Apple Gets FDA Authorization for AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid Feature

[mandopicker101]

Hearing Aid Makers Shares Slip After Apple Air Pods Release, but None Sound Alarms

European manufacturers feel some aftershocks from the product launch in Cupertino, but analysts don't hear the bell tolling for them.

www.inc.com

There's no stigma wearing AirPods all day, and by contrast no one wants to wear hearing aids. This could be devastating for the market.

Yeah but no.

Yeah AirPods could be your friend if you have mild to moderate hearing loss. But not if you’re past around a 50dB loss or you have a more challenging form of hearing loss to address (eg ‘cookie bite’). I’m sitting at about 65dB and have a complex loss requiring an AuD to do the programming.

And I happen to like my hearing aids very much.

 

[mandopicker101]

Hearing aids... both audiologist prescribed and over the counter. A game changer, in my opinion.

To some degree. An app can maybe address mild hearing loss but I would want an experienced AuD tackling my more complex hearing loss.

Phonak‘s newly released Sphere hearing aids have some seriously promising tech in terms of drastically improving signal to noise ratios.

 

[mandopicker101]

I will disagree. I wear hearing aids. I find them convenient because I can hear things I would not normally hear. I can also take phone calls, stream music. The hearing aids are barely noticeable. I find them more comfortable than AirPods as the hearing aids have a custom fitted ear mold.

By contrast the AirPods are noticeable. If a person is wearing AirPods are they listening to the speaker, or listening to music?

My hearing aids last 18+ hours on a charge. AirPods maybe 6 hours. I don't want to have to remove my hearing device every 6 hours and wait 30 minutes for a charge. Thus I would argue that hearing aids are more convenient.

The real advantage to AirPods is the cost over expensive hearing aids. For the cost of my hearing aids I could purchase 24 AirPods. Big difference.

Another advantage to AirPods is the frequency curve is applied across all uses, hearing, music, phone calls.

As to devasting to the market. Time will tell. I seriously hopes this drops the price of hearing aids down to under $1K.

Absolutely agree. The market is shifting to OTC (Apple can rule this if they keep innovating), big box players like Costco retailing a handful of premium hearing aids and the AuDs who have whole market access (the big cost/top tier tech stuff).

 

[citysnaps]

To some degree. An app can maybe address mild hearing loss but I would want an experienced AuD tackling my more complex hearing loss.

Phonak‘s newly released Sphere hearing aids have some seriously promising tech in terms of drastically improving signal to noise ratios.

For sure. It will be a godsend to the many millions of people who aren't at that stage yet, improving their hearing, and most importantly, their lives.

I suspect gradually worsening hearing is something many people put off for a variety of reasons, (hassle, not wanting to face the reality of getting older, expense, etc.). Since 1.4 billion people own iPhones worldwide, this will let many people deal with their hearing issue without having to come to grips with that just yet.

 

[ginkobiloba]

Hearing Aid Makers Shares Slip After Apple Air Pods Release, but None Sound Alarms

European manufacturers feel some aftershocks from the product launch in Cupertino, but analysts don't hear the bell tolling for them.

www.inc.com

There's no stigma wearing AirPods all day, and by contrast no one wants to wear hearing aids. This could be devastating for the market.

Hearing aids are now so tiny , some of them are nearly invisible, especially when in skin tones. In contrast, the white Airpods are very noticeable.

 

[mandopicker101]

For sure. It will be a godsend to the many millions of people who aren't at that stage yet, improving their hearing, and most importantly, their lives.

I suspect gradually worsening hearing is something many people put off for a variety of reasons, (hassle, not wanting to face the reality of getting older, expense, etc.). Since 1.4 billion people own iPhones worldwide, this will let many people deal with their hearing issue without having to come to grips with that just yet.

The OTC hearing aid market is just starting to evolve with some great, some mediocre and some poor offerings out there. A Big Beast like Apple wandering in puts everyone on notice that they need to start innovating like hell.

Crucial - if obvious- point is that unlike spectacles/contact lenses, hearing aids do not replace what has been lost. No matter how good APPs are or become, they aren’t ever going to be repairing my cochlea (or is that the special sauce for iOS 20?). Much remains to be done to remove social stigma and address barriers facing hard of hearing and d/Deaf people. Apple have shown considerable appetite for getting into this, to their credit, as have others such as Microsoft.

 

[citysnaps]

The OTC hearing aid market is just starting to evolve with some great, some mediocre and some poor offerings out there. A Big Beast like Apple wandering in puts everyone on notice that they need to start innovating like hell.

