Olive Union, a global firm focused on hearing accessibility and technology, announced the market launch of its updated over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid, the Olive Max.

The next-gen Olive Max features adaptable sound settings and a sleek wraparound design created to resemble popular consumer earbuds rather than traditional hearing aids. With Olive Max, the brand continues its efforts to combat the social and economic barriers to hearing aid adoption using innovative design and technology, according to the company.

“We are thrilled to start 2024 with the arrival of the Olive Max,” says Owen Song, founder and CEO of Olive Union. “This is the next step in our continued mission to bring affordable and attractive wearables to the hearing loss community and help reduce the stigma associated with hearing loss. Research has shown that hearing loss contributes to cognitive issues related to memory if untreated. One of our primary goals at Olive is to improve relationships and mental health through hearing treatment.” 

With louder and clearer sound than the preceding Olive Pro, the Olive Max is a fully-equipped OTC hearing aid that is designed with the appearance and function of Bluetooth headphones, the company says. 

Further reading: Survey Details OTC Self-Fitting Hearing Aid Users’ Experiences, Perceptions

With noise amplification made to aid those with mild to moderate hearing loss (26 to 55 hearing loss range (dB HL)), the Olive Max is a sleek and sporty hearing aid crafted to reduce background noise and amplify clearer conversations. Users can enjoy the functionality of hearing aids with the wrap-around design of performance earbuds. 

The Olive Max is outfitted with the following features: 

  • True wireless music listening and hands-free calling
  • A rechargeable battery with up to 10 hours of continuous use and quick charging in 30 minutes with a charging case
  • Additional eartips to fit each user’s ears 
  • AI recommended presets in the My Olive App that match user hearing profile needs

Photo: Olive Union