How Bone Conduction Headsets Work Seamlessly with Hearing Aids in the Modern Workplace

shokz February 06, 2026

Hybrid work has reshaped how teams collaborate. Meetings now happen across screens, platforms, and time zones—often several times a day. For the 430 million¹ people worldwide living with moderate to severe hearing loss, this shift has introduced a new challenge: digital meetings that are harder to follow, more fatiguing, and less inclusive.

Traditional audio solutions were not designed for this reality. For hearing aid users, switching between devices, managing interference, or missing key details can turn everyday meetings into barriers rather than moments of connection.

To better understand this gap, Shokz conducted a dedicated workplace study in October 2025, combining 70 quantitative surveys with 10 in-depth user interviews. The findings point to a clear shift:

Bone Conduction Technology, enabled by a distinctive dual-channel listening approach, is emerging as a practical, professional solution that works alongside hearing aids—rather than replacing them—for users navigating the modern workplace.
When Audio Devices Compete Instead of Cooperate
For hearing aid users, online meetings introduce more than just cognitive strain. The physical interaction between traditional headsets and hearing aids often creates real, everyday discomfort, turning routine calls into something to endure rather than engage with.
1. Physical interference and discomfort are common
  • Direct pressure: On-ear headsets rest directly against the ear, pressing hearing aids into sensitive skin. For users of Behind-the-Ear (BTE) or Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) devices, this pressure can quickly lead to irritation or sharp pain behind the ear.

  • Shared space conflicts: In-ear earbuds occupy the same ear canal as In-the-Ear (ITE) or Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aids. The two devices are simply not designed to function together, forcing users to choose between comfort, clarity, or participation.

  • Heat and moisture buildup: Over-ear headsets can trap heat during longer meetings.
These physical limitations are often overlooked in workplace audio design, but for hearing aid users, they shape the entire meeting experience.
2. How Audio Feedback Disrupts Digital Meetings

Few moments are more disruptive in a meeting than sudden audio feedback. For hearing aid users, this is not an occasional glitch, it’s a recurring risk built into traditional headset design.

When over-ear or on-ear headsets cover a hearing aid microphone, the sound signal can be re-captured and amplified in a continuous loop. The result is a sharp, high-pitched squeal that interrupts meetings and draws unwanted attention.

To avoid this, many users feel forced to remove their hearing aids entirely, creating a different kind of trade-off.

“To avoid the whistling, I have to take off my hearing aids for meetings. But that makes me incredibly anxious. I’m afraid of losing such an expensive device, and I don’t like being cut off from the sounds around me.”
Instead of supporting participation, conventional audio setups often push hearing aid users into uncomfortable compromises between clarity, confidence, and awareness.
3. The Connectivity Gap Between Hearing Aids and Work Devices

While hearing aid technology has advanced significantly, compatibility with workplace hardware remains inconsistent. Our study shows that only 48% of surveyed users use Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, and even among them, a reliable connection to computers is far from guaranteed.

Users report frequent issues, including unstable pairing, distorted audio, and dropped connections, especially during long meetings or presentations.

As a result, many are forced into improvised, multi-device setups that add friction rather than convenience.

“Since I can’t connect my hearing aids to my computer, I join meetings on my laptop to see the presentation and on my phone to hear the audio. It’s a huge headache, especially during webinars in public places or on planes, where I can’t just play sound through my laptop speakers.”
In modern hybrid work environments, where flexibility and mobility matter, these connectivity gaps make professional collaboration unnecessarily complex for hearing aid users.
How Dual-Channel Listening Solves Compatibility Issues

So how does Shokz address the long-standing compatibility challenges between professional audio gear and hearing aids.

Instead of sending sound through the ear canal, Bone Conduction Technology transmits audio through the temporal bones directly to the inner ear. By bypassing the ear canal entirely, this design allows hearing aids and professional headsets to operate simultaneously, without interference.

The result is a true dual-channel listening experience, where environmental sound and digital audio are delivered through separate, non-competing paths:

  • Ambient channel: Hearing aids continue to function as intended, capturing environmental sounds and in-person conversations.

  • Digital channel: Bone Conduction headsets deliver meeting audio directly to the auditory system with clarity and stability.
The result is not just improved sound quality, but a more confident, uninterrupted way to participate in the modern workplace.
User-Validated Compatibility Testing
To validate how bone conduction office headsets perform in real hearing aid user scenarios, Shokz conducted a complementary experimental evaluation involving 12 participants with different types of hearing loss (conductive, sensorineural, and mixed) and hearing aid styles (RIC, ITE, and BTE). The testing focused on four key dimensions: wearing stability, risk of acoustic feedback, impact on hearing aid performance, and call and music experience. The results show that both OpenComm2 and OpenMeet work reliably alongside air-conduction hearing aids, demonstrating stable physical and acoustic compatibility without feedback, interference, or measurable functional impact during use.
Research Findings from Hearing Aid Users
To understand how dual-channel listening performs in real workplace conditions, Shokz analyzed feedback from 70 hearing aid users, grouping participants by how they integrate Shokz into their daily routines.
User profiles
  • Dual users (74.3%)
    
Wear hearing aids and Shokz headsets at the same time. This group typically wears hearing aids for more than six hours per day and relies on them throughout the workday.