Crucial - if obvious- point is that unlike spectacles/contact lenses, hearing aids do not replace what has been lost. No matter how good APPs are or become, they aren’t ever going to be repairing my cochlea (or is that the special sauce for iOS 20?). Much remains to be done to remove social stigma and address barriers facing hard of hearing and d/Deaf people. Apple have shown considerable appetite for getting into this, to their credit, as have others such as Microsoft.

Yes on the above. What's really nice is this is essentially a freebie for the many millions of people who own an iPhone and AirPods Pro 2. For those who don't yet own AirPods Pro 2, the cost isn't prohibitive.

I suspect Apple's entry into this market when iOS is updated bringing that functionality (hearing test, equalization, etc.) to users, it will be immediately embraced. And will no doubt be frequently updated with further improvements/conveniences over time.

 

[jblank]

Except it’s not just $200-250. You have to buy a $700+ iphone to get the full functionality of the airpods, very likely including the new hearing aid feature. Not too many people can afford all that around the world, at least not outright.

Well duh, you need a device, shocker. The fact many people can't afford it is hardly Apple's problem. I just don't understand the negativity surrounding this.

 

[charlien]

People that are brushing this off as a danger to traditional hearing aids probably said the same thing about the phone market when the iPhone was released. “But you can see them”. “Poor battery life “. Don’t you understand that they are adding this functionality to existing devices? Intro app3. No stem, assortment of colors, all day battery life. Still $199. Now what?

 

[Supertaff]

As someone who has suffered from hearing loss post my chemotherapy treatment (use of Chemo drugs can in some cases affect hearing). I have lost volume hearing and high frequency hearing. I therefore struggle in noisy environments and also with female voices (due to higher pitch).

I have used standard supplied hearing aids from the local hospital here in the UK and looked into better ones (£5,000+) to buy personally. If (as I hope) they release this capability in the UK I'm really hopeful that this will be a big step forwards in my hearing ability.

While the hearing aids I have are ok, they have small batteries that only last a day or two if I use them all day and can't be recharged. I then can't listen really to music as I have to take them out to them put my airpods pro's in.

For me this was the most exciting aspect of this years presentation and can't wait for the first day I can try this functionality. I'll probably be locked into Airpods pro for all future generations, so a very smart move by Apple.

 

[mandopicker101]

People that are brushing this off as a danger to traditional hearing aids probably said the same thing about the phone market when the iPhone was released. “But you can see them”. “Poor battery life “. Don’t you understand that they are adding this functionality to existing devices? Intro app3. No stem, assortment of colors, all day battery life. Still $199. Now what?

Sure this is a disruptive move for the OTC hearing aid market (if Apple’s claims stand up in real life). All the main players in the headphone/audio world have had a go at OTC but nothing truly revolutionary has emerged (Jabra has some interesting stuff). Given it’s now apparently socially acceptable to wear earphones all day, anything that encourages people to take action to address hearing loss - and helps remove the frankly batsh1t stigma society applies to hearing loss - is entirely laudable. So plaudits to Apple (always assuming real world performance stacks up to the slick video).

Within the hearing aid market, innovations like DNN, ML and highly power efficient chips are really exciting. I’d hope Apple’s entry into this world spurs other makers to greater R&D efforts.

 

[psac]

Hearing Aid Makers Shares Slip After Apple Air Pods Release, but None Sound Alarms

European manufacturers feel some aftershocks from the product launch in Cupertino, but analysts don't hear the bell tolling for them.

www.inc.com

There's no stigma wearing AirPods all day, and by contrast no one wants to wear hearing aids. This could be devastating for the market.

If I wore AirPods at work while someone was talking to me in person, that would not be acceptable... now. Once this feature gets well publicized, that could change. It's definitely a big deal.

 

[psac]

One issue in the APP2 battery life. You would still need to remove them for a little while to charge every few hours. Still a great leap forward.

 

[raythompsontn]

The hearing aid function will open up a new problem for schools.

I sub at a local high school. Phones, and listening to music is not allowed. With the hearing aid function the student could claim the AirPods are for hearing loss. The school would not be allowed to ask if the student actually had hearing loss due to HIPPA laws. The child could be listening to music and there is little the school could do to stop the listening.

Could schools require a notice from a doctor? Seems highly unlikely due to HIPPA laws that don't allow third party disclosure of medical information. Could the schools just deny all use of AirPods? Unlikely as the ADA laws will get involved.

