Eargo

I used Eargo 7’s for two years, and now use the newer (and MUCH BETTER) Eargo 8’s. The 8s stay better in my ears, and sound better.. The app is a work in progress, but is far superior to earlier versions. Technical note: these aids do not use ‘Bluetooth’ to communicate with your phone, they use AUDIO signals (that a human ear cannot hear). This is necessary because the aids are COMPLETELY in your ear, where Bluetooth signals can’t reach. This technology works fine, AS LONG AS YOU SET YOUR PHONE VOLUME TO ABOUT 40% or better. I’m sure this is why some people have trouble setting them up, or updating them. I’m very happy with their performance, and highly recommend them, if you want truly invisible hearing aids.

This is a review from a one year user and someone who previously had a high quality over the ear aid for 14 years (Oticon). The rating is increased to two stars due to ease of use and invisibly. The quality of the sound amplification varies and there is no mid-range frequency amplification, just bass and treble. When the treble is increased, it combines high frequencies into a screech. I have done the sound test three times. BTW, my wife gives Eargo a zero. “What do you like about those hearing aids, they don’t work.” That said, the biggest issue is poor battery life. By 6 months, the “expected” duration had gone from 16 hours to 12 and now 6-8. You have to decide when during your waking hours you choose to be deaf. I recently had an evaluation with a professional audiologist and was fitted with a state of the art Oticon. Night and day. It is more expensive but they last more than half a year (many year warranty) and you can actually hear any frequency without distortion. The bluetooth connection is also a huge plus for using your cell phone. The old adage, you get what you pay for certainly applies here. I wish I could be more positive.

I just about did not buy these because of the app review. Thank goodness I ignored my apprehension and relied on their guarantee. I bought my 7’s in late February of 2024 so I am experimenting with both the devices and the app. Once I found out exactly how they worked (ultrasound instead of Bluetooth between the devices) everything for me went smoothly. Of course, you need to follow directions. Of course if you don’t understand, you call. In my experience, I had overcome all of my issues within 2 days. I had to do the sound match twice due to me starting the process before I was prompted. This was actually caught by the support person who noticed a disparity between devices. Once I did the second and it uploaded, the support person could see that they were matched better. The performance improved. You can use the app to change both devices at once or each separately in regard to volume. I do wish the app would have a last setting indicator that would tell you the last program chosen…. But that is a minor deal for me. I got the 7’s due to my hearing loss of operating tractors and heavy equipment without hearing protection. My loss is in the higher frequencies which include conversations. I use the app in church and meetings where I can do adjustments without a lot of fanfare and adjust according to different situations. I don’t know why people rated the app so low, but that is certainly not my experience.