The FDA has approved Apple’s new “Hearing Aid Feature” for AirPods Pro 2, allowing them to serve as hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.

This feature will be available via a free software update for AirPods Pro 2 and iOS 18-compatible iPhones or iPads this fall.  Users can check their hearing through a five-minute test and adjust sound settings accordingly.  More than 30 million American adults experience hearing loss, yet many avoid hearing aids due to cost, accessibility, and stigma.  Untreated hearing loss increases risks like social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline while using hearing aids can mitigate these issues.

A clinical study of 118 participants with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss showed Apple’s feature provided similar benefits to professionally fitted hearing aids, with no adverse effects reported.  Dr. Michelle Tarver of the FDA lauded the approval as advancing accessibility to hearing support for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.

The FDA’s approval follows a 2022 decision allowing over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids without a prescription.  While this has improved accessibility, hearing aids remain expensive, ranging from $99 to $7,000.  In contrast, AirPods Pro 2 costs $249, making them a more affordable option in many cases.

Apple’s VP of Health, Sumbul Ahmad Desai, highlighted how the new feature personalizes hearing by amplifying specific sounds in real time.  The Hearing Loss Association of America expressed optimism that Apple’s innovation could reduce stigma but noted that it may primarily help those with mild to moderate hearing loss.  Those with more serious hearing issues likely won’t benefit from this innovation.

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