At the Glowtime launch event, Apple announced new features for its AirPods Pro 2, including a Hearing Aid feature that caught the most attention. Turns out, the company has already got approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority for the feature.
FDA Approves The New Hearing Aid Feature
In a press release published on September 12, 2024, the FDA announced its approval of the Hearing Aid feature on the AirPods Pro. The organization calls the feature the “first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device.”
For those catching up, over-the-counter medications or solutions don’t require a medical professional’s supervision. Further, people don’t need a doctor’s prescription to consume or use them.
In the words of the FDA, the Hearing Aid Feature (HAF) on the AirPods Pro utilizes a self-fitting strategy. It allows users to wear and remove them at their convenience. Further, users can adjust it to meet their requirements with the help of a hearing professional. Users can also customize the volume, tone, and balance settings.
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The organization highlights how the feature was tested in a clinical study. The test included 118 subjects who suffered from mild to moderate hearing loss. Most importantly, the findings suggested that subjects using the AirPods Pro HAF feature achieve similar benefits as those using professional fitting of the same device.
Here’s How Hearing Aid Can Impact The Lives Of Users
Given that more than 1.5 billion people globally are suffering from some sort of hearing loss, the availability of an easy-to-use and, more importantly, readily available tool on the AirPods Pro could surely help a significant number of users.
Given that AirPods Pro are among the most sought-after audio products across the world, using them as hearing aids will help users feel more confident. This increases the “availability, accessibility, and acceptability of hearing support.” Further, a large number of people already wear the AirPods Pro all day long, which would make people with the disorder feel at ease around them.
AirPods Pro 2 Offer A Hearing Test And Personalized Adjustments
Apple seems to have given the feature a lot of thought, starting with a Hearing Test that identifies whether users are suffering from the condition and enabling “personalized dynamic adjustments” that boost the sounds around them in real time. The results are safely stored in the Health app.
When the feature arrives on the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) later this year, it will transform the device into a clinical-grade hearing aid. This will, in turn, allow users to better engage in conversations, keep them connected to the people around them, and boost their confidence.
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A user’s personalized audio profile will be automatically applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls across all their Apple devices. The feature builds on the existing hearing health tools, like headphone notifications and Reduce Loud Audio.
Given that the AirPods Pro also sports features like Transparency Mode and Conversation Awareness, it can very well become the smartest hearing aid for people with “mild to moderate” hearing loss.
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