AirPods Get An Innovative Health Upgrade
Apple has announced that its latest AirPods will include built-in hearing aid capabilities designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. Users can take a hearing test using an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18, which allows the AirPods to make real-time adjustments to enhance sound levels based on the test results. This feature aims to improve users’ ability to engage in conversations and stay connected to their environment.
The hearing adjustments are applied not only to conversations but also to any media being consumed through the AirPods. The hearing test is quick, taking about five minutes, and results, including detailed audiograms, are stored privately within the Health app.
Rick Neitzel, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan, noted the significance of these tools in managing hearing health and addressing noise exposure, which is crucial for overall well-being. Apple’s new feature is expected to help users track changes in their hearing and facilitate discussions with healthcare providers.
In addition to the hearing aid features, Apple is also introducing new Apple Watch functionalities to detect sleep apnea. These features, pending FDA approval and expected to roll out later this month, will monitor breathing patterns and alert users to signs of sleep apnea, encouraging them to seek medical advice for potential diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy from the University of Arizona highlighted the importance of these advancements in improving public health by identifying sleep apnea, a condition that is often under-diagnosed. This new capability in both AirPods and Apple Watch reflects Apple’s ongoing commitment to enhancing user health and accessibility.
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