In this article, we will review the Bose Sound Control hearing aids. They are a great pair of online hearing aids that retail for about $900 a pair.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of The Bose Sound Control
Benefit #1: Sleek style and comfort.
These hearing aids include a standard receiver in the canal and are nice and slim.
Benefit #2: Smartphone app compatibility.
While there are limited functions through the app, you can still control overall volume and adjust treble. Moreover, the app is very easy to use in order to make these basic adjustments.
Benefit #3: Affordability.
While Bose are a big brand and are well known for consumer electronics, their hearing aids are relatively affordable and are the perfect fit for those with a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss.
Drawback #1: No rechargeable battery.
While most consumers expect electronics to be rechargeable these days, hearing aids have typically used a disposable battery. However, the technology has started to catch up, and now most premium hearing aids do offer rechargeable batteries, with the exception of the Bose Sound Control.
Drawback #2: No Bluetooth capability.
Most modern premium hearing aids can take phone calls via Bluetooth, and can also stream music or tinnitus sound therapy features. However, the Bose Sound Control hearing aids do not offer any Bluetooth capability.
Drawback #3: No professional service included.
When I reached out to the Bose customer service team regarding their hearing aids, they told me that there was no audiologist available to answer my questions. Other brands often have a doctor or other professional on staff in order to maximize the potential benefit of their hearing aids. While the Bose team offers technicians that can help with hearing aid troubleshooting, they lack the audiology counseling and education of other brands.
Independent Quantitative Measurements Of The Bose Sound Control
In order to see if the Bose Sound Control hearing aids were able to meet certain degrees of hearing loss, I purchased them and put them through some of our professional testing equipment. Additionally, I made adjustments on the app in order to test the actual output of the hearing aids.
First, I put in an audiogram (aka, a hearing test result) of mild sloping to moderate hearing loss, mainly in the high pitches. This is a standard type of hearing loss that I would typically see in my patients. After putting in this audiogram and wearing the hearing aid in my ear, I discovered that its output didn’t match the hearing test. This means that there are no hearing tests associated with the Bose Sound Control, and that they’re very much user-adjusted. Thus, you would set and change the levels based on how you hear with them.
In my own tests, I generally found that when I first put the hearing aids in, the hearing aid output didn’t match the targets; in other words, It didn’t match the prescription of the hearing loss that I put in. Now, I didn’t expect it to fully match the hearing loss I put in, as this is only one type of hearing loss. There’s many different subtle changes to hearing, and usually an audiology clinic would adjust your hearing aid to match your hearing loss perfectly. Nonetheless, I found that when I maxed out the output of the gain, volume, and treble boost through the app, and also changed the rubber tip at the end of the hearing aid, I was better able to match the targets for that type of hearing loss. Thus, there is a potential benefit to having a professional make sure you get the most out of hearing loss treatment.
The upshot from these tests is that the changes I made through the app did result in real changes to the output of the hearing aids. That means you’ll be able to make adjustments and hopefully improve your hearing in certain situations or with certain people. That said, if you currently have a severe degree of hearing loss, the Bose Sound Control hearing aids won’t suffice, since they are designed for mild to moderate levels of hearing loss.
How Does The Bose Sound Control Look And How Is It Used?
The Bose Sound Control hearing aids feature standard up and down buttons, which you can use to make levels louder or softer based on your needs in any situation.
In my testing of the Bose Sound Control, I went through the patient experience of ordering these hearing aids and experimenting with them in-person and via the associated app. When I ordered these hearing aids, they did not ask for a hearing test, nor did they initially test my hearing in the app. These hearing aids are primarily user-adjusted and based on how you hear with them in your ears, as well as how much you adjust them through the app.
If, as a patient, I didn’t know what I was doing and had the same hearing loss that I mentioned earlier, and I put these hearing aids in my ears, I would be hearing about 65-70% of what might be possible if I had similar hearing aids that fit perfectly to my prescription level. That’s a significant difference, so it’s important to ask yourself, “Is the affordability of these hearing aids worth the potential risk of missing out on some speech?”
What Makes The Bose Sound Control Different from Its Competitors?
Let’s compare the Bose Sound Control hearing aids with some of the more modern, premium hearing aids that cost thousands of dollars, like the Phonak Paradise hearing aids. Phonak Paradise hearing aids are three to five times more expensive, as you’re also paying for audiology clinic services to maximize your use of them. In contrast, the Bose Sound Control hearing aids are much more affordable, but are more do-it-yourself in terms of fit and function. Another comparison is that the Phonak Paradise hearing aids are rechargeable and Bluetooth compatible for streaming, whereas the Bose Sound Control hearing aids are not.
Comparable Products To Consider
A comparable product to the Bose Sound Control hearing aids are the MDHearingAid Core. The MDHearingAid hearing aids are about $100 more expensive than the Bose hearing aids. Both hearing aids can be purchased online. Style-wise, both hearing aids are very similar, with a behind-the-ear design and a standard hearing aid battery (non-rechargeable). The major difference is the level of quality. The Bose hearing aids were the first of a new FDA class of hearing aids called “self-fitting” hearing aids.
What To Do Next For Hearing Loss
At Treble Health, we know the importance of finding the right hearing aids to suit your ears and your lifestyle. We put together a consumer guide to help you find the best hearing aids on the market so you can live a full life without having to worry about hearing loss. Click here to get the free Hearing Aids in 2022: Consumer Guide.
Want to speak with an expert audiologist about hearing aids instead? At the tap of a finger, you can schedule a free Hear From Home™ telehealth consultation today! You’ll be connected with a real audiologist, not a salesperson, and there is no obligation or commitment.
