Soon, some AirPods could be reimbursed by social security. ©Belga Image
This time, it’s a medical revolution that Apple announced last September. If you own AirPods Pro 2, you are directly concerned: your headphones could soon transform into hearing aids. On one condition: that this product is clinically tested and authorized on the European market (as is already the case in the United States).
Un diagnostic express
After just ten minutes, you will be able to tell whether or not you have hearing loss. Nothing could be easier, just take your headphones in a quiet place, and touch the screen of your iPhone at each sound detected. Then, three possible scenarios.
First, the best case: your hearing is intact. And to keep it that way, the apple brand has thought of everything. Your headphones reduce your exposure to loud surrounding noises and can even isolate the voice of the other person.
Second scenario: you suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss. This time, the Airpods Pro 2 can double as hearing aids, adjustable via your iPhone. On the other hand, in the event of a third scenario (severe hearing loss), Apple can do nothing more for you. Only treatment by an ENT doctor or a hearing center is recommended.
Hearing aids, obsolete?
This technological gem is multifunctional (calls, music, diagnostics, etc.) and, for the first time, its price is unbeatable. Count on €279 for these AirPods compared to €800 and €3000 on average for a hearing aid. So, does this announcement from the Apple brand mark the end of hearing aids? Not with the measly six hours of battery life the product offers… yet.
Soon to be reimbursed by social security?
If the European Union follows in the footsteps of the United States, the answer will be yes. And for Apple, the stakes are enormous. In recent years, the company has seen sales of its AirPods and Apple Watch drop 3%. In this context, the hearing aid market represents a major opportunity, especially since in 2050, one in four people will suffer from hearing loss.
Yes, but…
There is always a but, or even several. The first is the risk linked to the use of sensitive data. Millions of diagnoses represent a veritable gold mine for insurance companies in particular, or for hackers who try to sell them.
A priori, as citizens of the European Union, we are in good hands thanks to the sacrosanct GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). This regulation prohibits the use of our medical information, with certain exceptions. Obviously, the prospect of being penalized with a huge fine (up to 4% of annual global turnover) is not always enough to deter companies. Just a few months ago, LinkedIn was caught for non-compliance with the GDPR and was fined a record €310 million. Zero risk does not exist.
Beware of the nocebo
Not placebo, no: nocébo. We’ll explain it to you. Many connected watches offer the possibility of monitoring your heart rate, your quality of sleep, etc. A habit that can quickly turn into an obsession. These little constants can quickly become like a game: staying “in the green” for your heart rate, optimizing your sleep, or burning as many calories as possible. But this can have consequences: anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc.
And now, let’s come to the famous nocébo, the evil cousin of the placebo. Let’s imagine that your watch indicates that you had a very bad night… but it is wrong. You might convince yourself it’s true and end up yawning all day. If it was just that, nothing serious. But the dangers can go much further.
Imaginary illnesses with very real illnesses
You notice that your heart rate is a little higher than usual. A little stress, perhaps? And there, without even realizing it, you stress even more… to the point of really raising your heart rate.
This phenomenon is not new. During medical experiments, some patients receive a test drug, while others only swallow a placebo, these tablets without any active substance. The problem? It happens that patients experience the side effects described… even though they have only swallowed a neutral tablet. The mind, sometimes, races faster than reality.
Moral: connected objects are practical, but beware of the psychological effect! If you are really worried about your health, an appointment with your doctor remains irreplaceable.
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