Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 can for the first time be used as hearing aids for moderate hearing loss in Australia – but despite benefits, such as reducing social stigma and lowering costs, experts warn they are not suitable for everyone.
After approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in December, Apple on Wednesday pushed out an update to AirPods Pro 2 devices in Australia allowing users to test their hearing and use the Bluetooth headphones as hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss. It is only TGA approved for people aged 18 and older.
The company said the hearing aid capability of AirPods is similar to over-the-counter hearing aid devices available, but the Pro 2s, at $399, are significantly cheaper than the thousands of dollars people can pay for hearing aids.
Steve Williamson, the chief executive of the peak body for the hearing health and deafness sector, Deafness Forum Australia, said his organisation welcomed anything that encourages earlier intervention and makes hearing assistance more accessible.
“But we must ensure that consumers are well informed and receive the appropriate professional care when they need it,” Williamson said.
The price could “break down financial barriers and make hearing assistance more accessible to people with mild hearing loss”, he said.
“The high cost of traditional hearing devices in Australia is among the leading reasons people do not address their hearing issues in good time. Imagine having a way to address a $300 hearing problem instead of feeling forced to find $3,000.”
It would also be a less-stigmatised entry point for people with mild hearing loss, Williamson said, but people should understand that the devices may not be suitable for everyone.
“While we see the potential benefits, we also stress the importance of professional guidance,” he said. “These devices are not a substitute for a comprehensive hearing assessment by an audiologist.”
Dr Nicky Chong-White, the National Acoustic Laboratories principal engineer, said it was an “exciting advancement” that would lead to more people being aware of their hearing loss.
“We can see that definitely there’s advantages for people with, and I would phrase it as ‘mild to moderate hearing loss that don’t want hearing aids’. They’re not ready to get hearing aids, but they do need hearing help,” she said.
Chong-White said the AirPods would suit situations like trying to hear in a restaurant or while watching TV rather than all-day wear for hearing aids, and without the stigma of wearing hearing aids given people wear AirPods out in public all the time.
She said the overseas experience – where the hearing aid feature is already available – has been that while audiologists were initially concerned about the impact it would have on their industry, it had led to more people testing their hearing and getting professional support.
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“It is raising that awareness of hearing and then people might try them and go, ‘Oh, this isn’t strong enough for me, or I need all these fancy features that you can only get in the high-end hearing aids’, and it’s getting them into the clinic and having that conversation.”
Chong-White said just one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wear them.
“If we can just tap into a portion of those to get them hearing help, that’s … a benefit for society,” she said.
“I think if anyone can shift the needle on making hearing aids popular, it’s probably Apple. If it fails, then good luck to others who try.”
Apple’s hearing test and hearing aid features were subject to clinical studies prior to approval.
People can take the hearing test and adjust hearing settings for the AirPods by putting them in and modifying settings on the device it is connected to. The hearing test can also be started through the Health app.