BeHear - ACCESS Personalized Hearing Amplifier - Black

I first found BeHear products near the beginning of the COVID pandemic when almost all businesses were closed – including those selling hearing aids. An audiogram just prior to the closures showed mild to moderate loss in right ear, and moderate to severe loss in left ear, and I was resigned that I would have to spend thousands of dollars to be able to hear more clearly. Looking online for something to use until I could purchase hearing aids, I found BeHear. It was easy to use all of the basic features right out of the box, and easy to find instructions/videos for more advanced use through the phone app. When making the original purchase about 2 years ago, I ordered 2 headsets as the price was so reasonable. This meant I could always have a spare charged and ready. With the battery lasting about 13 hours per charge, it was rare that I needed to resort to the spare on a single day. (I have liked having two, however, “just in case”.) Within a short while, I was no longer thinking I needed to spend the money for expensive hearing aids, as the BeHear headsets work very well (possibly better than available hearing aids) and certainly at a much better price. All of the YouTube videos explain the use of the device very clearly. I did have to contact customer service with questions about a few minor things. I have been impressed with the devices, the response of the company, and the durability of the devices. (Yes, I’m careful with them, but also clumsy!) When hearing loss begins, you really don’t know what you’re missing. As a teacher, I thought my students were mumbling. (I accused my husband of it as well!) Eventually, there are things you realize you can’t hear. I noticed I was no longer hearing the beep of the microwave. (I actually thought maybe it was broken at first.) I couldn’t hear the loud timer on the oven if I was not standing in the kitchen. (Yikes! That could be dangerous!) Once I began using the device, I was noticing more and more things that I could hear – and didn’t realize I was missing. One day as I sat on the front porch (and using the Access), we had so many birds in the trees that the noise began to get on my nerves. As no one else was with me, I took the earbuds out and was completely shocked to realize that suddenly I heard NO birds. I had not realized just how bad my loss was in the higher registers until that day. After using the BeHear Access for the last 2 years, I was excited to see the development of the Access (II) with new features. The Access (II) adds to great easy-to use features of the original with the addition of the following features: 1. Tone control on the headset (bass/treble) 2. Tinnitus masking with the use of the BeHear smartphone app (IOS/Android) 3. Adjustment of how much of the user’s own voice is heard when using the device to eliminate a feeling of echo (in app) 4. Ability to adjust ambient sounds in differing levels to left/right ear (in app) 5. Ability to select sounds to single ear (in app, for user with hearing in only one ear) 6. Ability to adjust the directionality of the microphones to better focus the sound for the environment (in app) There are so many features that I like that have been carried through to the newer model of Access. 1. Easy to set up and use (written instructions and also many YouTube videos for all parts of use of the Access) 2. Good use time between charging 3. Not readily identifiable as a “hearing device”. Most people I have encountered think it is a Bluetooth mic for phone/computer. 4. No worries about losing tiny, very expensive in ear hearing aids 5. Easy to set personalization with the hearing assessment in the BeHear app 6. Easy to change personalization at any time, each one is stored in the user “library” in the app, and can be reset to a prior one, if needed 7. Personalization of setting within the app at any time using the controls in the app 8. Ability to input values from an existing audiogram, if available. (I did this, but was more comfortable with the settings achieved through the in app hearing assessment.) 9. Multiple “earbuds/hooks” included to find a comfortable fit 10. Wind protection covers (to dampen wind noise) included 11. Ease of controls on the headset (most common adjustments can be made without the app) 12. Includes the availability of connecting to T-coil when present in public spaces 13. Bluetooth (5.0) connection with Smartphone to hear phone conversations clearly (connection to call, volume, disconnect available on headset) 14. Easy Listen with phone calls which slightly slows incoming voice to be more intelligible, if needed (adjustable in app) 15. Bluetooth connection with computer/tv to hear music/video/streaming services (I have a TV that is not Bluetooth enabled, but use the BeHear HearLink Plus to easily connect.) 16. Adjustable “Listen Through” when connected to phone/computer/tv to adjust ambient noises to help user be safe in outdoor/public areas 17. Hearing modes for indoor, live music, outdoor, and crowd environment, plus ability to connect to available T-Coil is programmed and available on the headset. (I find the crowd mode very useful, particularly in noisy restaurants.) 18. Software is updated periodically through the app. 19. Easy to charge by setting into the charging cradle (micro USB) that is included. 20. Voice prompts/notification tones to indicate changes in volume/tone/hearing modes/low battery, etc. (volume and language of prompts/notification tones can be selected in app) 21. Lightweight and comfortable to wear. (Sometimes I forget I have it on.) If you are not hearing clearly, you are missing out on more things than you realize. Research shows that hearing loss impacts so many areas of life, including brain health. BeHear Access is a great product at a very reasonable cost for all of the many features and benefits it provides, and comes with a 1-year warranty. Great product, affordable price, better quality of life. It’s a win-win.

I got these for my mom, but I tested them on myself first. I was hoping these would work out, because my mom kept losing the in-hear types. These are pretty basic and not that great. The ear buds were actually too large for my mom's ears and would not stay in. She had difficulty even getting them in her ear herself. They should color code those buttons. They look the same on both the left and right, but they have different functions. My mom eventually stopped using them due to the fit.

I’ll cut to the chase: these bluetooth earbuds are the champions when it comes to tuning the sound for YOUR ears. Not just tone controls but an audiologist-like hearing test that customizes your sound profile which you can FURTHER customize. AND it’s multi-point, meaning you can connect multiple devices. AND it supports aptX-LL (low latency) so there’s essentially no lag between what you see and what you hear. AND it has audio passthrough meaning you can remain aware of the sounds around you. AND it’s got multiple passthrough profiles for Indoor, Outdoor, Concert so it (de)emphasizes certain sounds/frequencies. AND you can tune the passthrough so you hear what's directly in front of you, or an area essentially from ear to ear, or all around you. AND it’s got a tinnitus masking feature which works quite well (I have some minor ringing in my ears). AND on phone calls you can slow down the conversation if you’re having trouble catching the words. AND if you’re fortunate enough to be in an auditorium that provides Telecoil, you can use these to pick up that broadcast. AND it’s got great battery life so you can use them all day long. AND it comes with flanged eartips to get rid of that dreaded "plugged ear" I-can-hear-my-breathing. As far as I'm concerned this is great value for the money.

Very happy with BeHear Access. Use it about 4 hours a day to stream audio via bluetooth. Very neat feature is "ListenThrough" mode. Easy to configure, comfortable, and really good sound.

The BeHear Access works better than my higher-priced hearing aids. It worked well straight out of the box but worked great after downloading the free BeHear app that allows you to adjust many frequencies to the level each ear needs to help you hear clearly. It connects easily to your cell phone with Bluetooth so you can talk on the phone and hear the conversation very well. Works great to listen to your music also. The Access has easy-to-use adjustments for volume, bass, treble, changing hearing modes, etc. I highly recommend these.

Pros: It is very lightweight Cons: *Headset audio kept coming off and on when connected to Bluetooth. *App work best with iOS. Had a poor experience with Android device

I really wanted to like these, but I honestly don't know how anyone could use these while they are connected to a phone, they literally change the sound level any time an alert goes off on the phone. The only good thing about these was the ability to slow down phone call speech, which works as advertized, but then you have to have them connected to a phone so then you are back to the sound levels changing all the time.

We purchased a set of these hearing amplifier for my 95 year old father. He liked them so much better than his hearing aides that he had us order him a second set. So he could charge one while wearing the other.