Apple AirPods Pro will soon work as hearing aids
Besides working as hearing aids, AirPods Pro will also let users get a hearing test and provide active hearing protection by default when users put them on, effectively blocking loud noises that may damage hearing
Apple has announced that its most popular earphones, AirPods Pro 2, will soon double as hearing aids.
During its annual Apple Event on Monday (9 September), the tech giant said building hearing aids into headphones, such as Apple's popular AirPods, could improve access to hearing treatment.
The announcement of using AirPods as hearing aids came two years after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave a green signal to the sale of hearing aids over the counter.
Incorporating hearing enhancement features into the headphones is not entirely new as brands like Sony has already made earbuds with hearing enhancement like CRE-E10 hearing-enhancing earbuds for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
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However, Monday's update from Apple's California headquarters marks the first time consumer-favourite Apple diving into hearing features beyond noise cancellation and adjustable sound levels.
Besides working as hearing aids, AirPods Pro will also let users get a hearing test and provide active hearing protection by default when users put them on, effectively blocking loud noises that may damage hearing.
During Monday's event, Apple said it has yet to get FDA approval but expects to launch these hearing features later in the fall with a free software update.
