Apple AirPod Pro 2s can now work as hearing aids

https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24241960/apple-airpods-pro-2-otc-hearing-aid-health-industry

by pwthornton • 2 years ago

30 38 2 years ago

zendaven• 2 years ago

"The big caveat is that users will still need an iPhone with iOS 18 and newer for this new feature to work."

I also didn’t understand why wired headphones don’t work besides profit protection. Suppose that having to hold the phone mics forward is clumsy but would like to have the option.

wtallis3• 2 years ago

I don't think the iPhone is providing the hearing assistance, just the UI for configuring the AirPod Pro's hearing aid functionality.

lancesells• 2 years ago

The FDA approved these which feels big. Once Samsung and all the others follow this hearing aids will be much more affordable and accessible.

euroderf• 2 years ago

So how are hearing aid mfr stocks responding ?

don_neufeld6• 2 years ago

As someone who's worn hearing aides for almost a decade, I'm thrilled to see this.

To give folks a sense of the cost difference, here are some numbers:

My most recent pair of hearing aides cost $4,400 in 2020. And no, these are not covered by any kind of insurance.

AirPods Pro 2 cost $250, about a 95% reduction in price.

My most recent service on one of my hearing aides that was failing cost $280.

Also, I'm really looking forward to being able to manage things like audio curves myself, vs having to go through an audiologist for every adjustment.

The only thing I'm waiting for here before making a switch is better battery life, really want 18/24hours there.

thebruce87m• 2 years ago

Doesn’t 2 pairs solve the battery issue? One set charging in the case while you wear another?

don_neufeld6• 2 years ago

Yes, it definitely helps. It does add some complexity in terms of managing bluetooth though.

SteeCee• 2 years ago

How is the ergonomic difference? IIRC a lot of hearing aids are custom shaped for comfort, right? Will having buds in all day be an issue?

pwthornton• 2 years ago

The custom tips should help a lot in all-day comfort. You can also get these for AirPods and other headphones. This will run several hundred dollars.

omni• 2 years ago

Where did this article title come from? Last I checked, "soon" isn't "now," the feature isn't actually available yet

wtallis3• 2 years ago

"Can now work as hearing aids" as in: has received FDA authorization permitting the feature to be released. Presumably it will be enabled with the iOS update coming on Monday, i.e. the second full business day on which it is legal for the feature to be available.

ChrisArchitect2• 2 years ago

[dupe]

More discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41491191

ChrisArchitect2• 2 years ago

Related Apple study from May:

Apple Hearing Study shares preliminary insights on tinnitus

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41491121

astroid5• 2 years ago

This, like most bs we have had to endure, is certainly due to them changing the definition of hearing aids. (no, I am not joking).

This is why you can buy 'hearing aids' from costco now, without ever seeing an audiologist.

I think this is great that the tech is more accessible, IF the consumers are informed about how and why things changed.

Adam Currey (of the No Agenda podcast / headbangers ball fame) did a really good critique about this when it happened, and it was one of Nancy Pelosi's pet projects that made her a bunch of money.

He made a strong case (as a person deaf in one ear and an audio specialist given his work with tech, MTV, inventing podcasts, and suffering from hearing issues himself).

I would be very very wary of any device claiming it is a hearing aid that is not tuned by an audiologist, as you may just make your hearing problem worse.

This is what set this trainwreck into motion (picked at random with a quick search): https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/16/health/fda-hearing-aids.h...

When you just change the definitions of words for everything and anything, all the sudden nothing matters because nothing can be trusted.

tchock232• 2 years ago

If loosening the definition creates a lower end of the market and puts downward price pressure on the ‘high end’ manufacturers then I’m all for it.

My parents just got absolutely robbed buying hearing aids for my great aunt that I’m sure cost in the tens of dollars to manufacture.

Let consumers test out the low and high end options to determine if the low end is good enough for their use case.

astroid5• 2 years ago

Why not use a different term? These are quite literally different products and product classes.

I'm all for easier access to medical assistance devices -- I am against the erosion of established terms for political points, especially when it leads to ridiculous statements like you just made:

"My parents just got absolutely robbed buying hearing aids for my great aunt that I’m sure cost in the tens of dollars to manufacture." -- this shows you know nothing about hearing aids and the absolute bleeding edge technology that goes into real ones.

I'm sure it cost a lot and it hurt to pay the price. I'm not arguing these products shouldn't be available -- I'm arguing it's essentially false advertising to lump them in with 'hearing aids' especially with the FDA badge of approval.

Give the consumers choice - but don't hide that choice behind falsely equating the product classes. Make it clear they are in fact getting lower end everything, and that's why the price is so low. And make it clear that without an audiologist, you are at risk of damaging your own hearing and eliminating or worsening additinoal frequencies if tuned improperly.

Then let the consumer decide. Simple.

Reubend3• 2 years ago

I would be very very wary of any device claiming it is a hearing aid that is not tuned by an audiologist

I might be wrong here, but I believe the Apple feature will do a hearing test on your phone to see which frequencies you can still hear, and then calibrate the hearing aid to only apply to the areas where it would be safe/effective to boost.

Please take this with a grain of salt, since I don't know all the facts here, but I think this basically addresses your concern.

astroid5• 2 years ago

It really doesn't though - actual hearing aids have way higher end speakers, microphones, and other sensors that result in the high price tag.

It's great that apple is offering this, I am not opposed to that at all. I am opposed to them changing definitions for political points, resulting in a degradation of the meaning of the original term.

If they called it 'hearing assistant' or something else that makes it clear there is a real difference in these cheap / low end products rather than expanding the term to include everything under the sun that can amplify sound it would be different.

They are basically tricking consumers into believing that suddenly hearing aid technology and audiologists are not necessary at all, and I guarantee it is going to result in many people further damaging their hearing as a result.

canxerian• 2 years ago

I'm currently working on a project for the blind and through my research have been made aware of the various accessibility features in macos.

Try1275• 2 years ago

I love this. You can say what you want with everyone wearing airpods all the time but I think there is a lot less stigma with wearing them as opposed to hearing aids.

Plus hearing loss is a major risk factor for dementia. So this is big!

Apple AirPod Pro 2s can now work as hearing aids

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