56 replies1.4k viewsLast reply
Dr Cliff Aud talked about it in one of his videos. The official interepretations of the data were more reserved because the hearing industry association which commissions Marketrak also manufactures . I think it was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK5lJxS7_4Y2
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Hearing_Potential, Thank you for the link to Dtr. Cliff Olson video. I just watched it, for the second time, having watched it months ago. There is no mention, not one, of consumers returning them and/or turning to prescription hearing aids. Also, the Marketrak 2025 document he referenced, Consumer Perspectives on Hearing Health in Evolving Markets, likewise has no mention of OTC buyers returning them. By the way, the survey totaled 2,172 overall hearing aid wearers, of whom, 24 (not a misprint) we’re OTC wearers.
In addition to the almost complete absence of data on OTC wearers, Hearing_Potential, you write, “…(OTC) haven’t delivered on the promise of affordable hearing aids.” Really? Thousands of Air Pod Pro 3 wearers, Elehear Pro Wearers, etc have all been taken for a ride?
Its disappointing to see so many ill informed, yet self-assured, opinions about OTC hearing aids on this forum. Hilarious in a way, as several of the better OTC’s have been favorably reviewed on Hearing Tracker.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
I think there are several distinct issues that always somehow get conflated into “ aids.” You may be interested in prior posts I’ve made about them:
I can only speak for myself here, and you may have seen me post some of the same things on the Sonova thread. I think everything Cliff said is probably correct, but I also think the “hybrid” nature of Airpods has skewed the statistics for this entire category of devices. First, I tried a lot of these when they first came out. As Cliff said, they mostly weren’t great. They also weren’t cheap - some cost well over $1000, and most of them couldn’t even be calibrated to an audiogram. Maybe they’re …
I never quite understood what market they were aiming for. I bought the OTC All-Day Clear for $1400 when they were first released in 2023, and ended up returning them. While it might have been a perfectly good hearing aid, they erred on the side of over-simplification for the setup. There was no way to input an audiogram, no way to manually change the gain for different channels, and no way to manually switch between modes. If someone is ok with those limitations, much cheaper options exist. Yo…
It’s true that many people who use OTC aids would be better off seeing an audiologist. But would all of them actually do it but for the existence of OTC aids? No. Some would, some wouldn’t. Some can but would choose not to, and others can’t for a variety of reasons. And then there are people like me and several others on this forum, who’ve tried to do things “right” and found that we get better results figuring it out ourselves. In a perfect world where everyone had access to qualified specialists and money was no object, there would be much less of a role for OTC devices. But that’s not the world we live in. I don’t think it’s accurate to frame the issue as “Are OTC devices better than audiologist-prescribed aids?” when for many, the real question is “Are OTC devices better than nothing?”
Relatedly, many people with mild-moderate loss find that Airpods do a really good job for $200. I’m not saying $6000 Phonaks aren’t better, but the only way someone could get anything better for $200 would be to buy 10-year-old used aids on eBay and figure out programming. While that’s basically what I did, it’s not the best approach for someone new to hearing aids. And I’m not even sure it would be better than the current generation of Airpods. If someone’s budget is $200, there’s just no point telling them to see a professional.
In general, I err on the side of letting people make their own decisions and live with the consequences. There’s one group of people who might be worse off because they had a choice between OTC aids and prescription aids, and they chose wrong. There’s another group of people who are better off because OTC is a better (or perhaps the only) option for them. I don’t think it’s right to harm the second group just to protect the first group from themselves.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Not sure who is ill-informed and who isn’t. Case in point
The Hearing Aid Revolution That Wasn't6
Discover the truth behind the hearing aid revolution and why professional care remains crucial.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Talking about the horribly laggy, buggy and devoid of functions app. The way Oticon ConnectClip works is a joke, constantly self-adjusting loudness for you, the moment you open another YouTube video you get tortured with loud volume, and there’s no option to just turn it off, I never had such behavior in any headphones. The connection is bad, it drains the phone’s battery. Oticon EduMic connects well but clearly doesn’t deliver a neutral sound signature, speech sounds too muddy, the sliders whether in Genie 2 or the app are useless and it doesn’t even allow to use other programs despite being the newer and more expensive device.
