While Sennheiser's consumer division is being bought by a hearing aid specialist, Bose is launching a new product category in the USA with SoundControl hearing aids and is bringing the first FDA-approved hearing aids directly to consumers be sold.
According to Bose, the new SoundControl hearing aids were developed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. In conjunction with the Bose Hear app, users can adjust, program and control the hearing aid. The clinically tested results should correspond to the quality of devices used by audiologists – without a doctor's visit, hearing test or prescription. The settings of the hearing aids can be changed by the wearer themselves at any time in real time, so that they can also be adapted to the real conditions in which the user is currently, without having to consult medical staff or go to a specialist shop. The SoundControl hearing aids use Bluetooth and can be used with Android and iOS.
No individual earmolds
As with conventional hearing aids, Bose's model is divided into two parts, one behind the ear and one in the ear. The earplugs are supplied in different sizes in an open and closed form – in contrast to most medically prescribed hearing aids, the otoplastic, i.e. the earmold, is not adapted to the individual ear shape of the wearer by means of impressions.
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$ 850 and 90-day trial with video support
SoundControl hearing aids come with a 90-day trial and product support. This includes, for example, a personal video call with a Bose employee, for which there are no costs. The price in the USA is around 850 US dollars – compared to good hearing aids in Germany, they are only about half as expensive as individually adapted models.
Germany still uncertain
The start of sales of hearing aids is currently limited to the USA. Starting May 18, they will initially be available directly from Bose in the five states of Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. A US-wide availability is to follow. So far there is no information on whether the SoundControl hearing aids will also be available in Germany.