Not Ready for a Hearing Aid But Need a Little Help?

Manufacturers are sensitive to this criticism. "Getting a PSAP is not a substitute for going to a professional," says Gail Gudmundsen, an audiologist and managing director of sales and marketing at Etymotic Research Inc., the Elk Grove Village, Ill., company that makes the Bean Quiet Sound Amplifier. "But for some people, it's a first step," she says.

The devices make use of available Bluetooth technology and come in different styles. For example, Etymotic's Bean fits into the ear canal and is practically invisible. The Soundhawk looks like a Bluetooth headset, as does the CS50+ from Sound World Solutions. A newer model from Sound World Solutions, the Sidekick, is designed in the style of an unobtrusive behind-the-ear hearing aid.

Syncs with smartphones

"Like most other Bluetooth headsets, our products let you take phone calls directly through the device and stream music or audio from your phone to the device," says Shawn Stahmer, vice president of business development for Park Ridge, Ill.-based Sound World Solutions. That is important to Richard Einhorn. In 2010, a virus caused the New York composer to lose all the usable hearing in his right ear. Since then he has used assistive devices like hearing aids and PSAPs interchangeably — including the CS50+ that looks like a Bluetooth headset. "Actually it is a Bluetooth headset," Einhorn says. "It transmits music and audiobooks and also helps me hear live sound."

The Soundhawk comes with a free app that allows the wearer to choose a program optimized for different environments — inside, outside, restaurants, driving — "and then to optimize the sound in that environment by dragging your fingers across your smartphone," says Drew Dundas, president and chief scientific officer at Soundhawk. In essence, it allows you to customize the device. The optional microphone that comes with the Scoop is good for one-on-one conversations or to put near your TV speakers, says Alan Bernheimer.

The Sidekick and the CS50+ can also be customized via a smartphone app. "Your smartphone becomes your remote control," says Sound World's Stahmer. "You can fine-tune and customize the device to your own preferences."

Battery life varies

Accessories include compact carrying cases, different size ear tips so customers can get a good fit and, in the case of the Soundhawk and CS50+, charging kits. The Bean uses batteries, but they last longer than most hearing aid batteries — about 10-12 days.

Some users have found PSAPs a useful addition to their hearing aids. "The Bean works better than my hearing aids in most settings except presentations," says William de Groot, a retired pulmonologist in Galveston, Texas, who tested the Bean for AARP. One version comes with a T-coil that is compatible with hearing loops, thin strands of copper wire installed around the perimeter of living rooms, churches, theaters, museums and airports that help hearing aid users compensate for poor acoustics.

All of these devices can do the job of amplifying sound, but one might work better than another in certain situations. In my own testing, the Soundhawk was best in helping me hear fellow members on my local planning board. I put the wireless microphone at the far end of the table and with the Scoop in my ear could pick up everything that was said. The behind-the-ear-style Sidekick from Sound World Solutions is brilliant in one-on-one conversations and in restaurants. My husband tried the Bean at the Metropolitan Opera in HD and was amazed at how well he could hear the music. He also uses the Bean to watch TV.

"If someone simply needs a little boost in loudness, why should they pay thousands of dollars for hearing aids when they can get something like this?" asks Robert Sweetow. And they enhance communication. "It is essential for mental and physical health for hard-of-hearing people to stay connected," Einhorn says.