The UK government has announced plans to allow Apple AirPods Pro 2 to be used as hearing aids for people with mild or moderate hearing loss. The decision follows new guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care, which will enable companies like Apple to sell their related software with the devices.
Currently, patients with hearing problems can only obtain hearing aids if they have a doctor’s prescription due to confusion over the rules. However, under the new plan, tests offered by companies like Apple will be sufficient for users to use their hearing aid feature.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, described the change as “pointless regulation that suffocates innovation.” The new guidance aims to make it easier and more convenient for patients to manage their own health. According to the NHS, if patients have not already undergone a clinical assessment, they should see a GP if they experience symptoms such as sudden hearing loss or worsening hearing over time.
The move is expected to benefit tens of thousands of people in the UK with mild or moderate hearing loss. Apple has confirmed that it will introduce a software update to support the new feature within weeks. The technology allows users to take a hearing test at home using their earphones and an app on their phone, and switch on the hearing aid function if they have been diagnosed with hearing loss.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/16/apple-airpods-to-soon-work-as-hearing-aids-in-uk