I am frustrated by the direction hearing aid technology is taking

Mental Clarity & Brain Health
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I have been using hearing aids for more than three decades, starting even before I entered elementary school. Back in the 1990s, there were improvements like in-the-ear models that offered basic noise reduction. That worked well for me then and hasn’t been an issue until recently.

Now, every time I visit the audiologist, they push for the more expensive models featuring four different settings for various environments. I only ever find one setting that works for me and completely ignore the others. It feels like a waste of money, but these features have been standard for over ten years and now they don’t seem to be optional anymore.

Three years ago, I bought my current set and I have been miserable with them. My hearing loss has remained stable for over 30 years, and I usually work well with audiologists to find a good fit. However, my experience with the last specialist was poor. She insisted these were top-tier devices and pressured me into buying them. I was desperate for a replacement and didn’t spend enough time testing them, so I agreed. I immediately noticed they lacked volume. Specifically, I can’t distinguish consonant sounds. I have been waiting to see my previous, trusted audiologist for his professional opinion.

I finally saw him, and it turns out these devices cannot be turned up high enough. There is a built-in automatic dampening for high frequencies that causes the issue, which is apparently a known flaw with this model. Consequently, he suggested several new, high-tech alternatives.

All of them utilize AI to dynamically change what I hear in real-time. The idea is that in a busy restaurant, I should be able to hear the person I am talking to. But how does the AI identify who I am focusing on? Just yesterday, I sat through an eight-hour presentation with some loud people talking behind me. Every time they spoke, the AI seemed to mute the lecturer and amplify the chatter directly into my ears. What if I don’t want the device deciding what I should focus on?

They also feature heavy background noise cancellation. My current struggle is that I don’t hear enough of the environment. I miss the sound of passing cars or a pencil hitting the floor. I can’t seem to explain to audiologists that I want to hear those subtle sounds. They just shrug as if they are powerless, failing to understand that this is a brand-new problem caused by these specific aids.

The latest models are also exclusively rechargeable and lack battery doors. Some require a smartphone app just to turn them off. What if I don’t want to have my phone on me at all times? If I decide to take them out during a test to avoid distractions, like I did yesterday, they might stay powered on and drain the battery. Furthermore, if I want to wear them through the night—which I sometimes do—I can’t because they have to be docked for charging.

Hearing aids used to function independently, meaning I could take one out or turn one off and still hear fine with the other. Now they are linked, so if I remove one, the remaining one loses its effectiveness because it has been “deemphasized.” It makes the device feel low-quality.

I just want a pair of hearing aids that are loud enough for me to hear what I want. I’m tired of “advancements” that just create new problems and make me feel like I have less control over my own hearing.

11 Likes
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I fit hearing devices for a living, and when I work with long-term users like yourself, I usually recommend entry-level or mid-tier models. I use the NAL-NL2 fitting formula and disable every single noise management feature the device has. Your brain has spent years adapting to hearing everything through older technology, which is perfectly fine. Modern aids are designed to prioritize comfort for new users, which is the opposite of what you need. Go back and demand that they turn off all noise management settings.

2 Likes
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I’m in my late 30s and have also been wearing hearing aids for nearly 30 years. I totally agree that the changes have been massive! I really hope you can find a solution that works for you soon.

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I’ve worn hearing aids since I was 11 years old. In the early 90s, they were much bulkier and not very high quality; they were essentially just megaphones for your ears. Personally, I love the evolution of the technology. As a kid, I only had two settings—too loud or too quiet—and everything sounded echoey. Now, while there are multiple settings on my Phonak Sky aids, I usually just leave them alone because the clarity is so much better. I also love using Bluetooth to block out the world so I can focus on phone calls or listen to music without wind or traffic noise. To be fair, wind and traffic are always major issues. It sounds like you might be struggling with the change, but the audio quality on these advanced models is actually much higher. It isn’t just about having four programs; it’s about the fidelity of the sound.

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I completely agree with you. I actually came here to post about how frustrated I am with the new aids I received in December. Like you, I’ve been a wearer for a long time (since the late 90s) and this new pair is just terrible. I don’t have the exact same problems—mine aren’t rechargeable, luckily—but I can definitely confirm how annoying the lack of independence between the ears is, how poor the noise cancellation performs, and how the aids randomly decide to muffle everything. My complaints also include the terrible battery life, the lack of a low-battery warning, and the fact that the ‘premium’ Bluetooth features fail to work most of the time. I feel ripped off paying thousands for a worse experience than I had with my 2018 pair. (For the record, I’m using Oticon Own 2s if anyone wants to avoid them.)

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I’m an audiologist, and the issue isn’t necessarily the hearing aid itself, but rather the brand and the professional fitting them. Certain brands, like Oticon, have very restrictive software where you can’t disable one feature without triggering another. Phonak has similar limitations. The most flexible software I’ve used is GN, which allows you to enable or disable anything without the software forcing weird frequency compensations. An audiologist can set up various profiles: one for a new user, one for long-term users, and even profiles for those used to linear/analog sounds. You likely need a setup with minimal filters, an omnidirectional microphone, and a NAL-NL2 prescription. Basic technology levels can often solve your specific problem. I recommend testing at least two different brands before buying, unless you find a professional you really trust.