Do you find yourself struggling to comprehend dialogues while watching TV? Do conversations sound more like mumbles than anything else? Do you ever find yourself distracted amidst a noisy environment? If the answers are all yes, there are only two options to consider, 1) to ignore it until it worsens or 2) to act now. Obviously, our editorial team is devoted to nipping the bud. Since hearing is an integral part of life, especially for those who’ve lived with it and are only noticing differences today, we researched cost-effective solutions available in the market.
One that stood out to us is called SoundWise Aria. The following review will clarify what SoundWise Aria is, its function, and the possible influence it may have on one’s life.
What is SoundWise Aria?
SoundWise Aria is a breakthrough hearing device meant to reduce tinnitus and allow one to hear sounds they once used to. According to the co-founder, Kriss Berg, SoundWise Aria should not be mistaken for amplifiers, i.e., devices developed to pick up and amplify sounds. Instead, he asks everyone to see it as an intelligent hearing aid that amplifies what you want to hear while lowering background noise. Taking everything into account, the next step is to assess its driving force(s), which in turn will provide clarity on SoundWise Aria’s usefulness.
How does SoundWise Aria alleviate tinnitus?
For people who aren’t familiar with the condition, tinnitus is defined as the constant ringing, buzzing, and clicking of sounds. Though researchers are still uncertain about what causes the condition, they’ve affirmed that everyone has some version of it. Health professionals continue to recommend minor adjustments known to limit tinnitus’ effect on mental and emotional health and productivity levels; however, our research suggests that wearing SoundWise Aria is a justifiable approach.
Why? First, it has been designed to improve the quality of external sound. The idea here is that less attention is given to inner sounds caused by tinnitus by focusing more on external sound. Second, the embedded technology may retrain the brain using tinnitus habituation. Habituation is a process where the brain eventually stops pressuring itself to recognize and monitor every piece of information. One source [1] presented the following example to make a point about the nature of habituation and how everyone practices it unknowingly:
“Imagine that you have a new clock. At first, you cannot help but hear it is ticking, but you find that you are no longer aware of it after a while. Other people hearing your new clock for the first-time remark on how loud it is, but you have habituated to it – you are no longer conscious of it, your brain has decided to stop monitoring its ticking as it is constant, meaningless, and non-threatening.”
Ultimately, the microphone in SoundWise Aria receives sound and converts it into a digital signal. Then, the amplifier raises levels and filters out background noise and wind. Finally, the receiver sends these sounds into the ear.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Q. Why choose SoundWise Aria?
A. Given that SoundWise Aria has been developed with two functions in mind, the makers insist that the following are apt reasons for resorting to their hearing aids:
- Can cancel background noise
- Can turn up voices so that conversations are received
- Can turn down the constant ringing of tinnitus
- Easy to fit and adjust, as they can be used within 2 minutes of opening the packaging
Q. What features does SoundWise Aria have?
A. At the time of writing, SoundWise Aria is said to be celebrated for its:
- Rechargeable nature, thus batteries are not needed
- Micro-design, ensuring units are hidden at first glance
- Digital sound processing and noise reduction for a comforting experience
- Pull string addition for placing and removing the aids effortlessly
- Hindrance-free nature, permitting people with glasses, face masks, or oxygen tubes to enjoy sounds.
Q. How to get started with SoundWise Aria?
A. First, the units must be charged. Then, individuals are asked to turn them on and to place the correct ear dome by ear size. Once measured and selected, it is as simple as inserting them into the ears.
Q. What does each purchase of SoundWise Aria include?
A. Each SoundWise Aria comes with two Aria hearing aids, a charging case and cord, a selection of 5 ear domes for custom sizing, a volume adjustment tool, a cleaning tool, and a SoundWise user manual.
Q. Do customers need a prescription to buy SoundWise Aria?
A. No, it is allegedly legal to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. This decision was made by the FDA [2]. To date, the organization proposed to place a maximum volume limit to prevent injuries from overamplification.
Q. How do I know SoundWise Aria will work for my hearing loss condition?
A. To assess whether SoundWise Aria is applicable on a case-by-case basis, the team has since developed a survey that asks a series of questions and conducts a sound test. To give this test a try, click here.
Q. Is SoundWise Aria protected by a money-back guarantee?
A. Yes, SoundWise Aria has been protected by a one-year money-back guarantee. If anything goes wrong with the hearing aid and the issue cannot be resolved over chat, the team is willing to replace it at no extra charge.
How much does SoundWise Aria cost?
Originally priced at $1,399, one pair of the SoundWise Aria can now be purchased on the official website, where the company offers three options:
- One Pair Aria Soundwise $499.00 Free Shipping
- Buy One Pair Get Half Off of a Second Pair $749.00 Free Shipping
- Buy a Soundwise Hearing Aid Kit and Make Three Payments of $185.00 Free Shipping
Consumers can purchase an extended warranty for replacing two hearing aids free of charge and includes free shipping for up to one year after purchase for an additional $97.00 at checkout.
Contact the customer service by sending an email to:
- Email Support: Barb@GetSoundwise.com
Meet the team at SoundWise
Kriss Berg co-founded SoundWise with Dr. F. Kent Nunally, MD, FACS, and Dr. Victoria Taylor, AuD, CCC-A. Such a journey took form when Kriss noticed two things, 1) a sharp decline in his father’s hearing, where the latter couldn’t even hear the former from an inch away, and 2) the upward trend of costs (starting at $5,000). Kriss’ frustration led him to go on a mission that promotes hearing at affordable prices.
Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT South) specialists, Dr. Nunnally and Dr. Victoria Taylor, were engaged. The duo’s expertise was imperative for Kriss to educate himself on telecoils, decibels, feedback, compression, and noise reduction, among other pertinent hearing factors. While he had a vision, he needed support to make it a reality. Speaking of specialists, here’s a brief on what they bring to the table:
Dr. F. Kent Nunnally:
- Completed his medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (1987)
- Completed training in otolaryngology (1992)
- Served patients in the Wiregrass area for nearly 25 years
Dr. Victoria Taylor:
- Certified clinical audiologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Licensed by the Alabama and Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Completed her Clinical Doctorate of Audiology at the University of South Alabama
- Joined ENT South as a Hearing Specialist (2019)
Final Verdict
From the analysis above, it should be evident that SoundWise Aria was designed to support people with some form of tinnitus or hearing loss. These hearing aids consider the quality of external sounds and tinnitus habituation so that minor details aren’t prioritized. What drew us to the SoundWise brand is the medical expertise, combining close to 50 years, which has been validated. This alone is sufficient to convince interested parties, not to mention its simplistic design that is neither heavy nor attention-grabbing, rechargeable nature, and affordability.
How can anyone neglect the one-year replacement warranty and an option to make payments and the money-back guarantee arrangement? The latter is a rare event and should be taken advantage of! Before anything, individuals are asked to assess their hearing health. Hearing amplifiers and hearing aids serve different purposes; hence, a professional must hold conversations. Of course, there is also the option to do one’s due diligence or take the SoundWise quiz.