A recent paper published in the journal iScience states that some “commercial earbuds can perform as well as hearing aids” which “could help a large proportion of people with hearing loss access more affordable sound amplification devices.” AirPods by Apple, for example, came out with “Live Listen” in 2016 which “allows people to use its wireless earphones, AirPods, and iPhone for sound amplification.” The team of researchers wanted to see if this feature could be used in place of hearing aids for hearing impaired individuals. They found that in a noisy environment, “AirPods Pro showed comparable performance to premium hearing aids when the noises came from the lateral direction of the participant.” However, the AirPods failed when the noise was coming from the front. While they are not perfect, this may be an option for some individuals who do not want to use hearing aids for whatever reason, one of which is the social stigma many people feel.
Headphones Work As Hearing Aids?
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The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.