The iPhone 16 was the highlight of Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, but an even more surprising detail came from a completely different area. Among the various new devices presented, a software update for the AirPods Pro 2 caught the eye.
Apple announced that its premium headphones will receive a software update that will allow them to function as over-the-counter hearing aids, a move awaiting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On Thursday, the FDA granted approval for what it describes as the “first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device”, known as the “Hearing Aid Feature”. It is this software update that will enable the new functionality.
Michelle Tarver of the FDA commented: “Hearing loss is a significant public health problem affecting millions of Americans. Today’s authorization for over-the-counter hearing aid software in a widely used consumer audio product is an important advance in the availability, affordability and acceptability of hearing support for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.”
This innovation is partly a result of the FDA’s October 2022 ruling, which allowed the sale of hearing aids without a prescription, creating a new industry of more affordable hearing devices.
TechCrunch recently tested a demo version of Apple’s new hearing feature. The feature will be available in iOS 18 for anyone using a pair of AirPods Pro 2. To access the new function, users will need to have a diagnosis of mild to moderate hearing loss, which can be obtained through a built-in hearing test or test results from a doctor.
The new hearing aid mode adjusts different frequency levels to amplify important sounds, such as the human voice.