Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 will soon double as hearing aids after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company’s new “Hearing Aid Feature.” This software update, set to be released this fall, will allow users with mild to moderate hearing loss to amplify sounds directly through their AirPods. The feature will be available for adults 18 and older using iOS 18-compatible iPhones or iPads.
This comes two years after the FDA approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, a move aimed at making hearing aids more accessible and affordable for the 30 million Americans who report hearing loss. Despite the significant need, only 1 in 6 adults with hearing impairments between the ages of 20 and 69 currently use hearing aids, largely due to high costs, accessibility issues, and stigma surrounding their use.
Apple’s new hearing aid feature offers users the ability to check their hearing through a five-minute test and adjust sound settings according to their needs. The feature will transform AirPods into personalized hearing aids that boost specific sounds, such as speech or environmental elements, in real time.
Meredith Resnick, spokesperson for the Hearing Loss Association of America, expressed optimism about the potential for Apple’s new feature to reduce the stigma around hearing loss. However, she noted that over-the-counter hearing aids, including Apple’s, are primarily designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and may not be suitable for everyone.
The FDA’s approval follows a clinical study involving 118 subjects, which showed that Apple’s hearing aid feature provided a similar benefit to professionally fitted devices, with no adverse events reported. Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, called the authorization “another step that advances the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of hearing support for adults.”
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, priced at $249, offer a more affordable option compared to traditional hearing aids, which can cost anywhere from $99 to $7,000.
What do you think – would you walk around all day with AirPods in your ears?
