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Apple AirPods can be hearing aids infographic
Graphic explains how AirPods can become hearing aids.
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U.S. FDA approve AirPods Pro hearing aid function

By Ninian Carter

September 13, 2024 - The U.S. FDA authorises a software update for Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, adding a feature that enables their use as over-the-counter clinical-grade hearing aids.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised a software/firmware update to Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 models, adding a new hearing aid feature.

By installing Apple’s new iOS 18 iPhone software update and an AirPods Pro 2 firmware update called “7A294”, users aged 18 and over with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment can turn AirPods Pro 2 models into over-the-counter hearing aids.

Once the updates are installed, owners can access a new Hearing Test on their iPhone that asks them to tap the screen when they hear a variety of tones played through the earbuds. The results are then used to create a personalised audio profile for the Hearing Aid feature.

A FDA clinical study, which was conducted on 118 people across the U.S., showed that subjects who used the hearing aid feature’s self-fitting app achieved a similar perceived benefit as subjects who received professional fittings.

The AirPods Pro 2 retail for $250, substantially less than conventional hearing aids which can cost thousands of dollars.

There are approximately 1.5 billion people globally living with some level of hearing loss, according to the World Health Organisation.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 13/09/2024; STORY: Graphic News
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