AirPods Pro 2 alternative for someone who's hard of hearing?

[rampancy]

So I've been paying close attention to the talk around the AirPods Pro 2 being potentially good enough to serve as low-end hearing aids (though no substitute for full-on prescription hearing aids). I've thought about buying a set for my partner, who's hard of hearing. Of course, the AirPods Pro 2 features she'd need (namely Conversation Boost, and Transparency Mode) are highly reliant on being paired with an iPhone, and my partner isn't going to toss away her phone anytime soon.

Is there another, more Android-friendly option out there that has features equivalent to Conversation Boost and Transparency Mode?

 

[nemodomi]

Not really, as of October 7, 2023, per this:

Tested: Can Regular Bluetooth Earbuds Be Used as Hearing Aids?

 

[Clix Pix]

So I've been paying close attention to the talk around the AirPods Pro 2 being potentially good enough to serve as low-end hearing aids (though no substitute for full-on prescription hearing aids). I've thought about buying a set for my partner, who's hard of hearing. Of course, the AirPods Pro 2 features she'd need (namely Conversation Boost, and Transparency Mode) are highly reliant on being paired with an iPhone, and my partner isn't going to toss away her phone anytime soon.

Is there another, more Android-friendly option out there that has features equivalent to Conversation Boost and Transparency Mode?

Is your partner already working with an audiologist / ENT to correctly identify the extent of the hearing loss and what the best strategies would be to deal with this? Seriously, that really needs to be the first step. Throwing a set of AirPods at her isn't going to serve in the long term (or even the short term) to resolve her hearing situation.

 

[rampancy]

Is your partner already working with an audiologist / ENT to correctly identify the extent of the hearing loss and what the best strategies would be to deal with this? Seriously, that really needs to be the first step. Throwing a set of AirPods at her isn't going to serve in the long term (or even the short term) to resolve her hearing situation.

She's worked with an audiologist / ENT to correctly identify the source and extent of her hearing loss, so she's very familiar with what's affecting her. She was diagnosed at 15, and wore hearing aids at that time until her early-20s. She later realized they didn't make much difference apart from providing some level volume control over what she was hearing. The issue is that the hearing aids that she that should have given her current level of hearing loss are extremely expensive (about $3,000 CAD per ear), and according to conversations she's had with her dad who's experienced with using hearing aids, she'll have to replace them every couple of years.

Of course, her dad, who's a retired civil servant/law enforcement officer, has health coverage to make sure he's set for life with top-of-the-line hearing aids. He's refused to support her getting any (for reasons I won't get into here), and her current insurance only covers a miniscule amount of the cost. (Can you tell I'm a little salty about that?)

And yes, throwing a set of AirPods Pro 2 (or the HP Hearing Pro, or the Nuheara IQbuds 2 Max) at her won't solve her hearing issues. But they're at least something she can use to ameliorate the day-to-day issues she faces with conversations in various aural environments, since she simply doesn't have access to the kind of money needed for prescribed hearing aids.

It's a potentially viable option that's at least better than what she's got now, which is nothing.

Not really, as of October 7, 2023, per this:

Tested: Can Regular Bluetooth Earbuds Be Used as Hearing Aids?

Thanks so much for that link. My partner has the same level of hearing loss as the author of that article, so it's great getting their in-depth perspective on the competitive landscape of sound-amplifying Bluetooth earbuds. I didn't even know products like the Senheisers or the HP buds even existed. She's in the market for getting a new phone so an iPhone is potentially in the cards, which will open up the AirPods Pro 2 as an option for her.

 

[Clix Pix]

There may be other options beside traditional hearing aids. Your partner may be a candidate for either bone-anchored sound processor(s) or cochlear implants. Have either of these options been discussed with her ENT or audiologist? The reason I mention this is because often in the US they will be covered by health insurance plans and/or Medicare/Medicaid even when traditional hearing aids are not, because both are considered more as "prosthetics" to replace hearing functions and require some surgical intervention to implant part of the system. Something to check out, maybe?

 

[rampancy]

There may be other options beside traditional hearing aids. Your partner may be a candidate for either bone-anchored sound processor(s) or cochlear implants. Have either of these options been discussed with her ENT or audiologist? The reason I mention this is because often in the US they will be covered by health insurance plans and/or Medicare/Medicaid even when traditional hearing aids are not, because both are considered more as "prosthetics" to replace hearing functions and require some surgical intervention to implant part of the system. Something to check out, maybe?

First, we don't live in the US. We live in Canada.

Second, the two audiologists she has seen have recommended hearing aids, not cochlear implants. Cochlear implants would actually ruin the hearing she does have. She's hard of hearing (severe to intermediate), not at a profound level, or deaf.

Third, OHIP (public health care in the province of Ontario) covers the cost at only up to $500, and her current work insurance wouldn't provide much extra. She would still be responsible for most of the remaining cost.

 

[Clix Pix]

Ah, I must've missed your (and your partner's) location.... Sorry about that! Yes, things are different in Canada than they are in the US with regard to health care, government-provided coverage, health insurance and all that.

