Can AirPods be used as a hearing aid? The smartest assistive technology

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listen, listen

Historically, covering or blocking one’s ears meant turning inward and blocking out the world. But headphone and earbud technology has changed that. Originally designed for noise cancellation, the built-in microphone helps bring outside sounds to your ears. EQ settings compensate for hearing deficiencies, and AI tools assess what sounds you need to hear and make sure you hear them. This kind of technology has been accumulating for years, but Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 encapsulate much of it, and it doesn’t carry much of the stigma of traditional hearing aids.

More than 1.5 billion people live with hearing loss, and some don’t even know it.

According to the WHO, more than 1.5 billion people live with hearing loss. Some of us aren’t aware of it, and some of us choose to ignore it, but the majority of us haven’t had our hearing tested since childhood. “AirPods Pro technology gave us the building blocks to create something truly useful,” said Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s vice president of health.

The new iOS 18.2 software gives Airpods Pro 2 owners the option of a hearing test that generates an audiogram, a db HL rating for each ear, and a hearing classification based on WHO categories (from unimpaired to severe). That data is applied correctively to AirPods, which affect not only the media you listen to (music, podcasts, etc.) but also environmental sounds, making them actually hearing aids, at least for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. . . Requires regulatory approval for hearing aid functionality as it is clinical grade and not a full-time replacement as rechargeable prescription hearing aids have a charge duration of approximately 5-6 hours compared to 24+ hours is. It has been implemented in 100 countries, but is still pending in the UK. In the meantime, there are other iOS features that can be helpful for people who are hearing impaired. Voice recognition listens for environmentally-specific sounds, such as doorbells and microwaves, and alerts you via your iOS device. Conversation Boost amplifies the sound in front of you while reducing background noise (great for noisy restaurants). Live Listen, on the other hand, is ideal for meetings in large rooms and uses your iOS device as a microphone, passing the sound to your AirPods. Meanwhile, the Loud Volume Reduction feature intelligently attenuates noisy environments that can cause hearing loss.

People who sport AirPods all day often assume they’re not listening to the world around them. In fact, they may just be better listeners.

please walk this path

WonderCraft has spent the past decade realizing its vision for an alternative to wheelchairs: a stable, self-balancing robot that can walk reliably with support for people who cannot use their legs on their own. Its first product, Atalante It is the first of its kind and is designed for patient use. Both at home and in the community. His first public appearance was at the Paralympic Torch Relay in Paris, which was a very moving sight. The company is currently in the process of obtaining regulatory approval.

keep it simple

The gap between smartphones and Danphones has further narrowed. Emporia’s latest model doesn’t skimp on the hardware (5G connectivity, 6.58-inch touch screen, decent camera, NFC for contactless payments), but it does offer the ability to switch from the standard Android interface to ‘Easy Mode’. You can. This is a simple version with large buttons and is streamlined. Built-in coach to help with communication (all notifications appear in one place instead of scattered across multiple apps) and daily operations. A panic button has been added to alert relatives or caregivers in case of an emergency, and an optional smart cover allows everyday functions (like answering calls and turning on the flashlight) even when closed. Masu.

catch my fall

Belgian “agetech” company Nobi describes its stylish ceiling-mounted light as “the world’s smartest lamp” and has won multiple awards for its fall detection feature. It can monitor people’s ‘posture’ indoors and alert carers if an accident occurs, but its real skill is in preventing accidents from happening in the first place (recently seen in an NHS pilot (according to 84% reduction). The light turns on as soon as you enter your room or get out of bed at night. It also records images of how the fall occurred (such as tripping over a table), allowing caregivers to take proactive steps to prevent future falls. Consumer sales are expected to begin later this year.

look and hear

Currently the only B Corp-certified audiobook platform, Cornwall-based Xigxag offers an attractive alternative to the constraints of the subscription-based audiobook model, while still struggling with traditional reading. We’re making books more accessible to 1 in 5 people. If the title is available in the proprietary X-book format, it is an audiobook and ebook rolled into one. So the convenience of audio is played at a comfortable speed of your choice, and you can switch to the written word and accompanying illustrations at any time. Great search functionality lets you quickly return to the part you want to hear again.

@Rhodri

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