Airpods as Hearing Aids

[Aston441]

It would be nice if Apple added some software to just have the sounds picked up by the mic immediately amplified into the speaker of the Airpod, along with a graphic EQ, so people could tailor the frequency response to their particular hearing deficit.

I think there's probably enough hardware inside the Airpod to do this natively. It couldn't make the trip through Bluetooth because if the delay, which would be annoying.

Such a thing would help millions of people that can't afford thousands of dollars for custom hearing aids, and would also cut down on the embarrassment lots of people have about wearing hearing aids too.
[doublepost=1490714731][/doublepost]It could also give people without hearing deficits superhuman hearing powers.

 

[Polaroid]

Hearing aids are more discrete than AirPods.

 

[NT1440]

It would be nice if Apple added some software to just have the sounds picked up by the mic immediately amplified into the speaker of the Airpod, along with a graphic EQ, so people could tailor the frequency response to their particular hearing deficit.

I think there's probably enough hardware inside the Airpod to do this natively. It couldn't make the trip through Bluetooth because if the delay, which would be annoying.

Such a thing would help millions of people that can't afford thousands of dollars for custom hearing aids, and would also cut down on the embarrassment lots of people have about wearing hearing aids too.
[doublepost=1490714731][/doublepost]It could also give people without hearing deficits superhuman hearing powers.

They already have a program exclusively for iPhone/iOS certified Hearing Aids with dozens of options:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201466

Apple has been working hard on this for years.

 

[Aston441]

They already have a program exclusively for iPhone/iOS certified Hearing Aids with dozens of options:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201466

Apple has been working hard on this for years.

I clicked on your link. I checked the price of the first one listed, the Audibel A3i.

I looked up the price:

$5000.00

Each. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS for a pair.

That's the point. That's why I started this thread.

 

[AlliFlowers]

That is the cost of a good pair of hearing aids. And insurance doesn't cover them.

I clicked on your link. I checked the price of the first one listed, the Audibel A3i.

I looked up the price:

$5000.00

Each. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS for a pair.

That's the point. That's why I started this thread.

 

[EDH667]

It would be nice if Apple added some software to just have the sounds picked up by the mic immediately amplified into the speaker of the Airpod, along with a graphic EQ, so people could tailor the frequency response to their particular hearing deficit.

I think there's probably enough hardware inside the Airpod to do this natively. It couldn't make the trip through Bluetooth because if the delay, which would be annoying.

Such a thing would help millions of people that can't afford thousands of dollars for custom hearing aids, and would also cut down on the embarrassment lots of people have about wearing hearing aids too.
[doublepost=1490714731][/doublepost]It could also give people without hearing deficits superhuman hearing powers.

Bose is working on something like this: http://hearphones.bose.com/

 

[Aston441]

Bose is working on something like this: http://hearphones.bose.com/

Nice. They're less than $300.

If Bose can do it, certainly Apple can. Like I said, the hardware of the Airpods can probably already do it. It just needs the software.

What a miracle if the hundreds of millions of hearing impaired people that can't afford $10,000 could suddenly hear better for $160.

 

[rockyromero]

It could also give people without hearing deficits superhuman hearing powers.

In loud places, I use Airpods as earplugs to lower the volume.

There is a good thought trending here.

➰

 

[rijc99]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hearingtracker.com/blog/bragi-dash-for-hearing-loss/amp/

 

[Aston441]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hearingtracker.com/blog/bragi-dash-for-hearing-loss/amp/

I hope they do that. It seems the tech has finally progressed to where the world can finally have a mass produced hearing aid at $150 for the masses. Someone just needs to make it happen now. Maybe some Chinese company. Probably whoever first does it successfully will become a billionaire. I happen to spend a portion of my day with older folks: hearing loss is the norm. It causes older people to be far less interactive - they sort of shut down after a while and it's because they just can't afford $10,000.

 

[brian.soares]

It would be nice if Apple added some software to just have the sounds picked up by the mic immediately amplified into the speaker of the Airpod, along with a graphic EQ, so people could tailor the frequency response to their particular hearing deficit.

I think there's probably enough hardware inside the Airpod to do this natively. It couldn't make the trip through Bluetooth because if the delay, which would be annoying.

Such a thing would help millions of people that can't afford thousands of dollars for custom hearing aids, and would also cut down on the embarrassment lots of people have about wearing hearing aids too.
[doublepost=1490714731][/doublepost]It could also give people without hearing deficits superhuman hearing powers.

I’ve tried Fennex app for iPhone. It claims to be an augmented hearing mobile app compatible with AirPods. First you take a hearing test ‘specifically designed for airpods’ and then you can amplify the sound based on your hearing loss (similar to a hearing amplifier). There is a variety of microphones you can choose from. The combination airpods as input and output doesn't work well. It seems you cannot capture sound beyond 1-2 meters and when you speak your own voice is very loud. However, if you use the iPhone’s microphone as an input and the AirPods as an output the sound quality is pretty impressive. I experience some delay, it might be because I am using an old iPhone 5.t . If you can leave your mobile phone few meters away you won’t notice this delay. These are ways to use it https://tackk.com/vfw4st .On my experience at this time the Fennex app is good enough for all situations when delay is not so noticeable, like walkin aside someone or sitting in a car when you cant look a the lips that move, but hopefully this will soon be fixed.

 

[Aston441]

I’ve tried Fennex app for iPhone. It claims to be an augmented hearing mobile app compatible with AirPods. First you take a hearing test ‘specifically designed for airpods’ and then you can amplify the sound based on your hearing loss (similar to a hearing amplifier). There is a variety of microphones you can choose from. The combination airpods as input and output doesn't work well. It seems you cannot capture sound beyond 1-2 meters and when you speak your own voice is very loud. However, if you use the iPhone’s microphone as an input and the AirPods as an output the sound quality is pretty impressive. I experience some delay, it might be because I am using an old iPhone 5.t . If you can leave your mobile phone few meters away you won’t notice this delay. These are ways to use it https://tackk.com/vfw4st .On my experience at this time the Fennex app is good enough for all situations when delay is not so noticeable, like walkin aside someone or sitting in a car when you cant look a the lips that move, but hopefully this will soon be fixed.

Wow, thanks for the info! I'll play with the app later.