The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, Sept. 12, that it has authorized “the first over-the-counter hearing aid software device” for individuals with “mild to moderate” hearing loss as part of a feature announced by Apple for its second generation of its AirPods Pro. The move could be a game changer for the more than 30 million Americans with some form of hearing loss.
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Bringing the hearing aid option to the Apple device is a big development, potentially reducing costs for consumers, which can be expensive for the average person. The FDA also stated that the AirPods will be available to people who are 18 years of age or older.
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The new allowance from the FDA will open the door for people to purchase the dual-use hearing aid from stores or online without a medical exam or prescription.
However, the AirPods’ ability to transform into a “clinical grade” hearing aid is just one of many features. The earbuds will also offer a hearing protection mode to save a person’s ears from loud, potentially damaging volumes.
Apple said that the AirPods will be available this fall.
[JACK AYLMER]
A GAME CHANGER FOR MORE THAN 30 MILLION AMERICANS WHO HAVE SOME FORM OF HEARING LOSS.
THE F-D-A AUTHORIZING “THE FIRST OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AID SOFTWARE DEVICE” THURSDAY– FOR THOSE WITH MILD TO MODERATE HEARING LOSS AS PART OF A FEATURE JUST ANNOUNCED BY APPLE FOR THE SECOND-GENERATION OF ITS AIRPODS PRO.
BRINGING THE HEARING AID OPTION TO THE DEVICE IS A HUGE DEVELOPMENT– POTENTIALLY REDUCING COSTS FOR HEARING AIDS– WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
THE F-D-A SAYS AIRPODS WILL BE AVAILABLE AS AN O-T-C HEARING AID FOR PEOPLE 18 AND OLDER.
THE NEW ALLOWANCE FROM THE AGENCY OPENS THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE THE HEARING AID DIRECTLY FROM STORES OR ONLINE WITHOUT A MEDICAL EXAM OR PRESCRIPTION.
APPLE’S HEALTH APP WILL ALSO LET USERS CREATE A PERSONALIZED AUDIO PROFILE FOR THE HEARING AID.
THE AIRPODS ABILITY TO TRANSFORM INTO A “CLINICAL-GRADE” HEARING AID IS JUST ONE OF MANY NEW FEATURES.
THE EARBUDS ALSO OFFER A HEARING PROTECTION MODE SAVING YOUR EARS FROM DAMAGING NOISES.
THE EARBUDS WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS FALL.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– WE’LL BE SURE TO BE FOLLOWING CLOSELY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
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Left 27%
Center 64%
Right 9%
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27 other sources covering this story
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