In this article, we will review the Olive Pro hearing aids.
How Does The Olive Pro Look And How Is It Used?
The Olive Pro hearing aids are a unique pair of Bluetooth headphones. They have a similar form factor, design, and set of features to the Apple AirPods Pro. I enjoyed using them for their Bluetooth compatibility, as they work great for music. I found it easy to use the app to adjust the overall hearing aid levels, as well as make finer adjustments for clarity. As a result, the Olive Pro could be beneficial for patients with milder forms of hearing loss or situational hearing loss.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of The Olive Pro
Benefit #1: They’re one of the best hearables on the market.
Between the comfort, app, Bluetooth compatibility, and slight amplification, the Olive Pro offers a solid user experience.
Benefit #2: A sleek, rechargeable case.
The Olive Pro comes with a rechargeable case that is small, easy to use, and travels well.
Benefit #3: Great sound quality when streaming from a phone.
The audio quality was clear while I listened to music, videos, and podcasts.
Benefit #4: An easy-to-use app.
With the Olive Pro app, I was able to adjust for different programs and different situations. The app also features a transparency mode.
Drawback #1: Only for very mild hearing losses.
I ran the Olive Pro through test equipment, which showed that the maximum gain of the devices were much softer than is required for the typical adult with hearing loss. For example, if you have a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss, the Olive Pro would likely be set below the recommended level from an audiologist. This means that if you have more than a mild hearing loss, these devices are not powerful enough for you to have the best hearing possible.
Drawback #2: Limited battery life.
The battery life for the Olive Pro is between five and nine hours based on a full charge, which is towards the higher end when compared with other Bluetooth devices. However, compared to other hearing aids, this battery life is pretty short and would not suffice for someone who needs a hearing aid for all hours of the day. The battery life also varies depending on how much you’re streaming from your phone to the hearing aids.
Drawback #3: Noticeable to others.
If you were to wear the Olive Pro in a social setting where you’re talking and interacting, other people might wonder why you have something in your ears and may even think you’re listening to music.
Olive Pro: Smartphone App
When you first use the app, it shows you the degree of hearing you possess and denotes which frequency regions require an extra boost. The app comes with different preset programs and also features a transparency or “hear-through” mode. When this mode is activated, you can hear the environment around you with the necessary amplification (provided you aren’t using the app for Bluetooth streaming).
While the app doesn’t offer a noise cancellation feature, it does offer some noise reduction features for speech enhancement. Finally, the app lets you save programs, and also includes an equalizer so that you can adjust specific frequency regions. Overall, I found that the app was very functional and easy to use, and for this reason alone would give a nudge towards the Olive Pro over Apple AirPods Pro.
That said, I personally use Apple AirPods Pro and feel that they are better at handling music and environmental noise cancellation. On a related note, it’s worth mentioning that these Bluetooth headphones that include hearing aid features are primarily designed for music. So while they don’t offer the best hearing experience compared to a traditional hearing aid, if you’re looking for a quality Bluetooth headphone they still offer some situational advantages that might be worth considering.
Independent Quantitative Measurements Of The Olive Pro
In order to see if the Olive Pro 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. In the end, I was able to come somewhat close to the prescription of a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss. Nonetheless, just out of the box the Olive Pro were nowhere close to what I actually needed based on the hearing test I submitted.
While the in-app hearing test is a benefit, it still might help to get a hearing test from a local provider in order to figure out the best way for you to match the Olive Pro devices to your hearing loss. Even if you’re reporting some benefit when using the hearing aids, you still might be missing out on 10-40% of the adjustments that you actually need.
Comparable Products To Consider
1. Phonak Paradise Hearing Aids
Phonak Paradise hearing aids are rechargeable premium technology. They have a reputation for excellent sound quality and a reliable rechargeable battery. The Phonak Paradise hearing aids are some of the best hearing aids in 2021.
Click here for our detailed review of the Phonak Paradise hearing aids.
2. Bose Sound Control Hearing Aids
Bose makes great electronics. Are the Bose online hearing aids any good? They offer affordable direct-to-consumer hearing aids for mild-to-moderate degree of hearing loss.
Click here for our detailed review of the Bose Sound Control hearing aids
3. Apple Airpods Pro Hearing Aids
The new Apple Airpods Pro have features that can help with hearing loss and tinnitus. If you already have Airpods Pro, then try to set them up for optimized hearing health. You can even take a hearing screening through an app to program them.
Click here for our detailed review video of the Apple Airpods Pro as hearing aids
What To Do Next For Your Hearing Loss
Finding the right hearing aids can be a process. At Treble Health, we have compiled a consumer guide that explains the pros and cons of the best hearing aids on the market. 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.