Bone-anchored sound processors (BAHAs) are different than cochlear implants, and people who aren't doing well with traditional hearing aids but who are not a candidate for cochlear implants may benefit from them. In particular BAHAs work well for those who have conductive hearing loss as opposed to sensorineural hearing loss.

I hope that you and your partner can find a good hearing solution for her!

 

[rampancy]

Bone-anchored sound processors (BAHAs) are different than cochlear implants, and people who aren't doing well with traditional hearing aids but who are not a candidate for cochlear implants may benefit from them. In particular BAHAs work well for those who have conductive hearing loss as opposed to sensorineural hearing loss.

Except that my partner's past audiologists have already diagnosed her as requiring hearing aids, not other devices like a BAHA. Her loss of hearing issue isn't related to malformations of the middle/outer ear, and she doesn't have Single-Sided Deafness.

And even if she medically required a BAHA, the cost of the initial surgical abutment alone is $10,000-$17,000; the processor is another $5,000-$8,000 on top of that (and that's in USD I assume so the cost in CAD would be even higher). Ontario health insurance doesn't cover any of that; her private health insurance would likely only cover a fraction of that, if it would cover it at all. She'd have to wait five years before she'd qualify for provincial coverage, and it would only require a fraction of the required replacement processor and surgery. Which brings me back the original reason why I asked this question. Affordability.

Once again, the problem isn't that she's medically unsuited for hearing aids or cochlear implants. The issue is that she needs very expensive hearing aids and is currently unable to afford them with provincial health insurance and her level of private health insurance.

 

[mfram]

I'm not sure what solution you think you're looking for. I have moderate-to-severe hearing loss (at different frequencies) and let me tell you that AirPods are not even close to enough to do anything very useful. Only my prescription aids get me close to hearing in a reasonable way. And, yes, they are expensive. And, yes, they are barely covered by insurance in the U.S. The good news in the U.S. is that hearing aids are now allowed to be dispensed without a prescription. And, as such, several vendors now offer over-the-counter hearing aids at lower costs compared to ones like what I have (Oticon More). Those would be your most cost-effective option if you can get even them in Canada. Or maybe the person in question would have to come to the U.S. to get them.

 

[SkiHound2]

So I've been paying close attention to the talk around the AirPods Pro 2 being potentially good enough to serve as low-end hearing aids (though no substitute for full-on prescription hearing aids). I've thought about buying a set for my partner, who's hard of hearing. Of course, the AirPods Pro 2 features she'd need (namely Conversation Boost, and Transparency Mode) are highly reliant on being paired with an iPhone, and my partner isn't going to toss away her phone anytime soon.

Is there another, more Android-friendly option out there that has features equivalent to Conversation Boost and Transparency Mode?

You might look at Jabra. I think they offer an over the counter in ear hearing aid that also functions kind of like earbuds. I've not used them and haven't looked at them closely. But could be something to at least check out. I have Phonak HAs and airpod pro 2s. My hearing loss is mostly just normal age related loss roll off as frequencies increase. My airpods pro definitely work to enhance things like voice, TV, etc. As actual HAs they just aren't in the same category as the Phonaks; of course they are way less expensive and that wasn't what they were really designed for. OTOH, music through the Phonak HAs sucks in comparison to the AP2 Pros. If you have Costcos in CA, and if you have one nearby you might want to check them out. They have audiologist fitted HAs for around US $1500 - $1600 and they get really good reviews. It's what I'd have done if I hadn't had decent help via insurance. No idea what the situation is in Canada. Also, you might check out Jabra hearing aids fitted online. At least in the US they offer online fitting and help and seem to get good reviews. I think the Costco option is preferable, but Jabra seemed like a pretty good option when I was looking. When you think about what you get with something like AP2 Pros, the cost of dedicated HAs is pretty wild. BTW, I kind of resisted getting HAs but I'm happy I got them. Good luck to you and your partner.

 

[rampancy]

My partner is looking for something that would assist with her hearing, and from her recent research (reading books such as Volume Control by David Owen) and from my own cursory research, something like the AirPods Pro 2 (or a future iteration) seem to be the leading option. FDA-approved OTC hearing aids like the ones mentioned (and covered by the same author of the article @nemodomi cited) seem to be another promising option, though it'd be useful to read reviews of them first before seriously pursuing them.

And yes, once again she knows that prescription aids are ideally what she should have. Once again, we know that bluetooth earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2 are not replacements for prescription hearing aids. And yes, once again she does not have the money to afford them.

Truthfully, the message that it's either $6000 prescription hearing aids (which would have to be replaced in 2-3 years) or nothing isn't helpful for her, or people like her for whom hearing aids are not financially accessible.

 

[Night Spring]

Truthfully, the message that it's either $6000 prescription hearing aids (which would have to be replaced in 2-3 years)

I've managed to stretch out prescription hearing aids for 5-6 years, even though the audiologist recommended I replace them in 2-3 years, like you say.