This AI hearing aid wants to make noisy conversations easier to hear
Hearing aids are starting to look a lot less like medical devices and a lot more like the smart technology we use every day.
That was my takeaway when I first covered the Elehear Beyond 2 Pro, a $799 pair of over-the-counter hearing aids that launched in September. The rechargeable receiver-in-canal devices are made for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, and they bring together AI sound processing, Bluetooth streaming, app-based personalization and newer features like Auracast.
But what makes the latest generation interesting isn't simply a longer list of tech specs. It's what those features are trying to solve,which includes the everyday moments when hearing can become frustrating.
Think crowded restaurants, family gatherings
or rooms where several people are talking at once.
Elehear Beyond 2 Pro
The Elehear Beyond 2 Pro combines AI powered sound processing, Bluetooth streaming and customizable app controls in a rechargeable OTC hearing aid designed to make everyday conversations easier to hear.
See the $799 Elehear Beyond 2 Pro
Why AI could be the next big thing in hearing aids
One of the toughest jobs for a hearing aid isn't simply making sound louder. It's helping the wearer distinguish the conversation they want to hear from everything happening around it.
That's the problem Elehear is targeting with VOCCLEAR 3.0, the proprietary processing system inside the Beyond 2 Pro. The system combines deep-neural-network noise reduction with Target Speech Enhancement, which is designed to emphasize the conversation a wearer is participating in while reducing competing background voices.
Elehear says the latest generation improves speech clarity in challenging noisy environments, although shoppers should note that specific performance-improvement figures advertised by the company come from its own testing. Independent audiology coverage has made the same distinction.
That qualification matters when you're shopping for something as personal as a hearing aid. Still, the technology illustrates how quickly OTC hearing aids are evolving beyond basic amplification.
What you get with the Elehear Beyond 2 Pro
- Price: $799 per pair.
- Best suited for: Adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Design: Rechargeable receiver-in-canal hearing aids with a flatter profile designed to sit closer behind the ear.
- Sound processing: Elehear's VOCCLEAR 3.0 AI processing and Target Speech Enhancement.
- Connectivity: Bluetooth audio streaming plus Auracast support for compatible broadcast-audio locations.
- Personalization: App controls let users make more detailed adjustments to bass, midrange and treble.
- Water resistance: IP67-rated protection against dust and water.
- Support: Remote hearing-care options are available, including self-guided testing and professional adjustments.
See the $799 Elehear Beyond 2 Pro
An OTC hearing aid doesn't require a prescription
Another reason products like these are becoming more approachable is that they're sold over the counter.
The Beyond 2 Pro doesn't require a prescription and is designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. At $799 a pair, it sits above Elehear's previous Beyond and Beyond Pro models in the company's lineup.
The older Elehear Beyond Pro, meanwhile, currently sells direct from Elehear for $599 per pair.
OTC doesn't mean everyone should skip professional hearing care, however. An in-person audiology appointment can provide services that an online purchase can't replicate, including diagnostic evaluation and real-ear verification.
If your hearing loss is sudden, significantly worse in one ear or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, medical evaluation should come before shopping for an OTC device.
Compare Elehear hearing aids
Elehear is turning its hearing aids into wearable tech
The takeaway here is how much hearing technology is borrowing from the rest of the consumer-electronics world.
Beyond 2 Pro can stream phone calls, music and other audio from compatible smartphones. It also supports hands-free calling and Auracast, a newer Bluetooth broadcast-audio technology that can transmit audio in equipped public spaces.
The hearing aids are also increasingly customizable. Along with app-based sound controls, Beyond 2 Pro has replaceable receivers and multiple receiver lengths to accommodate different ears and fits.
Is the Elehear Beyond 2 Pro worth $799?
The Beyond 2 Pro makes the most sense for someone with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss who wants more than straightforward amplification, particularly shoppers interested in AI noise processing, streaming, hands-free calling and detailed app controls.
Shop the Elehear Beyond 2 Pro
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AI hearing aids are getting smarter. Find out what a $799 pair can do
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