I have severe-to-profound SNHL in both ears and have worn HA for 25y. I use minimally vented ear molds in my Starkey Genesis AI right now. I am an iPhone user.
I have Air Pod Pro 2’s for running and travel and find them to be mediocre at best with regards to both fit and HA function. They are decent for streaming but amplification is weak at best.
Wondering what the best alternatives might be in 2025. This is for working out, running and airplanes. Noise cancellation is a must. Don’t need them for anything else. Not a replacement for my Starkeys - just need something essentially waterproof/sweatproof. Mostly to stream audio content (audiobooks and music) but want to be able to amplify to fit my hearing loss and would appreciate the ability to hear conversations without needing to switch out to my Starkeys.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Maybe wait until Sept when pro 3s should be released. I imagine they will be better in lots of ways for hearing assist and anc?
Instead, you might look into other brands of OTC hearing aids which have tested well for sound quality. It looks like the Elehear Beyond is very affordable, similar in price to Air Pods Pro, , and gets a grade of A for sound quality. Another good OTC hearing aid based on sound quality tests is Sony CRE-E10. Check Hearingtracker.com for ranking and reviews of OTC hearing aids.
Just be mindful that OTC hearing aids are made for mild-to-moderate HL, never for Severe-Profound.
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They often have the ability to manage severe to profound but they need to market that they are for mild to moderate for legal reasons, as that is the FDA’s requirement. This was the Audiologists’ and ENT’s play to ensure safety for risk of overamplification.
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