So what does this mean? According to the folks at Audicus, the distinction is very clear. Hearing aids are typically medically prescribed and need to be worn all the time. PSAs on the other hand can be worn by anyone and can be worn situationally, like for example at a loud dinner party or in noisy environments where you want to clearly hear what people you are talking to are saying.
The Audicus Solo also comes with an accompanying smartphone app that lets users tune the device for different situations. This is versus other PSA systems which typically come in a one-size-fits-all design. It also comes with a one-time-user tuner kit and a pair of noise cancelling headphones. From there, listeners can set their preferences and send it back to Audicus who will then adjust the Solo and send it out to the user.
Note that these aren’t meant to be used as hearing aids or to replace hearing aids. If you genuinely suffer from hearing loss then a visit to the doctor might be a better idea, but like we said, if there are some situations in which you wouldn’t mind a boost in audio clarity, then perhaps the Audicus Solo could be worth checking out. The Audicus Solo is priced at $399 and can be found on the company’s website.