago
  This is what I do. The foam tips wear out faster, but as mentioned fit and noise isolation are superior. I've also noticed that some brands of foam tips interfere with charging the AirPods. You've got to sort of jam them down into the case to get contact. But that has been very size / brand specific.
crazygringo 2y ago
> but the damn things will not stay in my ears no matter what tip I use Look at third-party tips. There's no set of 3 tips that can work for everyone, but with third-party tips you're much more likely to find some that work.
- selykg 2y ago
  Yup, my friend has some of these that were custom made based on his ears. They seem to be much much better for him as a result. I don't believe they were inexpensive though, at least what he had made.
  - BobaFloutist 2y ago
    They're still probably pretty price competitive with hearing aids.
    - selykg 2y ago
      As I recall it was a couple hundred bucks for the ear pieces plus the cost of the AirPods. So, yea, probably around the same price as MSRP AirPods Max.
- numpad0 2y ago

skybrian 2y ago

Yes, bluetooth in hearing aids is great for answering the phone, but it's disappointing for music. It's not really what hearing aids are for. But I expect that we will still be switching between hearing aids and AirPods because they are different enough problems that they need different hardware. AirPod battery life isn't good enough and using them when talking to people is off-putting; it's a social signal you're not listening or don't want to be bothered.