Apple announced on Monday that its AirPods Pro 2 headphones will soon become an FDA-cleared hearing aid.
The announcement is the latest example of Apple's strategy to break into the health industry, a potential $15 trillion market by the year 2030, according to RBC Capital Markets. Apple CEO Tim CookThat strategy includes developing FDA-cleared features for its wearable products and replacing what are often more expensive purpose-built medical devices.
The company has built a hearing test into its devices inside the Settings app. After the program checks to make sure the headphones fit the user's ears correctly, it plays a series of tones over about five minutes. The user has to tap the screen when or if they hear a tone. Previously, all hearing aids required a prescription after testing from a licensed audiologist. In 2022, the FDA opened up the market to over-the-counter hearing aids that were significantly cheaper due to the use of audio testing software or at-home fittings.Among its limitations are the battery, which lasts six hours. That's not enough for the kind of all-day wear that some OTC hearing aids can manage.
"OTC hearing aids may be suitable for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, but seeing a licensed hearing care professional can also help determine unique hearing health needs," Dobyan said.