Apple has introduced a groundbreaking feature for its AirPods Pro 2, transforming them into over-the-counter hearing aids. This new function, unveiled at the company’s product launch event, was detailed by Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s vice president of health. The feature is designed to assist over 1 billion people worldwide with mild to moderate hearing loss, enhancing specific sound frequencies to make them clearer and more vibrant. Additionally, the device uses machine learning to adjust in real-time based on environmental noise.
Priced at $249, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 offers a more affordable and accessible alternative to traditional prescription hearing aids, which often cost thousands of dollars. However, the feature is not suitable for severe or profound hearing loss, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still requires prescriptions for users under the age of 18.
This new addition comes two years after the FDA approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, allowing adults to buy hearing devices without a doctor’s visit. Apple anticipates FDA clearance for this AirPods feature soon, with plans to roll it out in over 100 countries by the fall.
Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, praised Apple’s innovation, stating, “This is what we wanted in the market… technology innovation to really get people to pay attention to their hearing health.”
