Apple’s AirPods hearing aid feature addresses big issue in Australia

After having to wait several months, Australians can now access Apple’s hearing aid functionality with the company’s AirPods Pro 2 headphones.

Apple secured approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration in December last year for a set of features, including Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Loud Sound Reduction. These features originally launched overseas last year, along with an Apple-commissioned clinical study about the effectiveness of the AirPods Pro 2 as an over-the-counter hearing aid.

Government data estimates that 3.6 million, or one in six, Australians have varying levels of hearing loss. Nicky Chong-White, Principal Engineer at National Acoustic Laboratories, explained that hearing loss is a bigger barrier than it seems.

“Hearing loss can impact more than a person’s hearing. It can impact their communication at work, their social life, and their overall wellbeing,” Chong-White said. “The new hearing features in AirPods Pro are an exciting advancement — they give people a way to check their hearing and set up hearing assistance at home using familiar devices.”

Although the $399 retail price of the AirPods Pro 2 may seem steep, it’s comparatively cheaper than many standalone hearing aids. A guide to hearing aids by Choice found that the cheapest models tend to start at $900, while more premium models reach thousands of dollars.

This high cost barrier presents a compounding problem, as disadvantaged Australians are more likely to have hearing loss, according to a study by Macquarie University and The University of Queensland. With the prohibitively high cost of treatment, fewer Australians are likely to get the help they need.

To use the newly available features, users need a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 with a compatible iPhone, iPad or Mac. Compatible devices include those running iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and Mac Sequoia, all of which are the latest major software updates.

The post Apple’s AirPods hearing aid feature addresses big issue in Australia appeared first on GadgetGuy.

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