Airpods Pro 2 can officially be considered hearing aids
“We're adding this revolutionary feature to help the more than a billion people living with mild to moderate hearing loss” was able to indicate the vice president of Apple's health division, Sumbul Ahmad Desai, during the American giant's conference on Monday, September 9. There was only one thing left: the approval of the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) allowing compatible AirPods Pro models to be truly considered as hearing aid tools. Now it's done, and on a model already released what's more: Airpods Pro 2.
Are Airpods Pro good for your health?
If the Airpods Pro 2 are now considered full-fledged medical tools by the FDA, it is thanks to the implementation of a feature that will allow all users to test their hearing themselves in just a few minutes. They will then be able to amplify sounds based on the results obtained and fine-tune the volume and tone settings to better match their personal needs.
According to the FDA, authorizing this type of device on a very accessible device “is a new step towards advancing the availability, accessibility and acceptability of hearing aids” according to Michelle Tarver, head of the organization dedicated to the management of health authorities. The product is authorized for adults aged 18 and over, and has been tested in a clinical trial involving more than a hundred people. And the results are generally positive: people implementing the settings themselves “achieved a similar benefit to people who had professional adjustments on the same device“. In other words, the Airpods Pro now allow a certain autonomy in the management of users' hearing, thanks to the new functionality enabled by Apple.
Currently, the headphones compatible with this addition are Airpods Pro 2and the feature is only available in the United States. However, Apple is optimistic about a global arrival of the feature: depending on the feedback from local health authorities, the Apple company hopes to offer the feature “in 100 countries and regions starting this fall“.
