Since I’ve been posted so many times here, let’s assume for a minute that I’m not full of crap and that my experience with Bose HA is good. I bought these even though they clearly warned me that my hearing loss should preclude me from using them. The OTC Hearing Aid Act, which I’m sure most of you are familiar with states:
•Makes certain types of hearing aids –those intended to be used by adults to compensate for perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment–available over the counter.
•Removes an unnecessary and burdensome requirement that consumers obtain a medical evaluation or sign a waiver of that examination in order to obtain an OTC hearing aid.
So anyone that comes out with a product in this category can’t claim that they do more than allowed by law, even if they do exceed that performance. In fact, Bose uses the exact same language as the law. As this law was passed in 2017, it’s taken almost 4 years for them to bring them to market which could be because it was difficult for a variety of reasons including political ones. From what I’ve read, you are correct about the De Novo approval and that Bose had a lot of difficulty getting approval. Why is it so difficult? Bose is in business to make money and I don’t think they are taking a pot shot on a product like this, which if successful, could be more profitable than all their other products. They’ve invested too much money to not be sure that they can be successful. I’ve watched for their product release for almost 3 years now and it seemed like it happened suddenly. Almost like there is a window of opportunity, lets do it before it closes. Strictly my impression. These are just my guesses, that they need to proceed cautiously to not get shut down, they need to have quick and measurable success. They need to have enough product, parts and support. It is a weird roll out, but like anything, once you have a precedent, it’s a lot easier to gain momentum. I saw a commercial for a company called Lively HA last night and I checked their website and it’s a fairly similar business model. They OTC HA online but they have audiologists on remote call. The horse is out of the barn. It’s way interesting to see how it all shakes out. I don’t think this is going away.
Bose snuck through from their prior approval of another device as a medical device. They are not selling these under the OTC hearing aid legislation as the FDA has still not released a final rule for the regulation of OTC aids. DTC are sold because there is a licensed audiologist in the sales process (however much or little they are). Everything else is a personal amplifier (PSAP) devices, not hearing aids in any classic sense, they just amplify everything. Until the FDA finalizes their rule by which to approve “true” OTC aids there will be nothing else released unless the manufacturer has some loophole they can rely on.
But if you loss was actually a true severe loss, these Bose aids would be underpowered for you.
Like @AbramBaileyAuD said, you likely don’t have a true severe loss, likely just the last high frequencies are close to severe.
Shh. I’ll be getting a message from the forum police telling me to include other people in the conversation. I figure if I can later answer my own question, why not?
Or they are more powerful than Bose is allowed to claim by law. Or maybe I’m a liar that has nothing better to do than dupe everyone into buying crappy HA from Bose. Is it my imagination or are there a lot of people that want Bose to be inadequet or discredited?
Civility costs nothing @kjp111, you may be frustrated at some of the forum members replies, but many are old hands on here, and go out of their way to help fellow HOH members…… @Zebras is a most helpful lady whom falls into this category! Nobody is actually accusing you of telling lies, your opinion is your own experience, but in the absence of a current audiogram they cannot make a valid comparison, and will therefore have to await other “Bose” new users, to post up, to ascertain if these may or may not meet their loss? They would be absolutely useless for me, being in the severe/profound threshold, so I have little or no interest in them for myself, but for others whom could benefit from these Bose Aids, they may be a godsend! I am truthfully glad you have found these Bose Aids highly beneficial, and hopefully many other HOH will be likewise…… Cheers Kev
It is not your imagination. I’m not posting here anymore about my experiences as it is clear the “regulars” here do not approve. I’m sure others have found this forum\thread and will never post their experiences. Such is the internet. FYI, 5 days and very happy with the Bose.
That’s a very sweeping statement statement @Fig would you care to elaborate? I am 100 percent in favour of cheaper options for those who may be financially challenged, and can’t afford to go to a regular AuD or indeed Costco, in my book any hearing aids, are better than none at all…… But, it’s no big deal to stick up your Audiogram to let other’s make a constructive assessment in comparison to their own loss…… Is there a trial period with these Bose Aids, or do you have to sign a waver if they recommend they aren’t for your loss? Does this mean you can’t return them if they recommend you not to buy? I am also glad you are doing well with them
Hi Fig, Sweep away and please continue to post. I came here because I was tired of the way things “just are” and the status quo. I know that there are many people that this need type of hearing aid and our experience will help. I registered and thought that people are wondering if they might be a solution and that people like us could help. I totally value your comments and it means a lot to me to see others that are finding the same results from actual experience. I don’t really care about the negative comments, we’re not lying and new people that have questions and can rely on us because, we have experience with them. People are free to treat their hearing loss any way they want and spend as much as they want.Thank you for your post and stay and say whatever you feel like. I’m listening and others will too. I want to hear all of your new great experiences and also your criticisms. I’m not here for the naysayers and could care less. Progress will clear them right out of the way as it always does.
