I have Signia’s Audiologists software for programing hearing aids.
Perhaps then with the fitting software you could generate your own for both ears. Don’t know about Signia but ReSound’s fitting software has “in situ audiometry.” You can test each ear by playing a tone from the receiver for that ear into your ear and by increasing or decreasing the gain, find the lowest level of a test frequency that you can hear in that ear. I’ve done in situ audiometry on myself with the ReSound Smart Fit software and generated an audiogram that very closely matches the one shown in association with my avatar on this forum. Generating the correct audiogram that matches your actual hearing loss depends on the hearing aids functioning properly, obviously. But if your old aids are still good, you should be able to do it.
Audiologists still offer valuable services. If the hardware were lower and they decreased their fitting costs a bit, they will be competitive. Some users with severe hearing loss will always require a good Aud, and others may come in who normally wouldn’t, seeing prices becoming more palatable. There’s still a huge untapped market in the US. There can be enough work for everyone to benefit, including the individualized care from a professional Aud And that includes the manufacturers. If you move more volume you can reduce your margins and still make money. They’re already doing it at Costco.
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I think as this new segment of the market place matures, it will drive down prices because people will be able to forgo audiologists which in turn will render the prescription based model uncompetitive. This is why hearing aids are so expensive, not because of technology. I’d bet that Bose had little problem designing a hearing aid and big problems trying to get approval to sell them. The one thing that I see in this forum is that most people are having a hard time believing that these non prescription hearing aids can be as good as prescription ones. After 5 days wearing them, I can say with confidence that I can hear every bit a good as I can with my Signia cellion 5s and 7s. The next generation is going to be a hearing test built in to the app and it will automatically program them. Bluetooth, rechargables and all of the bells and whistles are coming shortly. There still will be a need for audiologists for people with serious issues, they just won’t be able to charge $5000 - $6000 any more because the market won’t bear it. Rest assured, the next wall to come crumbling down is when the Chinese start reverse engineering them and you can buy them for $129. It’s coming. They are doing it with everything. All of this stuff is going to drive technology faster than ever before too. There are too many people that have gone with out that can scrape together under a $1000 bucks and this is an untapped market. This will also help break the stigma and embarrassment that a lot of people have about wearing hearing aids. Wait until they start blinging them out. The biggest shock will be when the hearing aids that you paid $5000 for drop to $500. Buy one and get the second one free. Unless they can lobby congress to somehow stop this market from developing, we are going to see a golden age of hearing aids. It’s just how business works. Remember when Phillips came out with the first flat screen tv. They were about 20 inches and $10,000.
BTW…I picked up Chinese food tonight and I could hear the woman behind a plexiglass screen with a mask and a heavy Chinese accent…$31.65.
Perhaps then with the fitting software you could generate your own audiogram for both ears.
I’ve stated a few times now and this will be the last time. I no longer have a need for an . If people think I am a shill for Bose, a liar, full of crap or have no credibility because I haven’t posted one. So be it. I’ve shared my experience and opinions and as far as I can see, this forum is cool with that. For those of you aren’t, feel free to ignore me. I’m good with that.
The one thing that I see in this forum is that most people are having a hard time believing that these non prescription hearing aids can be as good as prescription ones.
Where do you see this, I haven’t seen anything that actually states this, but again there’s always someone who believes something they read on the interwebs which isn’t supported on facts, but nevertheless the Bose and other hearing aids are the best thing I see for a lot of people, including myself, a few of us on this topic after following the thread, are asking for people who are using them with great success,to post their respective , nothing negative on this at all.
I noticed that both Samsung and Apple will probably have products by the end of the year as well, so it’s definitely going to be a very competitive market!
You expend a lot of energy and a lot of time repeatedly proclaiming how great the Bose SoundControl devices are. Also a lot of time railing against the evils and overpricing of the establishment. You make claims of how wonderful the Bose SoundControls are for your hearing loss, in spite of the Bose site telling you that the devices were not appropriate for your more severe loss than the target range the devices were designed to serve. So if nothing else, it’s hubris that you can’t afford to spend the perhaps 10 to 15 minutes to do an in situ of yourself, which should be easy if you’re as knowledgeable about HA’s as you claim. Sorry, but adamantly saying it’s impossible to provide an audiogram just pops your overly inflated balloon with a loud bang. As Raudrive and others have pointed out, an actual audiogram would give other HT members some idea of how severe a loss the Bose SoundControl might help hearing loss sufferers deal with. Readers would have to realize it might not work for them. But you’d actually be promoting the value of the devices, which I think it what you want to do, rather than leaving an unsettled question mark as to what sort of loss the devices might help ameliorate. Folks are eager to hear you provide more info but instead for some strange reason, you’ve made that enthusiasm and interest into an imagined insult.
I never claimed to be that knowledgeable but obviously you are. I’ve stated multiple times that these are my experiences and opinions. Please feel free to ignore me.
The reason people here are asking for an is not as an affirmation or validation per se, but as a benchmark to understand how relevant your experience is to their own hearing loss. Posting your Audiogram is very helpful for forum users to determine how useful your experience is to them personally and if your success with the Bose is something they are likely to experience as well. People are asking because they would find it helpful.
I think kids could figure out fitting them by themselves. It’s a simple process. They all know how to use computers, cell phones and personal music devices.
That wasn’t the point she was trying to make. The risk is that parents will fit these rather than getting a correctable middle ear problem fixed, then the middle-ear turns to slush and the ossicular chain dissolves, resulting in a circa 40dB conductive loss going forward.
Well, not just that. Even minor deviations from prescriptive targets are associated with poorer speech & language & educational outcomes for children.
I welcome the new member and his opinions, which he says we can take or leave. I agree an would be helpful, but I would just say we should give the benefit of the doubt in this instance. I cannot imagine Bose would do this type of guerrilla marketing and the member has posted no link or way to monetize his posts.
