This device is being developed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a news release announcing its approval. Users will be able to test their hearing themselves in just a few minutes by downloading the latest free software update to their Apple phone or tablet (iPhone or iPad).
“amplify the sounds”
The headphones will then be able to “amplify sounds” based on the result, and the user can adjust “volume and tone settings,” the FDA wrote.
“Hearing loss is a significant public health problem affecting millions of Americans,” said Michelle Tarver, head of the health agency. The authorization of this over-the-counter device “on a widely used audio product is a new step that advances hearing aid availability, affordability and acceptability,” she added.
The product was tested in a clinical study that included 118 people. The results showed that those who implemented the adjustments on their own “achieved a similar perceived benefit to people who received adjustments by a professional on the same device,” the FDA wrote.
The compatible headphones will be AirPods Pro 2, whose price is 249 dollars without taxes (279 euros in France), Apple announced on Monday. Apple explained that the device works by “boosting frequencies so sounds are clearer.” Apple expects the feature to be available “this fall in more than 100 countries and regions,” including Germany and Japan, in addition to the United States.
“A big step forward”
Apple in the latter country benefits from an FDA decision from 2022. The agency then authorized the purchase of certain hearing aids directly in the store, without a doctor's prescription or fitting with a hearing care professional, to lead to a discount on the hearing aid. costs and improving their accessibility. The cost of hearing aids in the United States can run into the thousands of dollars.