BTW…I work from home and the neighbors are running a power washer. It’s really annoying because I barely was able to hear stuff like that before.
You have the attention of a lot of visitors to this forum. Fairly recently there was a post showing the average hearing loss of all the member who had posted their audiogram. I was surprised at how “moderate” the average members loss is. I guess the point of the several folks asking for an idea of your hearing loss is that folks want to know if the Bose hearing aid is for them or others who hang out here. Unfortunately for me, the answer irrelevant, as my hearing sucks and is a bit more than moderate. Understand that folks are not doubting you, they want to see what hearing loss is being helped. Inquiring minds want to know!
Thanks
Dan…
Hey Fig, How are you liking them. I’m 10 days and a full work week and I’m loving them. I closed over $600,000 worth of new business this past week and a big part of it has been that I can hear and negotiate with confidence. I feel like at this point that unless I suffer some major deterioration in my hearing in the next few years that these HA will be a permanent solution for me.
Over a week now myself, and they have been flawless. No complaints. Congrats for a productive work week! That is the kind of real world results that are the reason to have hearing aids. As I’ve said before, I don’t care about streaming music or TV, I simply want to hear better.
I have my Costco appointment this Tuesday. In spite of perfect performance of the Bose, I am very open to the KS10’s. The reason is I am having concerns about being such an early adopter. Like you I have been on the “cutting edge” of things most of my life. For example; had my first computer in 1980, online using email and getting news in 1984…etc. But the fact is Bose are testing the market at this point. I was able to get them since I live in Texas. If it doesn’t go well for them support for the product will quickly dry up. On the other hand, if they do well they will have a new and improved version very soon, and these first models will loose their focus and suppport. If I go with the KS10’s, it will be for the confidence I have is continuing support from Costco.
Products like the Bose are the future of the industry, no doubt. But I am leaning toward waiting for the industry to settle down after this OTC invasion.
I completely agree with you except that I don’t think this is a test. If the market doesn’t develop and they can’t sell enough to make money, then they’d discontinue them. That’s just business. These are too good out of the box and I think they figured out their price point carefully. The underlying opinion we’ve seen by a lot of people is that they’re not real hearing aids and that is simply not true. I am paying attention now and I’m seeing a big increase in OTC hearing aid advertising. The horse is out of the barn now.
I’m glad you decided not to let the negative comments keep you away. Great to hear from you.
I went to the pharmacy drive through this morning to pick up a prescription. Every time the clerk said something to me, my girlfriend repeated it to me. I turned to her and said “Anne, I can hear everything she’s saying” She’s been my interpreter even with or without HA for years. I think I’m going to be good on my own. It’s nice to not have to be embarrassed because I am constantly turning to her and asking what they just said. And then hope that I can hear her telling me what they just said.
The 3 things I like so much about the Hearphones, compared to my RX hearing aids were:
the focus (narrow/front/everywhere) works so well in noisy places.
the mute is great; it really cuts out things like lawnmowers and leaf blowers.
the response of the controls is very very fast. When I use my hearing aids somewhere I want to quickly go between very loud and very quiet, it takes 8 seconds, and I can’t hear anything during that time. The Hearphones are much faster, and they don’t pause and beep with each level.
Can anyone wearing the SoundControls comment on those aspects?
I can say the focus works extremely well. You can really tell when you turn it on as the sounds around you fade and the person in front of you that you’re speaking with comes thru much better. Great at restaurants and similar environments.
I don’t know about mute, the controls are virtually instant.
So are you saying that, if you are talking to a person, and there are other noises around, they are completely blanked out and you only hear the person talking? Did I get it right? Or do the surrounding sounds continue to be heard but in a more subdued way?
I figure if I can later answer my own question, why not?
