These funky, so-called “open- headphones” are getting a serious thumbs up!
How it works
Apart from hearing through our ear canals (and ear drums), we can also hear through our scull bone using vibration technology. These AfterShokz headphones send the sound into your inner ear through the bone in front of your ear (cheek) bypassing your eardrums.
Why is this a great idea?
Well, for one, because your ear canal is still open, you can still hear everything else around you clearly when using the headphones. From safety perspective, when running or cycling, you can listen to your music, and STILL hear a car approaching. You can also follow conversations with friends (or a coach) when training while enjoying music.
What about hearing loss?
People with hearing loss can use the AfterShokz headphones alongside their conventional hearing aids (they don’t need to take their hearing aids out). Depending on the degree and the type of the hearing loss, these headphones might even have a better quality for listening to music than some traditional hearing aids.
Tinnitus
People living with tinnitus tend not to like using traditional earbuds or over-the-head ear phones as they block out external noise making their tinnitus appear worse.
These AfterShokz headphones are ideal for tinnitus suffers as you can still hear the world around you whilst using sound as a form of distraction and relaxation for tinnitus (sound therapy).
So how does it perform in real life?
I have to say, I was blown away. The sound quality is extremely good. Being an Audiologist and knowing the output limitations of bone-conduction (we use it for hearing assessments), I was dubious about the quality. But it’s truly exceptional.
I have small ears and ear canals and standard iPhone earphones, frequently falls out of my ears or causes a pressure sores in my ear bowls. Using over the ear headphones not only shuts sound out completely, it also makes you sweat a lot on your head. The AfterShokz are lightweight and non-obtrusive and very comfortable!
We are fortunate to live on the edge of beautiful woodlands where I frequently run. My husband, who is a nature fanatic, was annoyed at me wanting to listen to music instead of enjoying nature sounds when running, but the beauty of these headphones is you’re having both! It
My initial plan was to use these for running and cycling but I have since found out how brilliant they are around the house. I can listen to podcasts while cooking or re-decorating the house while I am still entirely aware of my surroundings and the family’s conversations. As a bonus, I have found the AfterShokz even improves family relations with teenagers! Our son who loves music, wears over-the-ear headphones for hours on end. Getting his attention can be a real frustration and I have to admit I’ve often envisaged the design of a soft shocking mechanism that could be attached to his over-the-ear headphones, to be utilise from a distance whenever one wants to draw his attention 😉. These AfterShokz has been revolutionary in that there is no need for shouting or having to walk up to him and lift the headphone. He enjoys his music and I celebrate him hearing me!
AfterShokz Aeropex (wireless) cost £159.00 a pair and are supplied by Farnham Hearing. Enquire here
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