In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Apple's Hearing Aid Feature (HAF), marking it as the first over-the-counter hearing aid software compatible with a version of AirPods Pro earbuds. This development is aimed at individuals over 18 experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss.
Deyanira Gonzalez, an audiologist at Baylor College of Medicine, elaborated on the potential impact and considerations associated with this new technology. According to Gonzalez, "The hearing aid software may be an appropriate option for someone who is not ready for prescription hearing aids – the ones that are fitted by an audiologist or hearing dispenser in an office setting with hearing testing equipment, real ear measurements and speech mapping."
While the HAF offers adjustability in terms of volume, tone, and balance to suit individual needs, it does come with limitations. Users must program the software themselves without professional assistance. Additionally, its suitability for extended use is questionable due to comfort issues and battery life constraints. "Consider your comfort when wearing the AirPods for a long period of time; everyone's ear canal shape is different,” noted Gonzalez. “Also, the listening time on these is about six hours compared to the battery life of a regular rechargeable hearing aid, which is 30 hours.”
Gonzalez highlighted challenges in assessing one's own level of hearing loss without professional guidance. She emphasized that many people delay addressing their hearing issues despite most older adults eventually experiencing some degree of loss.
To identify signs of hearing impairment and explore suitable solutions tailored to individual lifestyles, consulting an audiologist remains crucial. As Gonzalez stated, "As audiologists, we want to give someone a treatment plan and provide the best recommendations based on their individual case."
