In the field between technology and health, innovations have enormous potential to make big differences relatively easily. Proof of this is one of Apple’s plans for iOS 18 and AirPods. According to what Mark Gurman published yesterday in his Power On newsletter, the AirPods Pro will not undergo any hardware changes in 2024, but they will be able to do much more because Apple is preparing an auditory assistance mode along with the release of iOS 18.
A great help that goes unnoticed, aesthetically
Since their launch, AirPods have offered various functionalities related to auditory health and accessibility. An example of this is Live Listen, a feature that came with iOS 12 in 2018 and turns the iPhone into a directional microphone, transmitting the audio captured by the device to the AirPods in real time.
In 2021, Apple further enhanced the capabilities of the AirPods Pro with the introduction of Conversation Boost, a feature designed to improve the capture of sounds coming directly from the front of the headphone wearer, making it easier to listen in conversations. This functionality is intended for a large number of people who do not need a dedicated hearing aid, but do need assistance in some noisier environments.
Following in the same direction, in 2022, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) established new guidelines that allow for a new category of hearing aids that can be purchased over-the-counter. These can be sold directly in stores or online without the need for a medical examination or fitting by an audiologist. A step that opens the door for AirPods to offer this type of hearing assistance while still being headphones.
Gurman has not given us many more details about the functionality of iOS 18 for the AirPods Pro, but it is true that it is not the first time he has reported on Apple’s plans to introduce new hearing health features in the AirPods. Last year, he already mentioned that Apple is also working on a hearing test functionality for future AirPods.
With this, without having to launch a specific new hardware, it seems that iOS 18 – in part thanks to AI – can make the AirPods even more capable devices. A move, it must be said, in line with the trend we are seeing at Apple of integrating technology into our health care. With the implementation of this hearing aid mode in the AirPods Pro, Apple substantially expands the capabilities of these devices and, at the same time, makes hearing aids more accessible than ever without having to look like a medical device.
