Apple's (AAPL.US) AirPods Pro 2 approved by FDA, becomes "over-the-counter hearing aid"

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Apple's (AAPL.US) AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid software, allowing AirPods Pro 2 to be used as "over-the-counter hearing aids." The software feature is targeted at people aged 18 and above, or those with mild or moderate hearing loss. Apple announced during its 2024 fall product launch event that AirPods Pro 2 would add some new hearing health-related features, which will be released later this year. The update includes a default-activated hearing protection mode (provides passive noise cancellation in noisy environments), as well as a "clinical-grade" hearing aid mode, where users will take a brief hearing test using AirPods and an iPhone, and if hearing loss is detected, a "personalized sound configuration" file will be created, allowing AirPods Pro 2 to dynamically adjust sounds based on user needs to help users hear better. Apple said the personalized hearing configuration file will automatically apply to music, movies, games, phone calls, etc., without any settings adjustments. The feature can help people better participate in conversations and stay connected with others and their environment.