One option is to take the cell phones away from the students when school starts and return at the end of school. That would be a real logistical nightmare for larger schools. I do think students should be allowed to have cell phones with them, but not in use. In the case of an emergency, with recent school events, being able to call authorities or especially parents to let the parent know the student is OK is important.

I have no solution.

 

[lartola]

Well duh, you need a device, shocker. The fact many people can't afford it is hardly Apple's problem. I just don't understand the negativity surrounding this.

It may not be Apple’s fault, but it does make them look very hypocritical when they announce their new products saying they’re helping the world, yet they are actually only helping a minority because they decided to only enter the luxury segment and not other segments of the market. They could help more people if they want to, but they don’t care. They’re just there for the money.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Hearing Aid Makers Shares Slip After Apple Air Pods Release, but None Sound Alarms

European manufacturers feel some aftershocks from the product launch in Cupertino, but analysts don't hear the bell tolling for them.

www.inc.com

There's no stigma wearing AirPods all day, and by contrast no one wants to wear hearing aids. This could be devastating for the market.

Apples move will spark price cuts then a consolidation in the hearing aid industry. Especially when Apple brings AirPod pro 3 on the market.

 

[Beards]

As someone who has suffered from hearing loss post my chemotherapy treatment (use of Chemo drugs can in some cases affect hearing). I have lost volume hearing and high frequency hearing. I therefore struggle in noisy environments and also with female voices (due to higher pitch).

I have used standard supplied hearing aids from the local hospital here in the UK and looked into better ones (£5,000+) to buy personally. If (as I hope) they release this capability in the UK I'm really hopeful that this will be a big step forwards in my hearing ability.

While the hearing aids I have are ok, they have small batteries that only last a day or two if I use them all day and can't be recharged. I then can't listen really to music as I have to take them out to them put my airpods pro's in.

For me this was the most exciting aspect of this years presentation and can't wait for the first day I can try this functionality. I'll probably be locked into Airpods pro for all future generations, so a very smart move by Apple.

Surely the NHS gave you digital hearing aids?
The NHS gave me a pair of Opticon Engage P hearing aids and these automatically connect to both my iPhone and iPad; meaning when I listen to music or a video it feeds the sound directly into the hearing aids. I have not worn my pods at all since getting these hearing aids.

 

[TLewis]

It may not be Apple’s fault, but it does make them look very hypocritical when they announce their new products saying they’re helping the world, yet they are actually only helping a minority because they decided to only enter the luxury segment and not other segments of the market. They could help more people if they want to, but they don’t care. They’re just there for the money.

Apple's moving into a market where a hearing aid can cost thousands of dollars. People who can't afford hearing aids might not be able to afford an iPhone & Airpods Pro, either. That hasn't changed. On the other hand, a used iPhone & Pros might now be affordable for some.

There are lots of middle-aged (and, yes, younger and older) people who have some hearing loss but haven't bothered to get tested and get hearing aids. Apple is just tapping into this potentially large market.

For people who think they might have some slight hearing loss: get the "Mimi Hearing Test" app and do a hearing test using the Pros. Then have Mimi set the Airpods Pro EQ settings using your hearing test audiograph data. For some, this is a game-changer and can make music/media sound so much better. This has been possible for months, BTW, and makes me wonder if this is really all just what the new "hearing aid" functionality is. Apple might have just provided their own hearing test app and gotten FDA approval to call it a "hearing aid".

(The above is for the US, BTW, where the health system sucks. It's probably not applicable to countries with nationalized health care.)

 

[Robert.Walter]

I think I'm missing a few frequencies in one ear, so now I have to decide if I really want to know the answer.

If you know then you can deal with it.

Your ear won’t be insulted.

Hearing aids are like glasses for the ears.

Having them doesn’t make you a lesser person, it makes you a person who’s not afraid of reality and is able to adapt to it.

 

[polyphenol]

Hearing aids are now so tiny , some of them are nearly invisible, especially when in skin tones. In contrast, the white Airpods are very noticeable.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if, as well as adjusting to your hearing, the environment, nearby devices, etc., you could dynamically select a colour for Airpods?

Skin tones or bright primaries. Patterns. Anything!

 

[Robert.Walter]

No doubt this step was part of the product roadmap but with this functionality extension Apple has effectively “officially” entered a new product category.

The steps:
- tiny headphones for phone users and audiophiles (without extreme sound quality demands).
- adding active noise cancellation.
- unofficial unregulated (thus not reimbursable) aid function with conversation boost.
- now, regulator approved, likely reimbursable, easy to use, thus will be used, inexpensive, high quality, hearing aids.

