Songbird intros $79 disposable flexfit hearing aid

Though not quite as inexpensive as the SolarAid, Songbird Hearing's $79 flexfit is still much, much cheaper than most professional hearing aids. Designed for spendthrifts dealing with "mild to moderate hearing loss," the flexfit is disposable in nature and requires no doctors visit for fitting. In fact, it can actually be ordered directly online (right now) or by phone and can be "easily adjusted to fit almost anyone without the need for a hearing exam." Also of note, the built-in battery is good for 400 hours of active use, which should last most infrequent users two to six months. Got all that, or were we typing too quietly?

[DBrim @ Sep 24th 2008 5:32PM]

I'm surprised these guys haven't had Mozilla change the name of Songbird. Maybe Monster Cable can learn a lesson here.

[Chris @ Sep 24th 2008 5:39PM]

I still can't afford it though. The money is no problem, but I can't afford for someone to think I am a douche wearing a bluetooth.

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 6:08PM]

what is it about every single fucking metro area now that every other car on the road is some douche wearing a glowing BT headset while driving a luxury nameplate auto? fuck your infinitys.

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 8:23PM]

awww... some hypersensitive douchey infinity drivers don't like my jab at their whorish consumerism and disregard for the rest of humanity. well kiss my black ass

[iEye @ Sep 24th 2008 5:42PM]

Sealed non user replaceable battery?

what, is this company a subsidiary of Apple inc.?

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 6:03PM]

HAHA YOU MADE TEH APPLEZ JOKE

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 8:37PM]

ok i capitulate. how dare i satirize this trolling cliche joke.

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 11:24PM]

keep it coming anti-apple frothing crazed meth-taking shitheads. keep cheerleading like a virgin queen for shitty derivative trolls

[Knives_Out @ Sep 24th 2008 5:42PM]

it looks nice.

[Sukhminder @ Sep 25th 2008 2:56AM]

WHAT?

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 24th 2008 5:43PM]

*calls Songbird to order*

"HI, I'D LIKE TO ORDER ONE OF THOSE NEW-FANGLED CHEAP HEARING AIDS PLEASE"

"Yes Sir, let me have your name first please."

"HELLO?!"

[phanbouy @ Sep 24th 2008 6:02PM]

it's funny cuz it's true

[bob sakamano @ Sep 24th 2008 5:45PM]

FYI

everything is disposable.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 24th 2008 5:58PM]

Especially, your life.

[jorvay @ Sep 24th 2008 6:03PM]

Thank god! We wouldn't want to put those hard-working landfill employees out of work!

[wickedpheonix @ Sep 24th 2008 6:19PM]

Still crap - they expect people to calibrate their own hearing aids?! ROFL! Have you ever even had a hearing exam? And that's not the worst of it by far...

[RickRussellTX @ Sep 25th 2008 3:03PM]

Not everyone has insurance to cover a hearing exam, or to cover the hearing aids themselves. There's certainly nothing wrong with a DIY solution that will put some price pressure on the big names. Retail price for good hearing aids runs into the MANY thousands of dollars.

[Chris W. @ Sep 24th 2008 6:27PM]

Okay, not to seem like some sort of eco-nazi, but do we really need more electronic devices that are _designed_ to be disposable? Seems to run counter to how we need to be managing our resources. Devices that factor recyclibility into their design and manufacturing may require more material and/or energy to product initially, but we can recoup at least a portion of the materials for reuse. Just my $0.02.

[willyboy @ Sep 24th 2008 8:11PM]

Is this compatible with my iPod?

[m @ Sep 24th 2008 9:54PM]

if you also have a stubborn, cheap, aging parent who is losing her hearing, you will appreciate what a godsend this is. seriously, hearing aids are incredibly expensive and rarely covered by insurance, which deters a lot of people who need them from getting one. they really should be as cheap as eyeglasses. despite my own leftist beliefs, the eco objection strikes me as spiteful; restoring basic quality of life and human relationships is way more justifiable than a cellphone or ipod. try to have some sympathy, chris. we all get old.

[Tanner @ Sep 25th 2008 12:57AM]

I own a hearing aid. Top of the line, just got it 3 months ago... AMAZING TECHNOLOGY. It cost a little over $3000. Yes, very expensive, I know. BUT, it should last for 4-5 years. Using a hearing aid for 16 hours a day (which I do) for 4 years (which I will) means that I need to buy ~58 of these "Songbird" devices. Which would cost me a total of ~$4600. Now that is expensive. Plus mine has a very smart processor that eliminates background noises (which is the downfall of hearing aids) and does a lot of other neat functions, oh, I've got a 3 year warranty for loss, damage, and defect (no questions asked, replacement unit). --- Also, personally fitting this thing every couple months would be a pain, and if it doesn't fit right, can be very painful.

I notice that they say "situational use". But once you live with it (even for an hour), it becomes very difficult (and annoying) to take it out and not hear again. Seriously, I know. The difference is like glasses. You don't put your glasses on for the situation of, say, a movie, you leave them on all the time. Same with hearing aids.

So, whats the better deal?

I see that this does have an application in the market, but I doubt its as broad as they want / assume it to be.

(feel free to read about my hearing aid: http://www.exelia.phonak.com/en/home/ - I have the Exelia P (http://www.exelia.phonak.com/en/styles/behind-the-ear-psp/))

My recommendation... Go to an Ear Doctor. They are very smart.

[Erik @ Sep 25th 2008 5:08AM]

I concur. I'm a hearing aid wearer. These Songbirds wouldn't work for me anyway, as my hearing impairment is severe. Even if they were usable, the expense is absurd. My current pair of digital aids cost about $3000 each at the time of purchase 2 years ago, Multiple programs for different listening situations, including T-coil mode for phones. I have DAI ports meaning I plug cables direct from my phone or an MP3 player into the aids, allowing the devices to process the sound just as they would any audio picked up by the microphone. If they're lost or stolen (as one was), they're covered with no deductible for the first two years. And I get to have full audiogram and hearing examinations with this. And I definitely wear my aids more than 2 to 6 hours a day, which is the estimate based on the info in the article.

What is interesting is a company that provides hearing aids that the consumer can program at home in much the same way an audiologist makes adjustments in office. They're direct-to-consumer so they're much cheaper - $995 a device, and they allow a $200 trade-in credit - and allegedly have many of the same technological ability and some of the bells and whistles. The company is America Hears, website is the same.

[rita hainsworth @ Sep 25th 2008 5:37AM]

I'm getting my cat one.

[Gert @ Sep 25th 2008 12:12PM]

Whaaaat? Speak louder, whaaaaaat. In my day...
How about somthing like this with bluetooth, would be nice for security personel.

[Richard @ Oct 9th 2008 8:08PM]

This is actually a pretty cool device, though it is not designed for everyone. I just bought one for my grandfather at http://www.activeforever.com and it seems to be working for him. Granted, his hearing loss isn't severe, but it says on the site that this is designed for mild to moderate hearing loss. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn't look like some bluetooth headset when you wear it. It's actually barely noticeable when he wears it, other than the fact that I don't have to shout at him anymore.