Herb
I have found the Apple AirPod 2 Pro with the hearing aid software quite effective in improving my hearing. In fact I found them equal sound wise to the Phonak L70 HA in my right ear (I have an issue where my left eardrum is perforated, won’t heal and makes both the ear and HA/Airpods effectively useless). Fortunately I can listen to music on my HD800 headphones. Returning to the AirPods, there are issues with the AI function where I’ll find they spontaneously turn off or reduce the volume. I contacted Apple and they are compiling issues with the AirPods for the next software update. If these issues can be addressed (along with the relatively short battery life) Apple may be a real game changer in the hearing space. Thank you Steve Jobs!!
And not to forget $199 for Apple AirPod 2 Pros is a huge price difference from the ~ $4000 for the Phonaks.
Indeed Michael. I am very pleased with the Apple product. I hope that more people in need will learn about them
and try them. It truly is a no-brainer.
Not hearing aids but maybe a hearing aid
Not just an idea, but also an actual product!
Still, I feel hesitant… 
I was skeptical about how effective the AirPods Pro 2 would be as hearing aids. I have tried to use them a number of times in the past month or so and I will have to admit I am impressed about how much more I can hear with them. So much that I was missing and did not realize it, and I only have minor hearing loss.
I put them to the real test a few times at a restaurant called First Watch. If you have never been in one it is extremely loud inside, especially when the place is crowded. Everything inside there basically has a hard surface, so the sounds are bouncing off everything.
I have a friend that I meet there for lunch occasionally. I have tried them a few times at lunch and they work like a champ. No more asking my friend to repeat himself over and over while we are there. They work so good he said he is going to buy a pair too. The ones his doctor try to sell him were $3K, so he was reluctant to spend that much and risk them not working out. The ones his wife has are $7K and she is not very happy with them. For a fraction of the price, the AirPods Pro 2 is worth giving it a try. Not to mention they even help at home listening to music.
Plus, they serve pancakes on ice cold plates early in the morning! 
I’ve replied before about this. Over the last two years I bought, tried, and returned three sets
of hearing aids (the first two at over $4000., Widak and Sparky, and the thirds over $1000., the Phillips from Costco. I was happiest with the Sparky (or Starkey) but not happy enough to keep them at that price. I, too, recently tried the Apple Ipod 2, adjusted them with the software’s built in hearing test. Of all that I tried I find them the most satisfying when watching TV. They are not
too bad when listening to my expensive high end audio system. I strongly urge and recommend that anyone who has a mild to moderate hearing loss (usually in the upper frequencies) try the Apple Ipod 2 at give or take around $200.
Here in Australia we are still waiting (
) for Apple to release the software update to enable the hearing aid function otherwise there would be a lot more sales. Me for one.
I must have way more hearing loss than you. I frequently go to the First Watch on St. Andrews in Boca and rarely notice that music is playing other than background music.
Thanks for sharing your experience.