If they are adequate to your needs, i.e. not moderate to profound hearing loss, they are a win-win-win for:
- user: cheap, easy (test, set up, use, charge, find), effective, cool (are they aids or ear phones?)
- insurer: cheap to test for, buy.
- Apple: ready to own the mild to moderate loss market.

Everybody was like “Tim is sleeping” but he wasn’t, he was sneaking up on everybody with hearing aids.

Same thing will happen with Watch when:
- hypertension feature hits.
- glucose feature hits.
- real-time adjustment of CPAP and O2 metering based on BT input from watch to these devices.
- at some point the Watch will facilitate real time insulin metering. Instead of strapping in a monitoring patch, users will adhere on a glucose dispenser and the watch will control micro dosing.

Such step-change extensions of existing platforms IS category extension.

Intel was famous for its tick tock product roadmap. Apple has done this with iPhone with alternating year S model upgrades.

But on the roadmap side, Apple has a tick tick tick TOCK! kind of strategy made up of a number of incremental (Kaizen philosophy) tick improvements culminating in a TOCK! step-change category extension.

I don’t think most folks recognize this is going on in plain sight because of the time scale people just don’t perceive it.

It’s like watching an apple tree grow. It gets bigger and bigger, then “suddenly” there are apples on it but the process is so gradual most don’t perceive it.

They only know the apples are ready when they hear the cider mill is open (reports of keynote step change announcements).

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Nice, hope this helps a lot of people. Biggest announcement from the event by far imo.

 

[polyphenol]

Same thing will happen with Watch when:
- hypertension feature hits.
- glucose feature hits.
- real-time adjustment of CPAP and O2 metering based on BT input from watch to these devices.
- at some point the Watch will facilitate real time insulin metering. Instead of strapping in a monitoring patch, users will adhere on a glucose dispenser and the watch will control micro dosing.

What I want is a series of sensors which, taken together and intelligently combined, assess things like thyroid hormone levels. There's a HUGE number of us. And I doubt that direct measurement of thyroid hormones (and TSH) is feasible in a watch-level device in anything like the foreseeable future. But improved temperature measurement, measurement of physical movements to check for muscle relaxation times, maybe some unidentified electrical issues, together with the things you have identified, and anything else they come up with, might get close enough. That is, at least sufficient to identify that there is something wrong and a full biochemical test is required.

Currently, a lot of us get tested just once a year. Given that each test is just a snapshot, we could be significantly high or low for 364 days and yet, somehow, slip inside the limit for the test. And be ignored for another year. This is especially bad if the test falls on a cold or hot day as, at the other extreme we might clearly need a dose adjustment.

 

[a_hammertime]

The hearing aid function will open up a new problem for schools.

I sub at a local high school. Phones, and listening to music is not allowed. With the hearing aid function the student could claim the AirPods are for hearing loss. The school would not be allowed to ask if the student actually had hearing loss due to HIPPA laws. The child could be listening to music and there is little the school could do to stop the listening.

Could schools require a notice from a doctor? Seems highly unlikely due to HIPPA laws that don't allow third party disclosure of medical information. Could the schools just deny all use of AirPods? Unlikely as the ADA laws will get involved.

One option is to take the cell phones away from the students when school starts and return at the end of school. That would be a real logistical nightmare for larger schools. I do think students should be allowed to have cell phones with them, but not in use. In the case of an emergency, with recent school events, being able to call authorities or especially parents to let the parent know the student is OK is important.

I have no solution.

The school could require the student to obtain a note from a medical provider granting an exception. They don't need to know the specifics of the condition but rather the treatment provided is necessary. Similar to how you get an absence note for work/school when going to the doctor. It doesn't detail what happened at the visit or why you were there, but rather you were seen by a medical provider and they're vouching on their license that it happened. The school would have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for the student on file that teachers would be aware of to make that exception.

 

[wyrdness]

Surely the NHS gave you digital hearing aids?
The NHS gave me a pair of Opticon Engage P hearing aids and these automatically connect to both my iPhone and iPad; meaning when I listen to music or a video it feeds the sound directly into the hearing aids. I have not worn my pods at all since getting these hearing aids.

Every NHS trust seems to supply different hearing aids. Mine have bluetooth control, so I can change the settings on them, but not bluetooth audio. But I have a friend who lives in a different county who has NHS hearing aids with bluetooth audio.