AppleApple will now be able to market its AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The FDA (Food and Drug AdministrationFood and Drug Administration))the American equivalent of the ANSM (National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products), has just authorized the marketing in the United States of this functionality for compatible Apple headphones.
According to Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, 75% of people diagnosed with hearing loss do not receive any treatment. The AirPods Pro 2 are sold for 279 euros, a much more affordable price than hearing aids, which typically cost between 950 euros and several thousand euros.
Introducing the hearing aid feature of AirPods Pro 2. (In English, turn on automatic translation of subtitles.) © Apple
Authorization expected in around a hundred countries in the coming months
In concrete terms, users will be able to carry out a hearing test lasting a few minutes with a applicationapplication on their iPhoneiPhonethen the app creates a personalized profile that compensates for hearing loss. The FDA says the feature was tested on 118 subjects with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Only the AirPods Pro 2 will be compatible for now and you will need to have an iPhone or iPadiPad updated to iOSiOS 18. Apple had announced the feature during its presentation of new products, including the iPhone 16, on September 9, and indicated that it was awaiting authorization from global health authorities. So here is the market launch validated for the United States and Apple hopes to be able to offer this feature, via an update once authorization is received, in more than 100 countries this autumnautumn.
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