If Oticon demands such high prices, it should at least think about the customer experience. But when the competition is legally crippled, there’s no incentive but greed.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
I must of missed it,but where is this information coming from that Pacifichearing.com4 is quoting.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Tenkan, Yeah, The same thought occurred to me. A well credentialed audiologist whose livelihood depends on patients entering his clinic, has a poor opinion of ’s. No data offered. Just, trust me, I’m a professional.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
One would think some posters on this board think the Miracle-Ear hearing aid is just a miracle. Well, I’m not in that group since their junk. Along with many other aids.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
I don’t think aids have hurt the established hearing aid industry. I think they may though eventually. The reason I think that is . It makes sense to me that a hearing device may not have to reach full prescription amplification targets so long as it’s working with a cleaner signal. I think we’re just seeing the beginning of AI-based de-noising in the hearables space.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
In reply to @Hearing_Potential
because it is the professional services and associated fitting procedures that are responsible for the greatest proportion of success with hearing aids for the average user.
I have to say, “Hear hear.” Get it? Seriously, though, it’s not the device. It’s how the device ot adapted to your unique situation.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
The reason I think that is AI. It makes sense to me that a hearing device may not have to reach full prescription amplification targets so long as it’s working with a cleaner signal.
I think that’s a key point!
in hearing aids and hearables will eventually become a commodity and at that point cheap hearables with AI will be good enough for a lot of people.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Looking from a general scientific perspective at the impact of devices- the field of audiology is a real nightmare as far as hard data is concerned. Perhaps Apple can see the that Airpod Pro 2/3 buyers post, but I doubt they have a clue about how many of them then go after ‘genuine’ . Dedicated OTC makers, too, probably have little incentive to do a market study on this.
Beyond OTCs, it is not trivial to assess how pleased HA users are with their devices in day-to-day situations- unlike glasses, their corrective power is difficult to measure objectively. Things like knowing if HA use worsens hearing over time and what/if diet, medication and lifestyle changes affect hearing in a (mostly elderly) cohort whose hearing naturally worsen over time is also very difficult.
So, yes, important to scrutinize the claims here.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
There is another video where he discusses this, but my youtube access is restricted to only videos intended for kids on this network and Most of Dr Cliff’s videos are not marked that way so I literally cannot see them in a search. You’ll need to search his channel further. He has done more objective reviews of devices than any other channel thus far and was a strong promoter of them.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Hearing_Potential, Yes, Thanks. I’ve watched Dr. Cliff’s videos on Airpods Pro 2 and 3 several times before I bought the 3’s which I like for back ups and tv watching. Dr. Cliff is smart, informative and honest. (He talks fast, I hear slow. So I’m in stop, back-up, repeat mode with his videos.)
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
He comes across as a overhyped car salesman! Don’t forget this guy has a vested interest in some of the bah bah he has to say.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Beware of what you see and hear in videos with unsubstantiated claims. They rarely come with footnotes citing the original studies…
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Tenkan, Yes, Cliff Olson does have a vested interest in promoting prescription hearing aids and in the audiology profession. For instance, he has stated he cannot recommend hearing aids. Yet, he has given fair minded reviews of the Apple Airpods Pro 2 and 3. He emphasizes they are not on par with prescription devices, but concedes they have their place.
Yes, his speaking style and presentation reminds me of a salesman on the midway at a state fair hawking the most fantastic vegetable slicers and dicers. But the content is right on mostly in my opinion.
He is alternately critical and somewhat praiseworthy of Costco Hearing Centers. In one video he panned them. In another he was pretty fair minded.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
RobHooft, I agree whole heartedly, unsubstantiated claims abound. All claims must be met with scrutiny.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Why do I have a feeling that this post is a tribune against ?
Someone has had it with the competition, perhaps OP works for the big 5?
Moar OTC, means moar competition, which means moar choices for US hard of hearing people.
Hopefully, we will see kits that challenges the big 5 and OTC.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Why do I have a feeling that this post is a tribune against OTC?
Because the OP spells out why has not only failed the majority of users but also tarnishes the “quality standards” of hearing aids.
Someone has had it with the competition, perhaps OP works for the big 5?
You’re shooting blanks here. I’ve witnessed the industry over the last several decades and seen the good and the bad. Same with the . HA are grossly overvalued, so OTC somewhat counters that. Yet what’s worse is hearing aids at any price that don’t work properly. Cheap HA’s aids sold by clueless distributors who have zero hearing-related medical training. So we have quality HA’s sold at Costco, but soon OTC aids of questionable quality sold at Walmart.
Moar OTC, means moar competition, which means moar choices for US hard of hearing people.
No one (especially me) wants to see a reduction in HA manufacturers. Nor CI providers, which is sadly just three in the United States. So the more competition the better, but only if the competition has a proven track record, puts quality over quantity, and offers the hearing challenged a fair price.
You’re ignoring this member’s posts.
Log in to reply to this topic.
Hearing Aids144 replies
Hearing Aids105 replies
Hearing Aids37 replies
Hearing Aids72 replies
Hearing Aids28 replies
San Diego, CA, USA
Geneva, Switzerland