Apple unveiled a number of new products at its “It’s Glowtime” event this month. While the iPhone 16 lineup stole the show, the most interesting announcement came from another product line: the Cupertino, California-based company’s premium earbuds. Airpods Pro 2With a software update, the device will also be able to function as a commercial hearing aid, a feature that is FDA approved.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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During the iPhone 16 launch, Apple described a new hearing aid feature designed to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. At the time, Apple said the feature was still awaiting FDA approval. But on September 12, the FDA announced Announced Approved software-based hearing aid technology.
“Hearing loss is a significant public health issue that affects millions of Americans,” FDA Commissioner Michelle Tarver said in a statement. “Today’s approval of over-the-counter hearing aid software for inclusion in widely used consumer audio products marks another step in increasing the availability, accessibility and acceptability of hearing support for adults who experience mild-to-moderate hearing loss.”
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The FDA said it approved Apple’s hearing aid feature after conducting a clinical trial with 118 Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss. The study found that users who “self-fitted” AirPods got similar results from the hearing aid software compared to those who were fitted by a professional.
“Results also showed comparable performance in tests measuring the level of amplification in the ear canal and in measures of speech understanding in noise. No adverse events associated with the device were observed in the study,” the FDA added.
When turned on, the feature uses the results of a hearing test to provide users with a clinical-level hearing aid experience, making adjustments in real time and amplifying surrounding sounds based on the environment. Apple also says that users can use the hearing test results provided by a hearing healthcare professional to configure hearing aid features for even more personalized settings.
AirPods Pro 2 (Apple) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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This feature can save people a lot of money.
Prices for behind-the-ear hearing aids range from $1,000 to $6,000, but Apple Airpods Pro 2 The price is just $249.89. That’s a big difference, and as the FDA points out, AirPods provide similar results. This is great news for people with hearing loss, as they can now get effective help without spending a lot of money.
It is not yet clear when Apple will release an update to enable the hearing aid feature, but it is expected to be released this fall. The feature will be accessible through iOS 18 Settings when AirPods Pro 2 are plugged in. The hearing aid feature will be released in more than 100 countries and regions, including the US, Germany, and Japan.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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FDA Warning: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Are Not a Substitute for Professional Care
Currently, the FDA offers one caution: over-the-counter hearing aids are not a substitute for a professional medical evaluation or prescribed hearing aids. Although over-the-counter hearing aids increase accessibility for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, they have limitations and are not suitable for everyone with hearing loss. The FDA emphasizes that over-the-counter hearing aids are only intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss and are not suitable for children or those with more severe hearing loss. For those with more severe hearing loss or complex hearing needs, prescribed hearing aids fitted by a hearing health professional remain the recommended option.
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Important points about the cart
of Airpods Pro 2 They’re already packed with useful features like transparency mode, speech recognition, and noise cancellation. Add in the hearing aid functionality and you have an all-in-one package. Many people already wear AirPods in their ears all day, so people with hearing loss may find them more comfortable than traditional hearing aids.
If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, why not try using your AirPods as a hearing aid? Cyberguy.com/Contact Us.
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