Recently, Apple launched a touching holiday advertisement that emphasizes the hearing aid capabilities of the AirPods Pro 2. In a recent interview, Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s global head of accessibility, elaborated on the company’s initiatives to develop health-centric features.
Apple executive discusses AirPods as hearing aids
As Herrlinger explained (via Forbes), the new hearing aid options introduced this year for AirPods Pro 2 reflect Apple’s “longstanding commitment” to making technology accessible for everyone. She highlighted that over 1.5 billion people around the globe experience hearing loss, and a study conducted by the company found that 75% of these individuals lack the necessary assistive support.
Herrlinger pointed out that Apple was the pioneer in utilizing Bluetooth LE for audio, leading to the establishment of the first LEA (Low Energy Audio) protocol enabling audio streaming from smartphones to hearing aids. “Since then, we’ve introduced features such as Headphone Audio Levels, Headphone Accommodations, and Conversation Boost to enhance listening experiences,” she stated.
The executive considers the technology integrated into the AirPods Pro 2 to be a “first-of-its-kind, end-to-end hearing health experience,” developed through “years of learning” by Apple’s software engineers, acousticians, designers, and others. By transforming wireless earbuds into hearing aid devices, Apple offers “clinical-grade” features for users aged 18 and older.
The hearing aid functionalities for AirPods Pro 2 were activated with the release of iOS 18.1 in October. Users can conduct a test to identify possible hearing loss and subsequently adjust their AirPods based on the findings to function effectively as hearing aids.
Earlier this month, Herrlinger addressed the audience at the Web Summit Lisbon 2024, mentioning how Apple leverages AI to enhance the lives of people with disabilities through innovations such as Eye Tracking, Sound Recognition, and AssistiveTouch.
Don’t miss the full interview on the Forbes website.
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