FDA approves Apple AirPods Pro 2 to be used as hearing aids [Video]

Apple AirPods Pro 2 can soon be used as hearing aids, after they received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, in what experts call a game changer for the hearing aid market.

The FDA on Thursday authorized a piece of software called Hearing Aid Feature (HAF) that will allow Apple AirPods Pro 2 ear buds and other compatible Apple AirPods Pro devices to function as hearing aids when paired with an iOS 18-compatible iPhone or iPad. It’s the first time the FDA has authorized an over-the-counter hearing aid software, the agency said. 

iOS 18, the software through which HAF will be available is set to arrive by October, Apple previously said. 

The new HAF is for the estimated 30 million Americans who suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss, due to “aging, exposure to loud noises, certain medical conditions, and other factors,” the FDA said. The application will also …