I had a chance to read this thread a little more thoroughly now… I can see why people are asking to see the since @kjp111 says his hearing loss is severe, and the Bose hearing aids are not meant to be a solution for severe hearing loss. My guess is maybe he has a few high pitches that are severe, but that the Bose hearing aid isn’t helping there. Providing audibility through the mid tones can make a huge impact since that’s where most speech information is, especially if the high pitches are not providing useful information anymore, as happens with some people with severe/profound thresholds.
Interestingly the Bose screening test where it determines if one is a candidate is basically a Speech in Noise Test. Interesting way to determine if hearing aid is appropriate. Question I still have: 1)Are there changeable and if not, what prevents wax from plugging a receiver? A couple of recommendations for somebody who is buying these: 1) Use a credit card that includes an extended warranty. These seem to come with a 1 year warrant and it’s highly likely one will have issues (at least receiver replacements, although at $50 apiece that’s not too bad. 2)Find a source of reasonable priced 312 batteries. This HearingTracker.com1 site or Costco are both good choiices. Bose’s prices for batteries are outrageous. Some concerns: Although these come with recommendations for use (18 or older and mild or moderate loss) it’s apparent people will choose not to follow the recommendations. Since one can generally get a hearing test for low or no cost, I think it’s prudent to do so to rule out treatable problems.
I welcome the new member and his opinions, which he says we can take or leave. I agree an audiogram would be helpful, but I would just say we should give the benefit of the doubt in this instance. I cannot imagine Bose would do this type of guerrilla marketing and the member has posted no link or way to monetize his posts.
Thank you . Your assessment is correct. You can PM me and I’ll give you a phone number and you can grill me. I’m a verbose MF. I filled out my profile in order for people to get an idea of who I am. I’ve been coming to this forum for a few years but never joined or posted. I didn’t have anything to offer. I got the news that Bose was supposedly coming out with hearing aids here and I saw some people talk about how good their hearphones were. As I’ve stated, I think Bose has done kind of a crappy job bringing these to market but also think there are political / business ramifications and they have to be very careful as they are the first. I did not need to buy Bose . I have a brand new pair of Signia Cellion 7 sitting in the charger on the counter. I received these on May 25. I’ve blown away at how well I can hear and I thought that the information about these has been so slow to get out that people would love hearing about them in the real world. I completely understand why the has been such a lifeline here. I can’t find mine and truly have no reason to. I think they are a lifeline to some people but I also think they are an instrument that has been used against them. My opinion. I was so curious about these that I just took a shot and bought them because I needed to see for myself. I had the same doubts and questions as everyone else as they seem too good to be true. I never spent a nickle on a Boss product but as a musician I can say that I’ve always been impressed, except by their prices.
To me, It feels like there is a lot of resistance and skepticism from the media and many HA wearers. Nobody is more skeptical then I am. I lived in New Jersey until I was 40 and was born with an extra cynical gene. I am also a 64 year technology geek. I build my own computer with Linux operating systems, I have consistently been way ahead of my peers in adopting new technology within my industry. I ride a motorcycle with technology that would astound most people. People are resistant to change. It’s uncomfortable. These new non prescription HA are coming at us quickly. I saw an ad last night for a company called Lively Hearing Aids. I think many of the things we’ve believed about HA are going to change big time. Don’t worry about it. We’re all going to figure out the good and the bad. It’s going to be good for us and we’re all going to benefit by it. I think the industry will fight back but ultimately, their going to have to lower prices and offer their own versions and they will. I think audiologists are going to fight back also because I believe they profit handsomely on hearing aids. But ultimately, there’s going to be some that embrace the new technology and do very well and offer an entire new range of new products and services. Imagine being able to drive down the local Hearing Aids R US. I also want to say that it makes me sick to the core of my soul when I hear about people that can’t afford good hearing aids. I see used ones on Ebay and that’s gotta tell you something. When people are getting in to their senior years and can do less and less, don’t they at least deserve to hear. So you can’t run a marathon or do aerobics, at least you should be able to hear conversations with friends and family and listen to different media. Having to sit in isolation because you can’t afford HA is disgusting. Again…thank you AB for giving me the benefit of the doubt. I could be wrong about many of my opinions but they are all sincere.
In fact, the highs are what is worst for me. My hearing is like listening to a high quality stereo with the treble turned completely off. My tinnitus sounds like there’s machinery running in the back ground. My hearing loss is so severe that 5 years ago I had a new job and after the 1st week my boss questioned whether I could continue working there. Fortunately I had my appointment with the audiologist scheduled and it saved me. That jerk would have fired me in a minute if I didn’t get .
I think @kjp111 is genuinely excited about having HAs that work for him and not spending crazy amounts of money (like I just did - hopefully never again).
There will be a lot more posts over the next few months about Bose and other similarly priced OTC aids…have to get used to it !
Thank You! I actually can’t believe that I am this excited about hearing aids. I can’t wait until I can get little chrome covers and Flame decals for them.
Did some research and found out that these do indeed use . They are obtainable from Bose, but unclear what the cost is. It is recommended that the Ear tips and wax filters be changed every 3 months and the receivers yearly.
Does anyone have any information, or informed thoughts, about when these or other aids might be available more widely in the U.S.? I understand (a little) about the FTC and possible Preemption of state laws, but it doesn’t look like the FTC has acted on the Reauthorization Act at all yet. If I’m reading right, Bose found a workaround in the De Novo approval, rather than anything that would let them distribute the SoundControls more widely.
Just a guess that this is trial marketing and if all goes well they would eventually expand to all states. On the other hand, if it doesn’t go well, they might not.
Swansea, Massachusetts
Auckland, New Zealand
