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Apple's AirPods Pro are shown in this photo from the company's website

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Apple

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17261908180049-13-2024 9-45-05 AM.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Apple&#x27;s AirPods Pro are shown in this photo from the company&#x27;s website</span></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">SAN FRANCISCO<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> —</span> Apple on Thursday got a green light from US regulators to add a feature that would let upcoming AirPods Pro ear pieces be used as hearing aids, potentially disrupting that market.</p><p>Earlier this week the company added AirPods Pro 2 to its lineup, touting a pending software upgrade that will let people test their hearing and then get assisted listening for everyday life as well as streaming online. </p><p>The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday authorized the hearing aid feature for the devices, noting that a study showed users found them as beneficial as professionally fitted ones.</p><p>&quot;Hearing loss is a significant public health issue impacting millions of Americans,&quot; said FDA acting director Michelle Tarver.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/9/apple-unveils-new-iphone-built-for-ai-311" id="isPasted">• Apple unveils new iPhone built for AI</a></div><p>Apple&#x27;s software &quot;advances the availability, accessibility and acceptability of hearing support for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss,&quot; Tarver added.</p><p>AirPods Pro 2 are priced at $249, considerably lower than the average price of clinical-grade hearing aids, but those interested will need to adopt Apple&#x27;s devices.</p><p>Along with the new feature, the AirPods Pro 2, used with iPhones or iPads, will be able to test hearing and create a user&#x27;s hearing profile stored privately in an Apple Health app.</p><p>The test takes about five minutes, with users tapping an iPhone or iPad screen when they hear tones at various volumes and frequencies.</p><p>The results are then used to calibrate the hearing aid.</p><p>That profile is also &quot;automatically applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls across their devices without needing to adjust any settings,&quot; Apple said.</p><p>Typical hearing aids don&#x27;t adapt specifically for streamed content or phone calls.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/12/19/apple-airpods-pro-review-the-hearable-at-its-best">• Apple AirPods Pro review: The ‘Hearable’ at its best</a></div><p>&quot;Hearing health is an essential part of our overall wellbeing, yet it can often be overlooked,&quot; Apple vice president of health doctor Sumbul Desai said in a release.</p><p>Apple said that research indicates more than a billion people worldwide live with mild to moderate hearing loss.</p><p>&quot;We are very excited about the new announcement by Apple,&quot; Hearing Loss Association of America executive director Barbara Kelley told AFP.</p><p>&quot;The fact that a product that millions of people already own will offer hearing help and protection is a big step forward.&quot;</p><p>The iPhone maker plans to make the features available in more than 100 countries in the coming months, pending authorization from relevent health authorities.</p><div><strong>HEARTS AND MINDS</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Apple has steadily been integrating health and fitness features into its products.</p><p>Apple Watch can remind people when to take medicine; warn of harmful noise levels, or detect an irregular heart rhythm that should be checked.</p><p>It can also let women know when they are likely ovulating.</p><p>A new version of Apple Watch announced this week adds the ability to detect sleep apnea, a dangerous condition in which breathing stops intermittently while sleeping.</p><p>An Apple Health App collects data then uses machine learning to mine it for insights, keeping information on devices, according to the tech titan.</p><p>Health metrics offered by Apple include heart and respiration rates; blood glucose, and how well one sleeps.</p><div><strong>— By Glenn Chapman,</strong><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><strong> Agence France-Presse</strong></span><strong> </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-41fX9-3YbE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Apple on Thursday got a green light from US regulators to add a feature that would let upcoming AirPods Pro ear pieces be used as hearing aids, potentially disrupting that market.</p>

Apple on Thursday got a green light from US regulators to add a feature that would let upcoming AirPods Pro ear pieces be used as hearing aids, potentially disrupting that market.

US says new Apple AirPods can be hearing aids

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US says new Apple AirPods can be hearing aids

Agence France-Presse

Published September 13, 2024 09:44 AM PHT

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