Bose Hearing Aids - SoundControl OTC Hearing Aids
Bose is now offering hearing aids under its SoundControl brand. Who wonders about this: Jabra has already proven that such linkages of headphone and hearing aid technology are obvious. Jabra belongs to the parent company GN, which also sells hearing aids with ReSound. But back to Bose: According to the manufacturer, the SoundControl hearing aids are the first hearing aids to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for direct-to-consumer sales.
The new SoundControl hearing aids are designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. When paired with the Bose Hear app, users can customize, program and control the hearing aid. The clinically proven results, at least the manufacturer claims, match the quality of devices from audiologists - without a doctor's visit, hearing test or prescription. Bose says users can make adjustments themselves, in real time and in real-world environments, without consulting medical professionals.
The SoundControl hearing aids cost significantly less than most traditional hearing aids, according to Bose. Who may now have developed interest for themselves or even a relative: The market launch is currently unfortunately limited to the United States. To use the hearing aids, you also need the Bose Hear app. This costs nothing, and the hearing aids are available in the U.S. for $849.95. They will be available in the United States starting May 18 in five states: Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. However, Bose plans to soon serve the entire country.
Setting up the hearing aids through the app should only take about 30 minutes, according to Bose. Still, there are hundreds of options for fine-tuning, he said. For example, it is possible to selectively amplify quieter ambient sounds, and treble and bass can also be adjusted. It's also possible to amplify only the sound from the front of calls - where the caller is normally located.
The Bose SoundControl hearing aids also come with three different earplugs for greater wearing comfort. The small hearing aids weigh 3 grams each and contain two microphones and a speaker. About four days of use should be possible on one battery charge, with 14 hours of use per day. A volume control is also included in the case in case the app is unresponsive. The hearing aids are also water resistant and come with a case. Compatible, the Bose SoundControl hearing aids work with both Apple iOS and Android. They connect to smartphones via Bluetooth. They are also approved for health insurance reimbursement in the U.S.
Bose pulls out of hearing aid market
The company Bose is withdrawing from the hearing aid market. The portal "Hearing Health & Technology Matters" refers in its report to an article in the newspaper "Boston Globe" from 03.05.2022. According to this, there were apparently rumors in the U.S. hearing aid industry for months, according to which the hearing aid division of Bose would either close or change its business strategy. It has now been revealed that, following an independent review of its business strategy, the company dissolved its Health division in February and laid off its employees.
The company's SoundControl hearing aids had been on the market for less than a year. According to media reports, Bose's business is doing poorly. Total revenue is expected to have fallen by nearly a billion dollars from 2019 to 2021. The company has already had to lay off 2,000 employees and close more than 100 specialty stores in recent years. Bose now plans to focus on its core line of consumer electronics.