A study published on November 15 in the journal iScience found that some AirPods were able to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Audiology experts and bioengineers in Taiwan tested Apple’s AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro alongside premium and basic hearing aids sold in the region. Among the two wireless headphone models, the AirPods Pro stood out, meeting four out of five technology standards for hearing aids, the researchers note.
What are the statistics on seniors with hearing loss?
In the US, nearly 50 percent of people 75 and older develop disabling hearing loss. Yet, one 2012 study estimates that 75 percent of individuals with the condition don’t use hearing aids.
What are the potential reasons individuals with the condition don’t use hearing aids?
There are a number of potential reasons for this, including discomfort, ease of use, age stigma, accessibility, and cost.
In their paper, the researchers mentions that Taiwanese market prices for premium hearing aids are around $10,000, while the basic type are $1,500. Hearing aids in the states, meanwhile, can cost between $900 to $6,000.
What was involved in this study?
For their study, the researchers worked with a pool of 21 patients in Taiwan—whose average age was 41—with mild to moderate hearing loss. They tested Apple’s Live Listen feature, which utilizes the iPhone’s microphone to transmit audio directly to Bluetooth-paired AirPods in real time.
When used with the noise-canceling AirPods Pro, Live Listen can boost conversation volumes while maintaining safe-listening levels, filter in some outside noises to heighten awareness through “transparent mode,” and play calming sounds that can relieve tinnitus (a constant ringing in one’s ear). It just so happens that these accessibility features also benefit those with hearing loss.
The study authors had the subjects perform a Hearing in Noise Test, commonly known as HINT, where patients were read various sentences in Mandarin like “the electricity bills went up recently” and were asked to repeat them verbatim. They completed these tests either wearing the different headphones and hearing aids, both in quiet settings and environments with background noise.
What were some of the results of the study?
Unsurprisingly, the premium hearing aid provided the best assistance. The AirPods 2 weren’t able to provide the same quality as the other devices, but the researchers found that the earbuds were better than wearing no hearing device at all. The AirPods Pro, however, performed just as well as the basic hearing aids in a quiet environment.
Interestingly, the direction of background noise impacted participants’ ability to hear with the AirPods Pro in the more buzzy settings: Participants could still hear well when the sound came from the sides, but struggled when it came from the front.
What other companies are working on assisted hearing devices?
Other companies like Sony, Bose, and Jabra are working on these kinds of assisted hearing devices.
