Don’t Buy It, Until We Try It: Loud ‘N Clear | Video

Amy Fox | 10/19/2012

If you have trouble hearing, there may be a solution for you. In this week`s "Don`t Buy It, Until We Try It," I tried out Loud `N Clear, the personal sound amplifier.

They advertise Loud `N Clear as a product that will amplify the sound up to 90 feet away. Not to mention it has adjustable volume, and it’s discrete and powerful.

But, does this product actually work? Well, "Don`t Buy It, Until We Try It."

As we get older, we sometimes lose our hearing, but hearing aids can be pretty expensive.

"For the really cheap price, if you are struggling in some situations, you can give it a try," said Dr. Jerrica Maxson, Trinity Health Medical Group Audiology.

So, we decided to put Loud `N Clear to the test to see if it actually works as a hearing aid alternative like advertised on TV.

But, before we could actually try it out the device, we had to install the batteries and test the volume level. We started by taking the back of the hearing device off and putting the two batteries in their respective places.

Now, it was time to turn it on.

As I began to put the earpiece on, I struggled to secure it in place. When I tipped my head from side to side, Loud ‘N Clear fell out, which is not necessarily what they advertise on TV.

Finally, it was time to try it out, so we started with the pin test.

I threw the pin across the studio and there was no sound in the Loud `N Clear.

The next test: the TV.

Once again, I still heard nothing in the earpiece.

But, before we gave it a thumbs up or a thumbs down, we wanted to have a professional try it out.

This time, I took a step outside the room and tried to have a conversation, but once again heard nothing.

"It really felt like I was hearing myself and not really necessarily you from far away, so I wouldn`t tell a relative to purchase it," said Maxson.

Instead of amplifying the voices in the room, Loud ‘N Clear only amplified the sound of my voice. While it looks a lot like a blue tooth device, it didn`t fit very securely around my ear and it was pretty uncomfortable. Not to mention there was a lot of feedback.

So, this week`s "Don`t Buy It, Until We Try It," earns a thumbs down.

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