Technological advancements over the last decade have been significant within the hearing care industry, giving people the confidence to take the first step and improve their hearing health.
Despite the improvements in technology leading to hearing aids becoming more powerful and even more discreet, over 18 million Americans still live with untreated hearing loss.
Perhaps A New Premium Brand Of ‘Lifestyle Hearing Devices’ Could Be The Answer
On August 18, 2021, there was an announcement of a brand-new category of devices spearheaded by a brand-new premium product – Jabra Enhance Plus.
This new category of devices promises to be discreet, multi-functional, and deliver the benefits that younger people with active and modern needs have long sought.
It’s distinctively different from traditional hearing aids. It is a combination of the latest in high-grade consumer electronics and hearing technology designed to deliver what is promised to be sleek earbuds that offer capabilities including personalized hearing enhancement and offering great quality music and seamless in-ear phone calls.
Unlike the recently launched Bose SoundControl, the Enhance Plus encourages the support of a hearing care professional to check your candidacy first, which is a big step forward given how many people incorrectly self-diagnose themselves.
This means that you will be able to visit your local Certified Jabra Enhance Center or work with an online professional.
With over-the-counter devices currently being a very hot topic following the recent executive order from President Biden adding pressure for affordable solutions being made available to even more Americans, this product is perhaps perfectly timed.
Jabra claims that the Enhance Plus delivers hearing aid-like performance, that candidacy is still assessed following all state and federal laws, and that it’s built for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
The question is, how is it different from anything else that is available, and what does this mean for you and the people that you care about?
What Makes The Jabra Enhance Plus Different From Other Devices?
The first thing to note is that this new product is not a replacement for traditional hearing aids, and it’s not in competition with them.
It’s specifically for people who have mild-to-moderate hearing loss and are looking to improve their hearing ability in many social settings while still enjoying the many benefits of a connected wireless earbud.
Jabra conducted in-depth research and learned that people wanted a simplified hearing aid that is a lower-cost and accessible alternative to hearing instruments, with hearing support being just one of many benefits.
With this understanding, they developed the Jabra Enhance Plus, which is a set of miniature earbuds engineered for hearing enhancement, music, and calls.
The key benefits include:
- Digital noise reduction to cut background noise
- Speech-in-noise capabilities to help you to hear conversations in louder environments
- 10 hours battery and up to 30 hours battery rechargeability when using the carry case
- EarGels in three sizes for a secure and comfortable fit
- Rich and clear sound for music and phone calls (just as you would expect from Jabra)
But the biggest difference between the Jabra Enhance Plus and some of the other readily available devices that are aggressively advertising is that Jabra ensures you make the right choice for your hearing by encouraging you to visit an experienced hearing care professional.
The reason that this is an essential part of the process is that they understand that the most important step in addressing any form of hearing challenge is that you first need to have a hearing assessment, in the same way, that a complete eye exam would be your preferred option before determining your prescription for eye glasses.
With many other devices that only require self-diagnosing of your hearing loss through an app and programming your own devices, there are many risks, and as professionals, we would advise away from any solution that is selling you a product before understanding your own unique circumstances.
Attempting to self-diagnose is risky business, and there are many scenarios where self-diagnosis has resulted in significant long-term damage being caused.
We test many ears per week, and we often meet people who believe that they have a hearing challenge that either don’t, or the cause is something other than hearing loss, such as a buildup of earwax or a more complicated medical concern.
Who Might Benefit From The Jabra Enhance Plus?
Based on research carried out by Jabra, it was clear that a large majority of people wanted a lower-cost and accessible alternative to hearing instruments, with hearing support being just one of many benefits.
This new product was developed based on this research to ensure the best hearing support, with music and phone calls seamlessly working through a stylish earphone-like earbud.
This means that it has been crafted specifically for the 18 million adults that have a self-diagnosed hearing challenge that are currently without a viable solution and maybe fearful or not yet ready to become a hearing aid wearer due to concerns about how the devices may look or feel.
The outcome of this is that these devices are mainly for people that:
- Realize they have a hearing loss but only want support in certain situations
- Want a “miniature” discreet but visible device that looks different from the “norm.”
- Want to move away from the traditional hearing aid but still want to ensure the comfort of medical technology & backup support
- Want an easy-to-use, multi-functional device
- Would like the device to appear as though they are wearing an earphone when in reality, it is helping them to hear
We are confident that these devices and others like them can start to normalize the treatment of hearing loss and will empower people, helping them to realize that they don’t have to struggle as much as they do now.
This means that the Jabra Enhance Plus may be the perfect option for people that want to:
- Listen to presenters at meetings and conferences.
- Try to cut through the background noise in airports and crowded venues
- Focus on what their friends and family are saying in social scenarios
- Better communicate with servers when discussing menu choices
- Give their barista their preferred coffee order (and hear them call their name when it’s ready)
- Engage in video conferences and Zoom meetings
- Enjoy music AND communicating with their beautician, barber, or at social events.
- And much more – this list really could go on and on
Jabra Enhance Plus aims to assist in certain situations; they are not a long-term hearing loss solution – meaning they are ideal for people with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss that just need a helping hand, as well as a stylish earbud that offers extra capabilities and features.
How Much Will They Cost?
At this time, it’s unknown as there’s been no announced cost. The general expectation is that these will be priced slightly more than premium headphones and slightly less than entry-level hearing aids.
Based on this, we’re predicting around $1000. But at this stage, it’s all speculation.
What Is My Opinion And Advice To You?
I feel that this could be an opportunity for many people to get some help without committing to a traditional hearing aid.
When people first begin to notice some difficulty hearing, they often put off treatment because they are overwhelmed by a lot of conflicting information about hearing aids OR simply the cost of hearing aids.
While people who have worn hearing aids for some time do realize the benefit of hearing aids and understand that the cost involved also involves the expertise of their hearing healthcare provider, it can be very intimidating to a new user of amplification to justify that investment.
I also feel that having a professional evaluation is SO KEY to this process. An audiological evaluation may reveal a simple ear canal blockage from wax but may also reveal signs of a more complex medical situation that requires a referral to an ear physician.
The Jabra Enhance Plus includes this professional evaluation as part of the purchasing process, and therefore offers consumer protection in that a person is not simply ordering a device online that may or may not provide benefit to them – and at price points starting at around $1000, consumers need to know what they are getting into.
Get In Touch And Take Part In A Jabra Enhance Plus Trial
With so much change and so many different options available, it’s natural that you may have a question. That’s why our team is here to help and offer you guidance to ensure that you or a loved one makes the right decision.
Contact our friendly team, and we can arrange for you to visit our office for a hearing evaluation which will allow us to make sure you are a good candidate for a Jabra Enhanced Plus device, as they are for mild-to-moderate hearing losses only.
While you are with us, we can show you how they work and set you up to go and try them out in real-world scenarios so you can see how well they perform.
We are passionate about the early treatment of hearing loss, and we believe this is just what our younger patients may need to help them take their first steps toward better hearing.