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.
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.
