Yes, you heard us correctly. It’s better hearing, and fashionable.
Last week the US Food and Drug Administration approved a software update that will allow people to turn their Apple AirPod Pro 2s into hearing aids.
The approval comes nearly two years after the FDA initially okayed the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids in an effort to make it easier – and cheaper – for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to access safe and effective hearing products.
Users will be able to test their hearing via a new addition to the Apple Health app that is similar to the kind of hearing test you would get from an audiologist. Apple claims the in-app test will only take minutes to complete.
AirPod sound levels will then automatically update to reflect the results of the test, making certain sounds louder while turning others down.
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The FDA gave the tech giant the green light on the back of a study testing the HAF in 118 subjects with self-reported mild to moderate hearing loss, which reported that people who used the self-fitting strategy experienced the same improvement in hearing as people whose earbuds were professionally fitted without experiencing any adverse events.
Apple told media that the hearing aid feature will be rolled out to through a software update at some point in the next few weeks.
PulseIT has also reported that the new hearing test and feature “are expected to receive marketing authorisation from global health authorities and will be available in more than 100 countries and regions later this year”.
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Experts have welcomed the move but emphasised that the technology won’t be an answer for everyone.
“Over-the-counter hearing aids are an entry point,” Sarah Sydlowski, audiology director of the hearing implant program at Cleveland Clinic, told the Washington Post.
“No one is saying they are going to provide the most optimal hearing outcomes. But it’s a way to get started.”
Apple has reported that anyone whose self-performed hearing tests suggest they have more severe hearing loss will be recommended to visit an audiologist or other healthcare professional.
A quick online search reveals a new pair of AirPods Pro 2 earbuds will set Australians back anywhere between $300 and $400, while one Perth-based audiology service reports hearing aid prices sit in the $1300-$6500 range.
