Air Pods as hearing aids

Anyone using the hearing aid feature of the newest Air Pods? I've been thinking about trying them out as hearing aids.

I am planning to see how it works, not sure I need it, but I do have a bit of tinnitus. It does require AirPods 2 and IOS 18.1

The hearing test might be enlightening. I am updating my iPhone right now.

DrVenture wrote

I am planning to see how it works, not sure I need it, but I do have a bit of tinnitus. It does require AirPods 2 and IOS 18.1

The hearing test might be enlightening. I am updating my iPhone right now.

Same. I'm curious about the hearing test combined with suggestions on how to set the Airpods to compensate where your hearing is deficient. I have serious tinnitus that gets louder with ambient noise, so I'm hoping these reduce ambient background noise while also helping me hear things I can't hear now. I just don't want to find out they make things worse.

UPDATE: Amazon has the Airpods Pro 2 pods for $179. I figured for that price they're worth the risk. If nothing else, I can wear them to the gym so I don't have to listen to the crappy excuse for music they play there.

I think the software will walk you through a complete set-up. I like the AirPods 2 a lot. I use the noise cancellation frequently. Not bad for in-ear devices. They can be used with Siri to answer calls or skip songs or change volume too. Transparency mode works well also. When I do something very loud, like mowing or power tools, I do use over-the-ear Bose though.

I'd be afraid of losing them if I used them for yard work or whatever. I'd still go with my foam earplugs for yard or shop work, for sure. I doubt I'll even use them for music. Mostly just hoping to improve my hearing a bit.

So far, so good. They certainly do amplify noises I haven't been hearing in years. Not sure that's an entirely good thing, but I guess it will take some getting used to and some fine tuning the settings. But just typing this out I can hear the keys clicking very crisply where I normally would just hear dull thumps. When I get up from my recliner, I can hear it squeaking a lot more than I could before.

Despite perpetual tinnitus, the test says "little to no hearing loss". I should be happy, and I expected as much. But, I was hoping it might offer some tinnitus relief, as I understand some hearing aids do.

Mark, I cannot place your avatar, obviously a sixties film/tv star and it is driving me nuts.

Also, I looked at your photos and you do really nice work. Those eclipse shots are perfect.

DrVenture wrote

Despite perpetual tinnitus, the test says "little to no hearing loss". I should be happy, and I expected as much. But, I was hoping it might offer some tinnitus relief, as I understand some hearing aids do.

Mark, I cannot place your avatar, obviously a sixties film/tv star and it is driving me nuts.

Also, I looked at your photos and you do really nice work. Those eclipse shots are perfect.

They didn't help my tinnitus either, but at least they didn't make it worse. My hearing test showed 37dBHL in my left ear and 23dBHL in my right ear. So a mild loss on the left and little or no loss on the right, although 23 is only 2 away from also being mild.

I'm not sure who that is in my avatar, TBH. It's just a pic I found ages and ages ago that sort of exemplifies that way I feel about so many things.

Glad you like my pics. I really need to dust off my camera gear and get back into the hobby.

my dad currently does, he loves them. compared to the price of previous ones, these were a deal

How does wearing Air Pods compare to wearing a true hearing aid, if you have the combined experience?

When you play music or take a phone call, can those with normal hearing listen in?

I wore my dad's aids after he passed, for a while. Volume increased, but they weren't tuned to my loss, so I still struggled. They weren't very comfortable for daily wear, and I couldn't connect via BT to my iphone.

Go see an audiologist. Those people have PhD's for a reason. You would be amazed how specific some hearing loss/deficiencies can be and what they can do to treat them. My daughter-in-law is an audiologist and has done work at the hospital, another Audiology practice and at the VA. She has helped my mother-in-law tremendously and sees a steady stream of her friends.

I've been.

Audiologist hearing aids - $6000
Air Pod 2 - $180


Decisions, decisions

UncleWede wrote

How does wearing Air Pods compare to wearing a true hearing aid, if you have the combined experience?

When you play music or take a phone call, can those with normal hearing listen in?

I wore my dad's aids after he passed, for a while. Volume increased, but they weren't tuned to my loss, so I still struggled. They weren't very comfortable for daily wear, and I couldn't connect via BT to my iphone.

I've never had hearing aids. The Airpods do help, but it's a double-edged sword. They pick up every little noise, so it's a bit of overkill. Little things like typing, where you can hear every click and clack distinctly. Any air movement, brushing against a fabric surface, etc. I know you can play with the settings and fine tune them, but I'm happier to just do without them as hearing aids. They work great for other things. Really good with phone calls and I use them at the gym to avoid listening the the music they play there. And no, if you're listening to music or on a call, only you can hear it.

That said, I only have a mild loss in one ear and a slightly worse loss in the other, so I can still hear fine otherwise.

DrVenture wrote

I think the software will walk you through a complete set-up. I like the AirPods 2 a lot. I use the noise cancellation frequently. Not bad for in-ear devices. They can be used with Siri to answer calls or skip songs or change volume too. Transparency mode works well also. When I do something very loud, like mowing or power tools, I do use over-the-ear Bose though.

Almost have replaced my over the ear Bose for inflight but the Airpods not as isolating. If I have a really short flight I might try.