Bose has introduced SoundControl wearables that it says are the first FDA-cleared hearing aids sold directly to customers. You don’t have to visit a doctor, get a prescription or otherwise talk to an expert to buy and use them.
Not surprisingly, the aids take advantage of Bose’s experience with personal audio. They center around a CustomTune feature in the companion mobile app that personalizes volume levels, tone, treble and bass for your ears within 30 minutes. You can magnify quiet sounds to avoid strain, or highlight vocal frequencies to better hear the people around you. A Focus feature lets you concentrate on specific areas, such as the front when you’re in conversations or all around you when you’re strolling through the park.
The hearing aids are meant to be fit and controlled by the wearer without needing to see an audiologist for a hearing test and professional fitting. They use standard hearing aid batteries that Bose says will last up to four days if used 14 hours a day. Volume, treble and bass, and modes for different listening environments can be adjusted and preset in the Bose Hear app on iOS or Android.
You can expect a familiar, lightweight (0.1oz) behind-the-ear design that uses the same zinc-air batteries you’d typically buy for other hearing aids. Bose expects about four days of use with a typical 14 hours per day. They’re resistant to rain and other “light exposure” to water. And no, they don’t play music or handle calls they’re very much focused on hearing improvements.
Bose will start selling SoundControl in Massachusetts, Montana, the Carolinas and Texas on May 18th for $850. More states are coming, the company said. That’s not a trivial expense, but it may be justifiable if you’d rather not travel across town to regain your hearing.
