Apple unveiled several new products at its “It’s Glowtime” event this month, and while the iPhone 16 lineup stole the show, the most interesting announcement came from another of its product lines. The Cupertino, California-based company revealed that its premium earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2, can now double as over-the-counter hearing aids with a software update, a feature that’s also FDA-approved.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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During the iPhone 16 launch event, Apple described a new hearing aid feature designed to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. At the time, Apple said the feature was still waiting for FDA approval. But on September 12, the FDA announced that it had approved the software-based hearing aid technology.
“Hearing loss is a significant public health issue that affects millions of Americans,” FDA Commissioner Michelle Tarver said in a statement. “Today’s approval of over-the-counter hearing aid software for inclusion in widely used consumer audio products marks another step in increasing the availability, accessibility and acceptability of hearing support for adults who experience mild-to-moderate hearing loss.”
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The FDA approved AirPods after rigorous testing
The FDA said it approved Apple’s hearing aid feature after a clinical trial with 118 Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss. The study found that when users “self-fitted” the AirPods, the hearing aid software produced similar results as when they were fitted by a professional.
“Results also showed comparable performance in tests measuring the level of amplification in the ear canal and in measures of speech understanding in noise. No adverse events associated with the device were observed in the study,” the FDA added.
When turned on, the feature uses the results of a hearing test to provide users with a clinical-level hearing aid experience, making real-time adjustments and amplifying ambient sounds based on the user’s environment. Apple also says that users can use the hearing test results provided by a hearing healthcare professional to configure hearing aid features for even more personalized settings.


AirPods Pro 2 (Apple) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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This feature can save people a lot of money.
While behind-the-ear hearing aids can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 cost just $249.89. That’s a big difference, and as the FDA points out, AirPods provide similar results. This is great news for people with hearing loss, as they can now get effective help without the high costs.
It is not yet clear when Apple will release an update to enable the hearing aid feature, but it is expected to be released this fall. The feature will be accessible through iOS 18 Settings when AirPods Pro 2 are plugged in. The hearing aid feature will be released in more than 100 countries and regions, including the US, Germany, and Japan.


Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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FDA Warning: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Are Not a Substitute for Professional Care
Currently, the FDA offers one caution: over-the-counter hearing aids are not a substitute for a professional medical evaluation or prescribed hearing aids. Although over-the-counter hearing aids increase accessibility for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, they have limitations and are not suitable for everyone with hearing loss. The FDA emphasizes that over-the-counter hearing aids are only intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss and are not suitable for children or those with more severe hearing loss. For those with more severe hearing loss or complex hearing needs, prescribed hearing aids fitted by a hearing health professional remain the recommended option.
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Important points about the cart
AirPods Pro 2 already come with useful features like Transparency mode, speech recognition, and noise cancellation. Add in the hearing aid functionality and you have an all-in-one package. Many people already wear AirPods in their ears all day, so people with hearing loss may find them more comfortable than traditional hearing aids.
If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, would you consider using AirPods as a hearing aid? Contact us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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