A 'Hearing Aid' Good Enough to Throw Away?

So there's been a lot of buzz on tech sites recently about the Songbird flexfit, which it being marketed as 'the first disposable hearing aid.' I find the use of the word 'hearing aid' here is quite loose as there is no documentation as to how this device works. Since there is no documentation explaining how this device is actually improving hearing, these appear to be no more than an assistive listening device (ALD) that is shaped like a behind-the-ear hearing aid. It will amplify sound across a broad frequency without specifically amplify what the user needs based in his/her hearing. TV Ears are a good example of an ALD. Many movie theaters now have these available.

On top of that, here's some issues I have with the flexfit based on what their website and advertising states and how it relates to the user manual:

• Claims that there are no hearing exam or in-office fittings required: Again, I'd question the definition of it being called a hearing aid as opposed to an ALD since I'm not sure exactly how the Flexfit performs its functions. If there are no hearing exams, one will not have a device tailored to his/her hearing and may be fitted with something that may amplify sound too loud and could actually create a hearing loss. If there are no in-office fittings, the hearing aid may not fit the ear canal properly and may cause pain or will not properly amplify noise or create feedback noise.
• Claims is "Very Comfortable": It appears as though the receiver for the device is in the earpiece. There is also only one available earpiece for the price. Since comfort ability is a subjective thing, it's hard to claim something is very comfortable especially if there is only one set earpiece. Ear canals come in all shapes and sizes, I've seen enough ears in the hearing conservation field to know that there is no one-size-fits-all ear plug or piece: maybe one-size-fits-most.
• Claims "No Maintenance": This is a little common sense to realize this is deceptive advertising. Depending on how your ear produces wax and how you take care of anything that would be placed in your ear, anything can and probably will get dirty and will need to be cleaned. The users manual even has a section on how to clean the device.
• "400 Hours of Active Use": One of the big selling points for this device is that it's disposable. Anyone with with experience with hearing aid batteries, they have a sticker you take off to activate the battery because it works on the oxidation of a material like zinc. Because of this, whether you use the battery or not, once that sticker is removed the battery will continue to age. The flexfit uses a similar type of battery. If you read the guidebook, it strongly advises user to not remove the device from it's foil pouch unless you are ready to use: opening it will begin the oxidation process. The guidebook also has a section about battery life. The '400 hours of active use' are based upon regular use of the device 3 or more hours per day. For hearing aids to be effective, they should be used regularly and not infrequently so that a person can adjust to how different things sound.
  
• "Invented by Sarnof..": I won't go to far off the deep end on this one, but if they're insinuating that because a company came up with HDTV then they can come up with a high end hearing aid because they're both digital that's deceiving. The visual and auditory processes of the human body are very different and should not be directly compared. There is no "lasik" surgery correlate to hearing loss nor is getting glasses for poor vision garner the same type of improvement of life that being fit with a hearing aid does.
• Affordability: Obviously this device is cheaper off the back than buying a hearing aid. Part of the advertising states that you "never pay more than you use." If you buy 2 flexfits (having both ears at the same hearing level is more beneficial than one), it'll initially cost roughly $160. But how about in the long run? Based on the battery life, we'll say a person uses the flexfits about 8 hours a day. It'll take about under 2 months to need to replace them. We'll be conservative and say the person replaces them every 2 months, so 6 times a year: $160 x 6 = $960/year. We'll say hearing aids will last you 5 years (again conservative and they're getting better with technology), so the amount of flexfits for that time would be: $960 x 5 = $4800. You could, depending on where you get them, get a pair of basic digital programmable hearing aids (which would also include a pair of custom earmolds) for under $2000. At this cost these days you can get a device that has a directional microphone (major factor for increase of understanding speech in noisy areas), has multiple listening programs, and an option for a telecoil (makes it able to listen to the phone). I know that $2000 is not going to put into account the audiologist visits or batteries. Keep in mind that although insurance may not pay for all costs, they may pay a big chunk. Insurance is not going to cover an over-the-counter device.
  

Something about over-the-counter devices like flexfit is that FDA has rejected creating a class of over-the-counter hearing aids that don't require a medical evaluation because of the medical risks to a person's health. Our hearing is a strong proponent of our ability to interact with others and be social. A recent study at Michigan State did not have very favorable results for these types of devices either - take what you will with the fact that Oticon funded the research.

I know that's a huge list of things I'm bashing for this device and I can't go into ALL the aspects of hearing aid fitting and cost in this simple blog. I'm sure people will say that because I'm in the process of getting my AuD (Doctorate of Audiology), that I'm against the thing because it would be a hit from my future income. Fitting someone with hearing aids is only a portion of what an audiologist does and can do. Hearing aids are definitely a lucrative business and it's gotten to the point where those who are not audiologists are now qualified to sell a hearing aid.