Leaving behind the trend of rudimentary upgrades from generation to generation, the latest Apple AirPods Pro update will come with the potential of doubling up as hearing aids. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the AirPods hearing aid feature that offers enhanced sounds for those with mild to moderate hearing impairments. The company announced a variety of new support features that could help Americans who are forced to rely on expensive hearing aids to make it through the day.
Image: AirPods Pro 2
Apple’s Hearing Aid AirPods Could Be a Big Step Forward For Its Customer
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 aims to be an essential assistant in assessing and supporting a user’s hearing health. Those with mild to moderate hearing issues will be able to use the audio device to enhance their hearing and make it through their daily routines with greater ease.
The application is expected to include a clinically validated hearing test which will allow users to customize the details of their listening preferences. The 5-minute hearing test via the app on the iPhone will allow users to complete a quick check-up to determine the nature of their hearing and the kind of support they need for it to improve. Customization options can include tone, volume, and balance settings that will allow audio that is channeled through the device to be audible to the user.
The AirPods Pro 2 hearing features will also include hearing protection for those who need safeguards against loud noise in their environment that needs to be filtered out for their comfort. These elements combined could benefit those with a wide range of hearing conditions that they might not otherwise think to seek help for considering the expense of investing in hearing aids.
The FDA has approved the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds and its Hearing Aid Feature (HAF) and these capabilities will likely arrive with an iOS 18 software upgrade in October. Other compatible AirPod devices could also see the hearing aid functionality when paired with an iOS 18-compatible iPhone or iPad, but attention has been focused on the Pro 2.
Why is the Apple AirPods Pro 2’s Hearing Health Feature a Big Deal?
Over the last two years, the FDA has allowed for the proliferation of Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that are available at much more reasonable prices for the millions of adults in the U.S. with hearing issues. According to the FDA, “close to 30 million adults living in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss” and only about one-fifth of those who could benefit from hearing aids actually seek intervention.
“Using hearing aids may reduce the frequency or severity of cognitive decline, depression, and other health problems in adults. Added benefits can include improved social participation and a better quality of life.”
—FDA
These over-the-counter hearing aids were approved to make them more accessible to a larger number of users who can use air-conduction technology rather than any surgical implantation. This makes them more affordable and allows software customization to perfect its functionality for each individual user.
Similar to these OTC hearing aids, the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid will allow adults in the U.S. to seek auditory support at a more nominal cost without the pressure of seeking surgical support. The $249 USD price tag may be high for a simple pair of earbuds, but with such enhanced capabilities, they could be life-changing for its users. The AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid update has stolen some of the attention from the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Max, but those devices have their own functionalities and uses apart from the AirPods Pro 2’s hearing features.