US Regulators Approve New Apple AirPods as Hearing Aids

On Thursday, US regulators granted Apple permission to introduce a feature in its upcoming AirPods Pro that allows them to be used as hearing aids, potentially reshaping the hearing aid market.

Earlier this week, Apple unveiled the AirPods Pro 2, with a software upgrade in the works that will enable users to assess their hearing and access enhanced listening for daily use as well as for streaming content.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this hearing aid function, citing studies that showed users found them as effective as professionally fitted hearing aids.

"Hearing loss is a significant public health issue affecting millions of Americans," stated Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDA.

Apple's technology "expands the accessibility and acceptability of hearing assistance for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss," Tarver added.

The AirPods Pro 2 are priced at $249, making them significantly more affordable than traditional hearing aids. However, users must have Apple devices to access this feature.

In addition to the hearing aid function, AirPods Pro 2, when used with iPhones or iPads, will allow users to test their hearing and generate a personalised hearing profile, which will be securely stored in the Apple Health app.

The hearing test takes around five minutes, requiring users to tap their iPhone or iPad screen when they hear sounds at varying volumes and frequencies. The results will be used to customise the hearing aid settings.

The personalised profile will also be "automatically applied to music, films, games, and phone calls across their devices without the need for manual adjustments," according to Apple.

Traditional hearing aids generally do not offer this level of customisation for streamed content or phone calls.

"Hearing health is vital to our overall wellbeing but is often neglected," said Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, in a press release.

Research cited by Apple suggests that more than a billion people worldwide live with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, expressed excitement about Apple's innovation. "It’s a big step forward that a product millions already own will now offer hearing support and protection," she told AFP.

Apple plans to roll out these features in over 100 countries in the coming months, subject to approval from relevant health authorities.

Advancing Health Technology

Apple has been steadily integrating health and fitness features into its products over the years.

The Apple Watch can remind users to take their medication, alert them to dangerous noise levels, or detect irregular heart rhythms that might require medical attention. It can also help women monitor ovulation cycles.

In the latest version, Apple Watch adds the capability to detect sleep apnoea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.

Apple Health App securely stores data collected from users and uses machine learning to generate insights, helping users track metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, blood glucose levels, and sleep quality.