(CNN) ā� During its glossy on Tuesday, Apple unveiled a new role for its latest AirPods Pro model: medical device. The company said the wireless headphones will double as clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aids for those who need them.
āWeāre adding this groundbreaking capability to help more than 1 billion people living with mild to moderate hearing loss,ā� said Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Appleās vice president of health.
Apple said its hearing aid feature will boost frequencies āso sounds are clearer and more vibrant to your ears.ā� The company also said the feature will use āmachine learning to make real-time adjustments as you go about your day.ā�
On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized Appleās hearing aid feature. Apple said the feature would become available to AirPods Pro 2 owners this fall through a software update in over 100 countries, including the United States, Germany, and Japan.
Prescription hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars. At $249, Appleās AirPods Pro 2 may be significantly cheaper and more accessible for those who have suffered hearing loss ā� but they wonāt work for everyone. Hereās what you need to know:
Appleās announcement follows FDA changes
Close to 30 million US adults have some degree of hearing loss, but only about one-fifth of those people seek assistance for the issue, to the FDA.
For people with untreated hearing loss,Ā using hearing aids can reduce theĀ rateĀ of cognitive decline andĀ may lower the risk ofĀ depression, according to the FDA.Ā However,Ā expertsĀ haveĀ saidĀ thatĀ the high cost of doctor visits and hearing aids kept some from seeking treatment.
Appleās announcement comes two years after the FDA . Since then, adults with mild to moderate hearing loss have been able to buy hearing aids directly from stores or manufacturers online without the help of a doctor.
To access the new hearing aid feature, AirPods Pro 2 users will have to take a test that will analyze their hearing loss by playing a series of tones.
āAfter you take a hearing test, your AirPods Pro are transformed into a personalized hearing aid, boosting specific sounds you need in real-time, like parts of speech or elements within your environment,ā� said Desai.
But over-the-counter hearing aidsĀ like theseĀ arenāt always the solutionĀ for hearing loss. The FDA still requires people under 18 years old to purchase hearing aids by prescription. Over-the-counter hearing aids, such as Appleās offering,Ā alsoĀ are not a treatment for āsevere or profoundā� hearing loss, according to the FDA. Those with significant hearing loss should still consult aĀ health care professional.
āTodayās marketing authorization of an over-the-counter hearing aid software on a widely used consumer audio product is another step that advances the availability, accessibility and acceptability of hearing support for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss,ā� said Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDAās Center for Devices and Radiological Health in a statement on Thursday.
This isnāt the first time Apple has dabbled in theĀ health careĀ space. Appleās Watch canĀ Ā associated withĀ atrial fibrillation orĀ AFib, which can lead to blood clots, stroke andĀ heart failure,Ā Ā to the American Heart Association.
On Tuesday, Apple announced that its latest Apple Watch 10 , a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep.
High hopes for Appleās new hearing aid feature
Barbara Kelley, the executive director of Hearing Loss Association of America, said she had hoped for an announcement like Appleās after the FDA opened up the market to over-the-counter offerings two years ago.
āThis is what we wanted in the market, to see technology innovation to really get people to pay attention to their hearing health,ā� Kelley said.
Kelley said she hoped Appleās new product would encourage more people to address hearing loss.
āThereās still a stigma attached to hearing loss coming with aging,ā� Kelley said. āBut my goodness, I see elementary school kids with these AirPods in their ears. If it can also serve as a hearing aid, I think thatās really exciting.ā�
Appleās announcement was applauded by some hearing aid users on social media, as well. But many noted one clear advantage traditional hearing aids have over AirPods: Hearing aids have battery life measured in days, not hours.
āAs someone who is hearing impaired, this was the most exciting thing from todayās event,ā� one Reddit posted Tuesday. āI am hoping that they can make battery life better than 3-6 hours. Itād be nice to get 8 hours.ā�
This story has been updated with additional information.
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