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SafetyMan35 t1_isqpu82 wrote

I’m mixed on this at the moment.

On the plus side, increased competition will lower costs and drive innovation which is good.

On the negative, with the players currently planning on getting into this market (Sony, Bose) I can see unnecessary features being added just to set themselves apart from the competition (add more checkboxes to the packaging). This will also add complexity (something that the elderly (including me) don’t need). All these “extra features” may add additional costs.

I am waiting to see the outcome.

EDIT: I also hope that the cheap manufacturers don’t come in and swamp the market with “as seen on tv” garbage for $19.99 at Walmart. I could see someone like my mom buying that crap and that doing long term damage.

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parachuteoverbible t1_isr4edn wrote

Big plus is for people who have low to medium hearing loss and didn’t have access to healthcare. Quality of life goes up with hearing and literally gives people their lives back.

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tossme68 t1_ist90sp wrote

even if they do have health care a lot don't include hearing aids including medicare -can you believe that medicare doesn't cover hearing? Anyway, for under $1000 it's going to help a whole lot of people.

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salgat t1_isr5lbr wrote

At least in the short term prices have plummeted, with some going for as low as $200. Keep in mind it's difficult to get insurance to cover this, even if you have legitimate hearing loss, so this is huge for many folks who were looking at paying thousands in the past.

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machinegunsyphilis t1_it3m8ii wrote

Oof, this hurts after paying around $2000 for mine lol. But I'm happy it's lower now for future people :)

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38563856 t1_isrmntk wrote

Canada here. I was quoted $6000 for a pair of hearing aids to order from an audiologist. NOPE.

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vasya349 t1_issgrsz wrote

Well now you can come here and get some for 200$!

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crazy_gambit t1_isqwh7g wrote

At least the Sony ones are already out. I'm on mobile, so you're on your own for a link though.

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SnowinMiami t1_iss8k2u wrote

And then you have my 95 year old mom. It’s taken us five years to get her to finally agree to get a hearing aid which she won’t wear. Cost her $3,000. A lot for a person on a fixed income.

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marsman t1_iss6jeo wrote

> I can see unnecessary features being added just to set themselves apart from the competition (add more checkboxes to the packaging). This will also add complexity (something that the elderly (including me) don’t need). All these “extra features” may add additional costs.

For a lot of younger people with hearing issues, things like bluetooth connectivity and app control have made a massive difference with current gen hearing aids, I'd suggest it's more likely that you simply end up seeing more choice, with devices targeted at specific markets. I seriously can't see more suppliers of hearing aids resulting in an increase in the price tbh.. Certainly not from where they are already..

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Teej92 t1_isrdglh wrote

Right? I told my mom about this news and she wants to get some. She really values my opinion on all things tech, but I have no idea which way to point her. It’s still a decent amount of money for her.

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FantasticalRose t1_issldo0 wrote

Costco probably is your best bet

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Teej92 t1_issq1kd wrote

I’m nowhere near a Costco; I’ve never been to one. I was hoping the Best Buy ones might be a good in between option when they come out.

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FantasticalRose t1_isst0aa wrote

I'm actually really interested what region do you live in that is nowhere near a Costco but has a best buy.

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Teej92 t1_issvhbo wrote

I’m in the northeast, the nearest Costco is like 4 hours away

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FantasticalRose t1_issuhhl wrote

Also she still needs to have them properly adjusted by an audiologist. If you want the best results.

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Teej92 t1_ist1hxu wrote

I think I heard Best Buy was planning on having people available to fit and adjust them properly. My mom had a pair once that was around $7k. It cost her a lot of her savings and they just stopped working. The place she got them from said something about ‘she probably messed w them and broke them’ and basically refused to honor the contract to replace them.

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Steelemagnolia t1_isrfaf5 wrote

There can and likely will be products for different price points though

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dollerhide t1_isrg06f wrote

I have to imagine that if I was a hearing aid user, finding out that Bose was going to start making them would make me pretty happy.

But yes, intuitive app design will me crucial.

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IOnlyRedditAtWorkBE t1_issxxqz wrote

>I could see someone like my mom buying that crap and that doing long term damage.

That is the big problem here. Without proper implementation, the chance these will do damage is very high. And there won't be anyone in costco or wallmart giving proper instructions to users.

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