The company has announced its SoundControl wearables, which it claims are the first FDA-cleared hearing aids sold directly to customers. You won’t even need to visit a doctor to set up the hearing aid, as the SoundControl pairs with an app that lets you customize the listening experience. Bose claims the app will make the hearing aids easier to use and more effective. It uses custom tuning technology to personalize its settings in about 30 minutes, far shorter than the lengthy process with some other hearing aids. “In the United States alone, approximately 48 million people suffer from some degree of hearing loss that interferes with their life,” said Brian Maguire, category director of Bose Hear, in a news release. “But the cost and complexity of treatment have become major barriers to getting help.” Bose says the setup process will be simple, offering hundreds of options for fine-tuning from just two controls. World Volume can be turned up to amplify quiet sounds more than loud ones. Hence, listening is more comfortable. And Treble/Bass can adjust the tone to accentuate or diminish specific vocal frequencies. Using Treble, what’s heard is crisper and brighter; using Bass modifies richness and depth. News of the Bose hearing aid met with enthusiasm on the internet message board, Reddit. “I think this particular form-factor is pretty important for legit hearing aids, but I’m sure many people would find a ‘hearing aid’ feature in an AirPod useful,” wrote Movieman555. The Bose design weighs 0.1 ounce and features a behind-the-ear design. The company claims they will last about four days on a hearing aid battery and are water-resistant. The wearables will be sold directly from Bose for $849.95 starting May 18 in five states: Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas—with nationwide availability to follow.
