Getting older is certainly a privilege, but watching my dad struggle with hearing and memory loss has been more difficult than I expected.
At first, I learned to repeat myself, and speak louder and slower. But then came the more alarming moments of confusion, anxiety, frustration, and forgetfulness that weren’t so easily solved. I knew I needed to find something that could help him—and fast.
Recently, a friend suggested a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins which explored the connection between hearing loss and dementia in older adults. I sent the study to my family, and immediately got to work researching hearing aids.
That’s when I discovered Eargo 7.
Eargo has a user-friendly, no fuss set up
Dad’s a bit impatient, and doctor’s offices can be stressful. The Eargo 7 is self-fitting and available over the counter, so we bypassed the endless appointments and went straight to the Eargo app.
After his welcome call, we swapped out the mic caps and petals to find the perfect sound and fit. He still had some questions about how best to use his Eargo, so we opted for a live video chat with a hearing professional.
Our hearing professional addressed each and every one of our concerns responsively and thoroughly, and Dad felt very well taken care of—talk about great customer support!
Designed to be heard, not seen
“Don’t get old,” my dad said, as he admitted he was too proud and embarrassed to wear one of those bulky, BTE hearing aids.
Thankfully, Eargo is super small, roughly the size of your thumbnail, and it’s practically invisible. Dad feels very comfortable wearing it out and about! 👂🏻
Eargo just slides into the ear and seemingly disappears. And when the day’s over, Dad uses the pull tab to remove them, and places them in the portable charger. Who knew so much power could be packed into such a tiny device?
A device that adjusts easily to your environment
Dad loves being social, but loud bars and restaurants aggravate him, and the ambient noise makes it nearly impossible for us to have a conversation. We’d switch seats until we found a quieter location, but more often than not, we’d go elsewhere.
With Eargo as his copilot, we can sit just about anywhere. Whether we’re at a loud concert or enjoying a walk in the park, the Eargo 7 adjusts seamlessly. Dad can personalize his sound settings, and the Eargo will adapt to his environment.
Eargo’s fast-acting, breakthrough noise reduction technology eliminates all the “tingy” background noise that drove him nuts. So when we chat during a drum set, he’s nodding because he agrees, not because he can’t hear me.
Just set it and forget it
Since dad’s memory is slipping a little, it's helpful to have hearing aids he doesn’t need to think about. Pop them in, go into the Eargo app, set it, and forget it!
And if he doesn’t remember to remove them before he showers or works in the yard, it’s not a huge problem—the Eargo 7 is water and sweat-resistant. Plus, he can get up to 16 hours on a single charge, and two days of on-the-go charging with the portable carrying case.
It’s honestly impressive how much functionality they built in for only $2,590.
Good things come in small packages
Now that my dad is hearing more clearly, his memory and recall seems to have improved almost overnight. I’m beginning to wonder whether he has since developed a little selective memory, and only pretends not to remember things our stepmom says. 😉
Eargo makes hearing simple! If you or someone you know is struggling with hearing loss, you owe it to yourself to give Eargo a try. The Eargo 7 comes with a 2-year warranty, a financing option as low as $84 a month, and a 45-day return policy with free returns.
