In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration greenlit the selling of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with “mild to moderate hearing loss.”
In response, a market emerged. Major headphone companies including Sony, Jabra and Senheiser now offer over-the-counter hearing aids in the sub thousand-dollar range, undercutting traditional hearing aids that can cost upwards of $10,000.
A new player has now entered the scene.
Apple announced that it is bringing several hearing aid features to its $249 AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds later fall, including the ability to take an at-home hearing test, reduce outside noise, and even amplify sounds around you.
The headphones have received FDA authorization to be used as hearing aids, and the tech press has exclaimed that they “could forever change how people access hearing aids.” Their relatively low cost, their ease of use and their integration with other Apple products may make them a compelling option for some.
