The world’s most recognisable earbuds just got an upgrade – a new hearing test and hearing aid feature to help those with mild and moderate forms of hearing loss.
Apple’s latest foray into the health sector – succeeding cardiovascular and sleep apnoea features – came via a free software update to customers of its AirPods Pro 2 last month. The UK Government approved the technology to make it “easier” and “more convenient” for patients to manage their health.
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With the update, the earphones offer a hearing test that takes five minutes to complete. If results indicate mild to moderate hearing loss, users can switch on the hearing aid function on the same pair of earbuds.
One in three adults in the UK are either deaf or experience hearing loss or tinnitus – and this rises to more than 50% for those over 55. Around 53% of these patients use hearing aids, devices specifically developed to reduce the impact of hearing loss.
GlobalData strategic intelligence analyst Shabnam Pervez says Apple’s software turns AirPods into hearing aids, threatening traditional manufacturers by offering a “cheaper, accessible alternative and expanding the hearing assistance market”.
According to GlobalData research, hearables is the largest segment of the wearable tech industry by revenue. The global market will reach sales of $131bn by 2030 and hearables that use sensors to monitor the wearer’s health are becoming increasingly popular.
Pervez adds: “Wearable tech is booming in healthcare due to its ability to remotely monitor patients, promote preventative care, and provide personalised data, ultimately improving patient engagement and outcomes.”
The addition of hearing aid capabilities to a well-known piece of consumer tech such as Apple AirPods has already got experts optimistic about the future of hearing loss treatment accessibility. But how far can the devices – primarily developed for listening to music – go in the audiology space and should we be realistic about its capabilities?
Medical Device Network spoke to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People’s audiology manager Franki Oliver to find out more.
Robert Barrie (RB): Apple’s Hearing Health rollout in the UK has generated a lot of buzz. What are the advantages of the software for those with hearing loss?
Franki Oliver (FO): Ultimately, we’re quite excited for the potential. We know that there are eight million people in the UK who have hearing loss and could benefit from hearing aids, but only around two million people use them. There’s a big gap of people who aren’t getting the amplification and the help that they need. We are hopeful that this mainstream feature could bring more people on that journey, maybe a bit earlier than they would have done otherwise and people can start to see the benefits of amplification.
We know that hearing aids are clinically proven to improve things like social isolation, improve mental health, and improving listening generally. We don’t have the same evidence to show that Airpods can do this yet, but it’s a good way to get people into using amplification and familiar with that sensation.
That’s where we see the benefits, not necessarily relieving pressure from the health service. I think there’s always going to be a need for audiologists. But for people who are reluctant to take that step into audiology, it could be really useful.
RB: The software has transformed a widely used wearable earphones into a device with hearing aid capabilities. How does that impact patient accessibility to technology?
FO: Having anything that can help with perceived stigma that surrounds hearing aids is beneficial. I like to think the stigma is reducing but having a device that is more mainstream and seen every day [can make an impact]. Especially among those who wear them all the time, for example young people, who might not necessarily need amplification yet, but might do in the future. This can help set the scene for them, having a more acceptable device to wear.
What’s got everyone quite excited and a received a lot of focus is Apple’s hearing aid feature. But the hearing test feature which is also available is something we’re especially interested in. We want people to check their hearing and think about their hearing the same way they do their eyes or checking their teeth. Having that ability to do a quick hearing test in detail with ongoing analysis could help to normalise that behaviour.
RB: What about the technology’s limitations?
FO: These devices can only do so much in terms of diagnostic capacity and amplification. There’s a lot of unknowns. I think we need to do some good research to really show what these devices do in terms of actual benefits and resulting behaviour.
In terms of hearing tests, it’s not the same as a full diagnostic hearing test by an audiologist. Further to that, when you see an audiologist, there’s more than just a hearing test. They help discuss your lifestyle and your history and can conduct a detailed assessment. They also flag if you need further medical assessments. For example, if you have hearing asymmetry, this would warrant a referral to a specialist. But with Apple’s test, there’s no requirement to do that, so it can’t tell you that information. We’d like to see better advice about what to do if you get those results.
In terms of the hearing aid feature, it’s only suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The device is not going to be suitable for people with profound hearing loss who need powerful amplification. We also don’t know how the technology performs in the real world, things such as battery duration and comfort.
RB: Looking at the wider hearing loss sector, where do you see the market heading with over-the-counter devices becoming more prevalent?
FO: We could look at the US as an example. They do have devices that you can buy at Costco such as the Lexie, which looks like a traditional hearing aid and can provide personalised support. However, comparisons to the US are difficult because their hearing aid provision is so different.
Apple’s AirPods are clearly the most popular kind of earbud. It would be interesting to see if other big audio tech companies release a similar feature. One thing that will also be interesting to look out for is what hearing aid companies respond with as well. They have their range of traditional conventional hearing aids, but they could start to release hearing aid devices that look like earbuds.
I think software is certainly one way forward, and the free software upgrade that Apple offers to AirPods Pro customers is a way that a lot of people will get access to these features. In terms of the future market, we’re watching and waiting.
RB: How is patient support changing with more people using hearing aid software implemented into consumer tech?
FO: It’s useful to point out from the start that you won’t get [conventional medical] support with this technology, just tech support from the manufacturer. We mentioned the hearing test and then going to an audiologist previously – I can see this technology giving users the confidence to go and seek help.
You might do the test, take it to a high-street brand or to your doctor on the NHS and they probably won’t use those results. They’ll probably want to do that again. That’s kind of standard practise for audiology anyway. But it is still helpful in getting people over that initial concern.
We could start seeing high-street providers start to offer these kinds of devices. And then with that maybe offer limited support as well. It’s difficult to say now, but there’s things here that will help get people into a service that they might have avoided before, which is exciting.
RB: The approval of Apple’s hearing aid software in the UK was helped by a government initiative to enhance innovative medical technology in the country. Are there any policies you’d like to see for hearing aid devices in the future?
FO: Something that we would like the government to do is help people take action and help people value their hearing more. This involves empowering people with advice to check their hearing – obviously, technology like Apple’s is a helpful way to get people started on their hearing health journey. One thing we’d really like to do is for people at a certain age to be encouraged to check their hearing. Before mainstream technology, this was difficult. Increasing access through consumer tech is a great way to initiate screenings and check-ups.
If we take the NHS ten-year plan, the [UK] government is aiming to go from analogue to digital – providing more digital tech-enabled solutions and shifting to community-based care. Having hearing devices like this where there’s no requirement to see someone unless there’s a medical need [fits into that plan].
I’m excited about how it can encourage people to check their hearing. And once people are in that hearing care pathway, we need to see how tech can help streamline that process and make it more attractive and convenient for people.
