The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the needed authorization for Apple's Hearing Aid feature, which makes it available to use for the AirPods Pro 2 when it arrives later this year. This is an incredible milestone for Apple as the company looks to dip its toes into health tech.
In its "It's Glowtime" event, Apple noted at that time that it has yet to receive a "clinical grade" authorization from the FDA.
The FDA has guaranteed that the feature has undergone a rigorous testing program to see how Apple's software works, signaling a new era for the company's audio wearables.
FDA Authorizes Apple's Hearing Aid Feature
According to the FDA FDA, Apple now has authorization for its Hearing Aid feature that will soon be available to users via the AirPods Pro 2. According to the agency, this is the "first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device" available for the AirPods Pro lineup.
This will classify the Apple AirPods Pro 2 as an OTC hearing aid, and it aims to beneficial for users who are 18 years old and above who have mild to moderate hearing impairment.
The FDA shared that Apple's Hearing Aid feature was tested in a clinical study involving 118 subjects with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss in the United States. It found that it aced tests, including measuring levels of amplification in the ear canal, as well as measuring speech understanding in noise.
It was concluded by the FDA that the hearing aid feature did not have any "adverse events" during the study.
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Should You Opt for AirPods Pro 2 as a Hearing Aid?
Users who have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss may opt to use the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid substitute as it brings likewise more features focusing on entertainment and connectivity. It also features a self-fitting strategy, according to the FDA, that means that it does not the assistance of a hearing care professional.
However, for users who have more severe cases of hearing loss, it is best to consult your healthcare professional when it comes to what hearing devices is best.
Apple's Health Tech Ventures
Since Apple ventured into wearable technology, it has offered various health tech features that has been made available for users, particularly for its Apple Watch series. The latest from the Cupertino-based tech giant's Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 is a feature that detects sleep apnea.
It does so by detecting so-called "breathing disturbances" that may signal this adverse condition.
The Apple AirPods series, on the other hand, did not have any health tech features until this recent fall event announcement, and it mainly focused on offering entertainment experiences. However, it has been previously rumored that future AirPods releases will have a heart rate monitor feature to add to its functionalities.
With the authorization given by the FDA, it looks like the AirPods Pro 2's Hearing Aid feature is now in full swing. It is expected that Apple will be integrating more health features for its wearables in the future.
Related Article: Apple Announces a Hearing Aid Feature for the AirPods Pro 2
