Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman reports this week that Apple has big plans for iOS 18, including a new “hearing aid mode” for AirPods Pro.
AirPods already offer a feature called Live Listen, which launched as part of iOS 12 in 2018. This feature essentially turns an iPhone into a directional microphone, transmitting the audio captured by that iPhone to AirPods in real time.
Apple also introduced a Conversation Boost capability to AirPods Pro in 2021, which boosts mic pickup from directly in front of you, to better hear someone talking to you. A study in 2022 showed that some of these existing AirPods Pro features already compare well to much more expensive dedicated devices.
More details on this new iOS 18 feature for AirPods Pro users are unclear.
MacDailyNews Note: In August 2022, the U.S. NIH issued new guidelines allowing for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, a new category of hearing aids that consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy directly, without visiting a hearing health professional.
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Could be the next big thing. In Switzerland hearing aids can easily cost $7000 a pair.
Possibly. But then again don’t normal hearing aids allow you to hear more than just in front of you allowing the wearer to ‘focus’ for him/herself on what they want to hear?
Just last month I was in the audiology department at my local hospital for a hearing check up and I said to the consultant that Apple should make AirPods work as hearing aids.
Irony, for years hearing aid manufacturers worked to hide the aids, whereas now they will be stylishly conspicuous –