The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved the hearing aid feature on Apple AirPods Pro 2. The feature will be delivered to the headphones via a software update in the near future.

This allowed Apple to make a breakthrough in the current hearing aid market. Essentially, Apple adopted a similar approach to other manufacturers of inexpensive, over-the-counter hearing aids by offering a product that functions as both a Bluetooth headset and a hearing aid. However, the difference is that the company didn't introduce a new product but simply added hearing aid technology to an already released product.

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AirPods Pro 2 will receive a software update to enable them to function as hearing aids. Photo: Apple

Users will take a hearing test on their iPhone as requested. After a few minutes, the iPhone generates a hearing graph, which is used to program AirPods Pro as a hearing aid.

Apple says the personalized adjustments will increase the volume of ambient sounds around the user in real time, while the hearing aid algorithm uses the aforementioned audiogram to adjust frequencies. The company also allows users to upload pre-existing audiograms for increased flexibility.

One of the most impressive and unique features is that these settings also apply to the streaming experience. Most other over-the-counter hearing aids will completely disable the hearing aid feature when streaming. So, this represents a real upgrade for those with hearing loss.

Apple is touting this as “ the world’s first software-based hearing aid feature,” which involves rolling out the feature via a software update.

According to hearing expert Ruth Reisman, the new AirPods Pro feature is good news for millions of people with hearing loss, helping them know if they need medical assistance. However, she cautioned that the product may not be as sophisticated as prescription hearing aids. Apple's technology is intended for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

At $249, the AirPods Pro 2 are relatively expensive for a wireless headset. However, when used as a hearing aid, they are one of the most affordable options currently available. Even basic hearing aids today cost between $300 and $400. In the US, most range from $1,000 to $6,000, depending on features and complexity.

According to Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Health, hearing loss is a major public health problem affecting millions of Americans. Approving the hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 is a significant step forward in making hearing support more accessible and affordable.

The FDA's decision came after a clinical study of 118 subjects who believed they had mild or moderate hearing loss. The study found that those who set up AirPods through Apple's hearing test experienced similar benefits to those who had the headphones installed by a professional.

In 2022, the FDA approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, allowing adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to purchase devices directly from retailers without a medical examination or consultation with a hearing specialist.

Apple plans to roll out the update in late 2024, but the exact timing is unclear.

(According to Wired, Firstpost)