  • Solo users (25.7%)
    Remove their hearing aids when using Shokz headsets. These users generally wear hearing aids for fewer than four hours per day.
Key findings
  1. Consistent compatibility
    Among dual users, 82% of OpenComm 2 users and 87% of OpenMeet users reported never experiencing compatibility issues between their hearing aids and headsets.
  2. Sustained comfort during long wear
    
67.3% of dual users rated overall comfort at 7 out of 10 or higher, with nearly 20% awarding a perfect score, an important benchmark for professionals who spend hours in meetings each day.
  3. Higher reliance, higher satisfaction
    
Dual users recorded a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 71.1%, significantly higher than Solo users (50%). The data suggests that users who depend more heavily on hearing aids also place greater value on solutions that integrate seamlessly into their workflow.
Together, these findings indicate that when hearing aids and professional audio equipment are designed to work with each other, not around each other, both usability and satisfaction increase meaningfully.
Insights from Real-World Use
Rick, Customer Solutions Architect (ITC User)
"As an IT guy, I’ve tried almost every office headset on the market. Most of them cause interference and feedback. Shokz’s open-ear design truly achieves zero conflict. For the office, it’s a total game-changer."
Richard, VP of Technology (BTE User)
"I used to either deal with the pressure or suffer through the 'on-again, off-again' hassle, which wasn't very hygienic. Shokz might not be the cheapest option, but it is absolutely the most comfortable. I was even able to use it the day after I had eardrum reconstruction surgery."
Recognition from Hearing Health Professionals

The benefits of Bone Conduction Technology extend beyond user experience. They are increasingly recognized by hearing health professionals as a practical solution for people who rely on hearing aids in everyday settings.

Amplifon, a global leader in hearing care services and solutions, highlights Bone Conduction headsets as a preferred option for individuals using specialized hearing devices. In a recent article, Amplifon notes²:

“One of the most effective options for people who wear BTE or RIC hearing aids is Bone Conduction Headphones. These headphones don’t go inside or over your ears but instead sit on your cheekbones and transmit sound vibrations directly to the inner ear. This leaves the ear canal completely open, allowing your hearing aids to work without obstruction or interference.”
This professional perspective reinforces a growing consensus in hearing care: Bone Conduction is one of the few audio technologies that naturally coexist with hearing aids.
Sound Masking for Tinnitus Management

Beyond hearing loss, Shokz’s Bone Conduction Technology has also shown meaningful value for people living with tinnitus. According to JAMA Neurology, an estimated 740 million³ people worldwide experience tinnitus, a condition often characterized by persistent ringing or noise perception without an external source.

For many, complete silence can intensify symptoms rather than relieve them. Sound masking (using low-level background audio such as white noise or ambient sound) has become a widely recognized method for reducing tinnitus-related discomfort.

This is where Shokz offers a distinct advantage.

User Voice : "I have severe tinnitus. For people with tinnitus, sound masking can help reduce the discomfort of persistent ringing. Bone-conduction headsets are an excellent option because they deliver therapeutic sound masking without sealing the ear canal—avoiding pressure and other tinnitus-sensitive triggers—while still allowing full awareness of the outside world. They’re comfortable enough for all-day use and integrate naturally into everyday life.”
As workplace audio continues to evolve, this use case highlights a broader truth: technologies designed for openness and coexistence often unlock benefits well beyond their original intent.
Solutions for an Accessible Digital Workspace
To support different work styles and meeting environments, Shokz offers two purpose-built professional solutions, both designed to integrate seamlessly with hearing aids while supporting all-day work.

Shokz OpenComm 2 UC — Built for Mobility and Flexibility Learn More

Best for professionals who move between devices, locations, and meeting formats throughout the day. OpenComm 2 UC supports seamless switching and reliable connectivity for work that doesn’t stay at a desk.

Shokz OpenMeet UC — Designed for Meeting-Heavy Workdays Learn More

Best for professionals who spend extended hours in virtual meetings on platforms like Teams or Zoom. OpenMeet delivers comfortable performance for long sessions without isolating the user from their environment.
Sound Without Barriers

At Shokz, accessibility is not an afterthought, it’s a design principle. The goal is simple but meaningful: enable people, regardless of hearing ability, to participate fully and confidently in modern work environments.

In a hybrid workplace shaped by digital meetings, the 430 million people worldwide living with disabling hearing loss need more than incremental improvements. Compatibility is not a feature. It’s the foundation of an accessible digital workplace.

By combining open-ear design with Bone Conduction Technology, Shokz is creating a practical, no-compromise approach to professional communication, one that preserves awareness, reduces friction, and removes unnecessary barriers.

For the hearing aid community, Shokz is not just another headset. It’s a bridge between assistive hearing technology and the digital workplace.

Sources
  1. World Health Organization. Hearing aid service delivery approaches.
  2. Amplifon. What are the best headphones to use with hearing aids?
  3. JAMA Neurology. Global prevalence and incidence of tinnitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Media Relations: iris.zhang@shokz.com