by R ‘Ray’ Wang, founder of Constellation Research, discusses the significance of Apple’s iPhone 16 event on ‘Varney & Co.’
Apple this week announced a slew of new features across its latest product lineup, including innovations in the iPhone maker’s next-generation AirPods Pro that could be a game-changer — and a great deal — for people with hearing loss.
The AirPods Pro 2, which will be available September 20, double as a hearing aid for users with mild to moderate hearing loss. And at $245, they could be an alternative to prescription hearing aids that can cost thousands of dollars.
Apple’s new AirPods Pro offer a clinical-quality, over-the-counter hearing aid for users with mild to moderate hearing loss. (Apple/Fox News)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.5 billion people are currently living with hearing loss. Apple’s own research shows that only a fraction of these people receive care for their condition.
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That’s why the tech giant has also rolled out a hearing test feature for users, which provides a summary of their results that can be saved to their Health app and shared with their healthcare provider, along with a custom hearing profile for Airpods Pro.
According to Apple, users can fine-tune their experience at any time with the hearing aid feature. (Apple/Fox News)
“Hearing health is an essential part of our overall well-being, but it’s often overlooked. According to the Apple Hearing Study, a staggering 75 percent of people with hearing loss do not seek treatment,” said Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple’s vice president of Health.
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“We’re proud to deliver breakthrough software features with AirPods Pro that put users’ hearing health at the center, providing new ways to test for and get help with hearing loss,” Desai added.
A glowing Apple logo is seen at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, ahead of the start of an innovation event on September 9. (Andrej Sokolow/photo alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | APPLE INC. | 222.56 | +2.46 |
+1.12% |
Apple’s new hearing aid feature comes two years after the Food and Drug Administration issued a landmark ruling that allowed hearing aids to be sold over the counter. This gives people with mild to moderate hearing loss greater access to hearing aids by removing the need for a medical exam, prescription or fitting by an audiologist.
But since the new rules, the hearing aid market has become increasingly competitive.
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Several retailers now offer hearing aids over the counter, and last year Apple rival Google announced a partnership with several healthcare and research technology organizations to develop personalized hearing aids using artificial intelligence.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOOG | ALPHABET INC. | 152.15 | +2.14 |
+1.43% |
FOX Business’ Bradford Betz and Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
