Apple's AirPods to Function as Hearing Aids
Apple's AirPods Pro 2 will soon be able to function as FDA-approved hearing aids, following regulatory changes that allow over-the-counter sales. This development is linked to efforts by the Biden administration and Congress to reduce barriers in the hearing aid market.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 7 |
Novelty | 8 |
Positivity | 8 |
Reliability | 8 |
Actionability | 7 |
Society | 8 |
Journalism | 5 |
Highlights
- Apple announced that its AirPods Pro 2 will soon function as an FDA-approved hearing device.
- The FDA approved the sale of hearing aids over the counter two years ago.
- Users can take a hearing test in the Apple Health app to set up hearing enhancement for the AirPods.
- The Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act was passed by Congress in 2017, allowing hearing aids to be sold without a prescription.
- The Biden administration pressured the FDA to implement the law regarding over-the-counter hearing aids.
Perspectives
- The innovation of AirPods functioning as hearing aids is seen as a direct result of regulatory changes that broke the previous hearing aid cartel, allowing for more competition and lower prices in the market.
- The article critiques the hearing aid industry for its high prices and conflicts of interest, suggesting that the previous regulations created a market that favored established companies over consumer access.