Eargo

So, I researched it because I knew I needed something better than the Nano's. So I returned them for refund. I came across the Eargo's and researched them on U-tube and social media. Even though these are expensive, I decided to give them a try and why NOT with the 45 day money-back offer. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!! It took a while to find a comfortable fit, but I settled on the medium open florets. After 2 weeks of use, while using the factory settings, I did the hearing test. Twice because the first attempt wasn't in a totally quiet environment. THE SECOND WAS AT NIGHT WHEN EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP, IN A CLOSED ROOM. Wow.

Plus now that I've been wearing them every day, all day, I don't even notice them. I actually have to reach up and make sure they are still there! The charging case is also way cool. How inventive! I happy with my investment. So in closing I WILL get back to you down the road with updates. Please keep up the GREAT WORK!

Functionally the hearing devices made a big difference in my ability to hear and comprehend conversation. However, my holdback was that all they offered was over the ear devices. I have short grey hair, wear glasses, and a mask when I work in our cleanrooms. The average age of our workforce is 35, and I wasn’t ready to begin fighting the ageism battle yet. I then realized my need, but as an engineer, I decided to look for better technology. I then received a mailer from Miracle Ear for an inside the ear canal device. I made an appointment, had another exam and then was told that I would not qualify for an inner canal device, because it was not programable and only served as an amplifier. I felt that this had only been a “Bait and Switch” to get me into the office? They also offered a device that fit into the ear canal, and was molded to the outer ear, but stuck out of the ear like a cancerous growth.

I then tried Starkey Manufacturing, but their inner ear canal devices were only battery powered and I was told that I would need to change out the battery weekly. I was determined to keep looking. Then I either received a postcard, an email, or saw an ad somewhere from EARGO touting their Neo HiFi hearing devices. I ordered some dummy devices to try them on for fit. I tried them on for size and wore them for weekend days at a time (in spite of having no electronics nor hearing benefit) to determine how my ears would adapt. This was the best I found in my better hearing search, if the actual functioning devices provided any hearing benefit? There was a 30 or 60 day return policy, so I figured that I’d have nothing to lose?

I ordered my devices, and they came within the week. I charged them up and first tried them over the next weekend. Immediately I could hear my steps shuffling across the floor and the doorknob clank as I went outside. It was spring on Cape Cod and I could not believe it? For the first time in 5 years since moving to the Cape, I heard the birds chirping. I continued to use my EARGO Neo HiFis for the next three years without incident. I personally produce a lot of ear wax and oil, so I developed a nightly cleaning routine that went above and beyond EARGO’s cleaning recommendations. Every night I would use a damp (not dripping wet) Q-Tip moist with 70% rubbing alcohol and wiped down all 16 electrodes on each device and charger to ensure the best contact between the hearing aids and the charger.

Even this thorough cleaning did not always ensure immediate charging success. So I would brush, wipe, and Q-Tip clean with alcohol again. I learned that if my devices were not adequately charged over the night, they were useless the next day. I received a postcard advertising the newest generation EARGO7 devices. As soon as I saw inductance charging, I knew that alone would save me 5-10 minutes a night in my cleaning routine. I have been using my latest generation for EARGO7 hearing devices for 2 weeks now and I love them: The induction charging, the finger taps to change the hearing programs (compared to the hand taps with the Neo HiFi devices), the enhanced functionality of the EARGO7 cell phone app, and the On-The-Go personal customization of the devices. The EARGO7 devices are more functional than I ever imagined.

Eventually when technology catches up, I hope that EARGO can introduce WiFI to the hearing devices; but for the present time they still provide the best value on the market. I especially like driving with the windows down during springtime on the Cape. Now without fear of the program of my left ear device repeatability changing, as it had with my Neo HiFi devices. I must also add that the new EARGO hearing test Sound Match is way more thorough than any hearing test that I ever had in the audiologist’s office.

The only thing it is missing is a soundproof booth. Compared with the technology offered by other players in the hearing device industry, EARGO is hands down the best. Their devices are the most concealed (no one knows that I wear hearing aids, but my family and others I know that struggle with hearing loss and I have shared my EARGO experience with). EARGO 7 devices are the most functional and programmable and are 2-3 times lower cost of others in the hearing device industry.

I trialed the EARGO 6 and liked the small size, rechargeability, and but for me, it fell short in making the sound adjustments quick enough or not at all when I'd change the environment I was in (for example, from home to a restaurant). In addition, there were too many times when I couldn't get enough sound volume to hear the higher frequencies of a family member speaking in the house, so was asking for people to repeat themselves. I was ready to give up on EARGO and go back to prescription CIC's until I saw the EARGO 7 coming out. I inquired with EARGO about trialing these and was given that option.

