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Apple has announced a groundbreaking new feature for its AirPods Pro 2 that will transform the popular wireless earbuds into over-the-counter hearing aids. The FDA has authorized this new software, which is designed to amplify sounds for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The hearing aid feature will use advanced computational audio and machine learning to make real-time adjustments based on the user’s environment.
It will boost specific frequencies to make sounds clearer and more vibrant. To access the feature, users will need to take a hearing test through their AirPods Pro 2. The test will analyze their hearing loss by playing a series of tones.
Apple has a hot new product. It’s a hearing aid. “As soon as it rolls out [it upcoming] software, Apple will instantly make the AirPods Pro 2 into a medical device..turning every pair of the top-selling headphones into over-the-counter hearing aidshttps://t.co/DiC1CKmKb2
— Charles Onyango-Obbo (@cobbo3) September 18, 2024
Once the test is complete, the AirPods will be personalized to the user’s specific hearing needs.
Users should be 18 years old to activate the Apple Hearing Aid capabilities, and only if they have mild-to-moderate hearing loss. AirPods Pro 2 earbuds last about six hours on a single charge, so they won’t work for all-day hearing assistance.https://t.co/A3GSWEXNHT
— Shantha R. Mohan, Ph.D., DTM (@ShanthaRMohan) September 16, 2024
Apple’s announcement comes two years after the FDA authorized the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. This change allowed people to buy hearing aids directly from stores or manufacturers without needing to see a doctor.
airPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature
At $249, the AirPods Pro 2 offer a much more affordable option compared to traditional prescription hearing aids, which can cost thousands of dollars. However, they may not be suitable for everyone.
The FDA says that people under 18 must still get hearing aids through a prescription. The over-the-counter hearing aids are also not designed for people with severe or profound hearing loss. Barbara Kelley, the executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, said she hopes Apple’s new feature will encourage more people to address their hearing health.
“This is what we wanted in the market, to see technological innovation that really gets people to pay attention to their hearing health,” she said. Some hearing aid users on social media praised Apple’s announcement, but others pointed out that traditional hearing aids have a big advantage when it comes to battery life. Hearing aids typically last for days on a single charge, while AirPods only last a few hours.
The new hearing aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 will be available this fall in over 100 countries, including the United States, Germany, and Japan. It will require the latest firmware and a compatible iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18.
