Filed under: Accessories, Audio, iPod Family
Hearing Aid manufacturer targets iPod owners
No, it's not
because they think you're going deaf. Hearing aid manufacturer Starkey Laboratories has gotten into the
business of creating custom-molded iPod earbud headphones out of either hard plastic or a special, long lasting
foam. The company's aim is to not only create highly customized, durable and noise-reducing headphones for the iPod
(they make them for bluetooth phones as well), but to also reduce the stigma that often accompanies in-ear hearing
aids. I think it's an interesting idea. Starkey is still considering the marketing strategy, so keep your eyes peeled if you're interested in the ultimate in custom earbuds.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kimball Hamilton said 12:30PM on 2-15-2006
I use the small completly in canal hearing aids (Widex DIva) so in-ear earphones require I take out the hearing aids to use them, which I'd rather not do since they can be damaged or lost while out of my ear. I'm looking for earphones that will fit over the aids but stay on as I move about. Has anyone had any success with earphones while keeping the aids in?
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John said 3:13PM on 1-16-2006
Reminds me of the ultimate ears molded monitors, though I'm assuming these will cost less than 900 bucks a pop.
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Blue Balloon said 5:31PM on 1-16-2006
Suggest to get soft mold, because hard mold give you lot of headache and sometime, get inner ear hurt.
BTW, I am deaf and wear hearing aids, has experience with two type mold to wear.
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John Laur said 12:19AM on 1-17-2006
Wow, so you pay hundreds of dollars for ear molds in order to shove a set of $10 earphones into them? Good going, you trendsetter, you.
All of the companies making good in-ear phones have models that can accept custom molds and guidelines for audiologists to follow for mold material, driver placement, etc. in order to get the best sound.
If you want to go this route though, here's how to do it and save yourself hundreds of dollars in 7 easy, fun, non-toxic steps:
1) Buy some Crayola "Model Magic".. It's non toxic and everything.
2) Put a piece of scotch tape over the speaker grill of your cheapo earphones
3) Slap a blob of Model Magic over them.
4) Spray some cooking spray all over and into your ear.
5) Jam that hunk of crap in your ear and wait 45 minutes or so for it to set. (However long model magic takes -- I dont remember)
6) Remove the cured mass and remove the earphone from it.
7) Drill a little channel through it so you can get sound from the earphone down into your ear canal.
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Tim said 1:12AM on 1-17-2006
As someone who wears hearing aids, I have wished someone would create a hearing aid that would be compatible with my ipod. I have the Bose $150 Princess Leia headphones that sound awesome, but aren't very portable for winding up and putting in my pocket. Perhaps this will lead to the future ability to plug my hearing aids directly into my iPod! I can only hope.
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Rob said 11:02AM on 1-17-2006
I'm hard of hearing, I think this is a terrible idea. I already have a hard enough time getting people to speak up, how much easier will it be if they think I'm just being an obnoxious jerk with an iPod in my ear?
Seeing as they are a hearing aid company, I'd agree with comment #3, there's really no good-quality and comfortable headphone options for hearing-aid wearers out there, I have to take mine in and out to use any kind of portable audio device...
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Tom G said 3:22PM on 1-17-2006
As an audiologist, I would guess that custom earpieces like those should cost about $30-$50 per pair, a small price to pay for comfort if you use your iPod often. And, not to sound like your mother, but one should also be careful of how loud one listens to an mp3 player, no matter what earpieces are used.
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DF said 9:14PM on 1-17-2006
For what it's worth, Etymotic Research, which makes a number of popular in-ear-canal headphones, started as a company focused on hearing-aid technology :-)
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DF said 2:36AM on 1-18-2006
Sorry, that was supposed to say "ALSO started as a company focused on hearing-aid technology."
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arnie said 11:56AM on 1-24-2006
as another audiologist and audiophile, i appreciate anything to enhance listening enjoyment- within reason! i agree with tom- keep the sound levels down! i have a big problem though with advice by john to make your own earmolds using modelling clay. you should too. anyone who tells you to "Jam that hunk of crap in your ear" has never seen a perforated eardrum. the ipod wont sound very good with perforated eardrums. personally,i like speakers and the old adage "the only thing you should put in your ear is your elbow."
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