By Melanie Hamilton-Basich
There’s been a lot of talk about Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 being used as hearing aids since the big news that Apple’s over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software has received FDA authorization—a first. The “Hearing Aid Feature” software that will upgrade the popular earbuds, set to debut later this year, will also feature a self-fitting test.
Further Reading: Apple Unveils Hearing Aid Capabilities for AirPods
And Apple’s are not the only earbuds offering hearing aid features, with Signia having recently introduced its Active Pro IX earbuds that function as prescription-grade hearing aids. What does hearing aid functionality inside an earbud mean for audiology and hearing care professionals?
A Shift in Thinking
When OTC hearing aids were first available, there was worry about negative effects from people choosing self-fit OTC options over prescription hearing aids, as well as talk of positive effects from bringing attention to hearing health.
Just like some people are satisfied wearing OTC hearing aids while others are not, consumer earbuds that offer hearing aid features, including the updated Apple AirPods Pro 2, are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But they might be just the ticket for people with mild to moderate hearing loss who otherwise would not be willing to give hearing devices a try.
Because Apple products are well known and beloved by many, and plenty of people already use AirPods, their new offering could be the gateway device that leads people to start using hearing aids, and possibly seek out standalone hearing aids down the road.
Chief Editor, The Hearing Review
This could also signal a shift in what people expect from hearing devices. It could mean more people will want to have not just hearing aids in their earbuds, as with Apple’s and Signia’s new offerings, but earbuds in their hearing aids. In fact, with hearing aids featuring Bluetooth connectivity and more anticipated access to Auracast, that’s already happening.
And like with the debut of OTC hearing aids, such a shift doesn’t need to be a bad thing.
If Apple’s cool factor can convince more people to embrace the use of hearing devices in general and take away even some of the persisting stigma, then that will benefit everyone.
The HCP’s Role
Regardless of how all of this plays out, right now hearing devices are again in mainstream news. So this is a good opportunity for HCPs to spread the word about the many ways they can improve people’s lives through hearing care.
That might mean diagnostic testing, recommending appropriate assistive products for patients’ hearing needs, and providing aural rehabilitation.
It also might mean counseling patients who have taken a test on their own and realized they have hearing loss. Because even if impersonal, digital diagnostics can provide useful information, in reality people often need a real, knowledgeable person to provide guidance, support, and human understanding as they navigate something new and scary.
This is also an opportunity for HCPs to reevaluate the products and services they provide, and possibly expand those not directly related to hearing aids. Hearing aids are only part of audiology, after all.
It’s been said before in relation to OTC hearing aids, and it bears repeating here. If people in need of hearing care may be more open to seeking out that care because of an increased awareness of and more positive attitude toward hearing devices, then that’s a good thing. And one that could well benefit hearing care professionals.
I’m interested to see what kind of an impact the availability of earbuds with hearing aid functionality will have on people’s perception of hearing devices. And I’m excited about the opportunities a positive shift could provide.
— Melanie Hamilton-Basich
Photo: ID 198235982 © Prostockstudio | Dreamstime.com
Original citation for this article: Hamilton-Basich M, A Place for OTC Hearing Aids. Hearing Review. 2024;31(10):06.
