Using iOs' "Live Listen" to Compensate for Hearing Loss
July 17, 2019 9:05 AM   Subscribe

TIL iOs 12 includes "Live Listen", which pumps signal from iPhone's microphone into AirPods. For those with hearing loss who haven't sprung for a hearing aid, it seems like a great low-friction step. I'm thinking of buying AirPods for this (though it looks like a waterproof, noise-cancelling version will arrive at the end of this year). BUT...there are oddly few reviews by people with hearing loss. So....can anyone out there say how well this works? Comparison to bona-fide hearing aids would be especially appreciated (I know it's not as good, but am wondering how much worse).

Further info fwiw:

Live Listen can be used when you have other audio playing on your iPhone or iPad. In this case, the music will be switched to mono to match the Live Listen stream. Also, when Live Listen is active, the tap shortcuts on the AirPods are disabled. You cannot play/pause, or skip, or anything else. Instead, you must use the on-screen audio controls.
posted by Quisp Lover to Technology (9 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Note: I don't own Airpods or hearing aids, but I have worked in audio professionally for over 10 years (and, perhaps consequentially, will likely need hearing aids sometime in the next decade or so).

I'd characterize this solution as "quite a bit worse than hearing aids", for a couple of big reasons:
1- According to the further info you provided, the Livelisten stream is mono, rather than stereo. This means that it will be the exact same audio signal playing in each ear, rather than sounds coming from the right-hand side feeding louder into your right ear, or vice versa. This would probably be pretty disorienting to experience for long periods of time.
2- Rather than getting a custom boost of just the frequencies you're deficient in (like a hearing aid would do), you'll be getting a boost of the full audio spectrum. It's hard to say without knowing the details of your hearing loss pattern, but all that would do is just make everything louder, and not necessarily clearer. And depending on how loud you'd need to crank the volume to compensate, this might just accelerate further hearing loss.

If it were me, I would not buy Airpods for this express purpose.
posted by darkchocolatepyramid at 2:34 PM on July 17, 2019 [3 favorites]


I understand the airpods only run a few hours at a time without being charged, and they last about 18 months before they are unrepairable and unrecycleable trash, because the batteries are not removable.

Real hearing aids have batteries that last for days, and are cheap and easily replaceable, and you can pick them up anywhere.
posted by fritley at 4:19 PM on July 17, 2019


darkchocolatepyramid really nails the shortcomings of the audio you'd be getting.

I'd also suggest that the iPhone is a lousy platform for a microphone for this application. It'll be sitting on a table, maybe, or in a pocket, so it'll amplify the heck out of sounds that conduct from whatever it's touching. You can think of this system as listening in realtime to a voice recording made by the same phone. Try leaving the phone on a table or in pocket in its voice-recorder mode and then play the result through some good headphones-- what you hear is what you're likely to get, in mono, when using this system.

Or, you can think of this as I do, an eavesdropping setup which you can displace the listening device as far as bluetooth range will allow.

Hearing aids are very useful, low maintenance cost over time, unobtrusive, and purpose built. Without having any idea of the cost, I don't imagine they're a cheap buy-in, but if you're on the iPhone platform to begin with, you can probably afford payments.
posted by Sunburnt at 5:29 PM on July 17, 2019


Response by poster: Correcting some things in fritley's post.

New AirPods have >24 hrs of listening time, and Apple will replace buds/batteries under warranty if they don't hold a charge, and offer a reasonably priced out of warranty replacement program for this issue as well. Info here.
posted by Quisp Lover at 5:33 PM on July 17, 2019


Best answer: I have mild hearing impairment and my (single ear) hearing aid cost about $1,000 and was not covered by medical insurance. For more severe hearing loss, aids can cost thousands and are still not covered. While hearing aids are convenient, moderately well designed, and effective, they're really expensive.
posted by Peach at 7:05 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Okay, back again, having tried it - Live Listen compared to my hearing aid has more ambient clatter and is less selective (my aid amplifies only a certain range, and has directional mikes) but might be effective for rough hearing assistance. For instance, I can hear what's on television downstairs. I wouldn't depend on it for any long-term help, but it's a rough-and-ready tool that I could see myself turning to.
posted by Peach at 7:12 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I take it back. There's a perceptible delay. This ain't a good solution, though I could see it being useful for desperate situations.
posted by Peach at 7:15 PM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks, Peach.
posted by Quisp Lover at 7:36 PM on July 17, 2019


As a person with severe hearing loss, I suggest an audiologist; you can usually find one where the first appt is free.

I don’t doubt Apple will get the technology close at some point, but I wouldn’t take the risk just yet that something so new might actually inadvertently hasten more hearing loss. Best to get a pro to weigh in.

You can’t get it back once it’s gone!
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 9:18 PM on July 18, 2019


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