Bluetooth connectivity is a feature. And tbh I love it, it’s headphones specifically set to compensate for my hearing loss, that I can connect to my phone and theoretically my computer. I can listen to audiobooks without taking out my hearing aids (though switching to dome molds means earbuds fit in without taking them out) and I can make phone calls beam into my ears. Even beyond that, it connects to my phone via Bluetooth and gives me the ability to control settings on them. These settings include different sound settings for situations like meetings as well as muting which I need sometimes because of things like loud coworkers and the stress of always hearing.

Until this inconvenience it managed to take an assistive device from “ugh I have to wear these even though they’re uncomfortable (the discomfort isn’t just the fit, it’s also being able to hear everything) to having enough convenient features that I sometimes wear them at home.

And yeah these nice features do matter because one of the most difficult things about hearing aids is getting people to power through the initial discomfort when they first get them. Also there’s just the nice to have factor. Why shouldn’t medical devices have nice features that can be easily implemented. Like transition lenses or putting a cup holder on a wheelchair.