The EARGO 7 has been excellent so far. I've used them for a month now and have experienced a vast improvement in sound quality and the ability of the 7's to adjust quickly to different sound environments. I'm not experiencing the warble sounds I'd hear when turning on the microwave or opening the car door. The EARGO app is a huge improvement with the addition of the sound adjust+ feature, which I use the emphasize speech option periodically when at meetings or noisy restaurants. The sound quality of the 7's seems to be very close to what I was experiencing with my prior prescription CIC's, so I am keeping the 7's.

A couple of other things to note: The EARGO customer support team has been fantastic, working with me through some earlier issues with the 6's and the extended trialing of the 6 to now the 7. The clinical team assisted me in setting up my EARGO's to match a prior hearing test that I had done by an audiologist which I thoroughly appreciated.

So, when quality hearing aids became available over-the-counter, I started looking for an aid that was entirely in-the-ear. I found several options with a Google search. After that, I relied most on reviews from BBB, Consumer Reports, and CNET to narrow the choices. In the end, Eargo was the obvious choice based on the technology, support, and user reviews. I did the online hearing screening, spoke to a sales representative at Eargo, and placed an order.

It’s very fair to say that Eargo 6s have changed my life. I can hear all the outdoor sounds I’ve missed for so many years…bird songs, crickets, frogs, squirrels rustling in the leaves. I no longer say “What?” constantly to my wife and friends. I keep the TV volume at a low 8 to 10, compared to the 25-30 that ran my wife and two dogs to the other end of the house. I can hear and participate in conversations. And my tinnitus isn’t as noticeable. I suppose that's because my brain is receiving sounds that weren’t making it through before.

I had no adjustment period, as far as fit or discomfort, because I’ve worn hearing aids before. The support calls I’ve received from my Eargo audiologist, Cheryl, have been friendly and helpful. Within a week, I recommended Eargo 6s to my brother-in-law, who also has hearing loss. He purchased a pair and is wearing them daily. He opted to do so without Eargo support and is happy as well.

I wore them a few months, but after having to constantly reinstall a new battery, and the fact that anyone would notice and see that I was wearing a hearing aid, I quit wearing them. I’m really not vain, it’s just that it was so conspicuous. It always felt like there was something fragile on my ear that the wind would blow off at any moment.

Speed up a couple of years and after studying and researching the best I could, I ordered an EARGO sample kit. They were actually “the” devices, with no circuitry or “guts” to them. You could put them in your ear, and feel the fit, and the invisible effect of the in-the-canal type device. It was great, immediately. After calling EARGO and asking a million questions, and then calling back again to ask more questions, I finally placed my order. I was scared. I had already spent thousands of dollars. What if this was just another purchase with “pie-in-the-sky” promises?!!!! “It probably was”, I thought.

My EARGO 6’s came quickly in the mail! I was excited, but very skeptical. They had promised my complete satisfaction or my money back. They had promised if I had any problems, there would be a technical person or audiologist to help me through any problems. They had promised they would exchange any device that wasn’t working properly. They had promised they would “hold my hand” through any problem, with a warranty of three years! It was too good to be true.

SO...I put them in the self-charging cradle to “sync” and charge for a few hours. I literally was pacing the floor with excitement to put them in. The little “ready” light let me know “it was THE time”! I put them in each ear and heard the voice that they were “ready”. BAM! Instantly, the sounds in the room were beautiful! Immediately, I noticed how rich voices and music were. I noticed the higher tones and the lower tones that I had been missing were there. It felt like when you see those people who put on color blind glasses for the first time. They are in awe of the colors. That’s sort of the same thing I experienced, only with sound.

I was assigned my own audiologist, Dr. Ashley **. She reached out to me and made an appointment to walk through the installation, syncing, and setup of my devices. She not only was kind and patient with me, she was aware of my audiogram, and helped me make program adjustments that were designed specifically for “my” needs. She has since, been available by phone or email at any time I needed her. Ok. You may say, “everything went well for you, you’re just lucky”. No, I had several problems and she resolved them. I even had a problem she wasn’t satisfied that really resolved an issue. She had new devices sent to me to replace the ones that had the problem! I really couldn’t believe the service and the immediate action that was taken!

I wanted to sit down and write this sooner, but I also wanted to wait and see if EARGO was too good to be true. Nope. They’re really as good as their promise, and I highly recommend them. The sound is great, they’re invisible, their service and warranty promise has been kept, and I love them! I’m writing this because I needed this kind of information from a user to help me in my decision making process. Thank you Ashley. Thank you EARGO.