We’re incredibly proud to introduce a first-of-its-kind Hearing Aid feature, coming this fall with AirPods Pro 2, plus an innovative way to detect signs of sleep apnea with Apple Watch. These life-changing tools will help people connect more deeply & live healthier.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 10, 2024
Apple has unveiled significant advancements in health technology with features designed to address sleep apnea and hearing health, conditions that affect billions worldwide. Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing temporarily stops during sleep, affects over a billion people globally, often undiagnosed, and can lead to serious health issues such as hypertension and cardiac problems. Apple Watch now offers innovative sleep apnea notifications leveraging a new Breathing Disturbances metric.
AirPods Pro 2 adding a clinical grade hearing aid functionality: Awesome
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 9, 2024
This feature uses the watch’s accelerometer to detect minute wrist movements linked to interruptions in normal respiration patterns during sleep. The Apple Watch will analyze this data monthly and inform users if consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea are detected. Users can then consult healthcare providers for further evaluation and treatment.
"Today we're going to talk about Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone"
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 9, 2024
The data, including nightly breathing disturbances, is viewable in the Health app and can be exported as a PDF for detailed medical consultations. Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy, a professor at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, praised the development: “Empowering consumers to identify abnormal breathing patterns reliably can help uncover sleep apnea, a condition that has significant health ramifications.”
Hearing loss affects approximately 1.5 billion people globally, significantly impacting overall wellbeing, including cognitive health and social connections.
Apple is introducing a comprehensive hearing health solution with AirPods Pro 2.
Apple Watch health advancements
This solution includes active Hearing Protection, a clinically validated Hearing Test, and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature.
Hearing Protection in AirPods Pro reduces loud, intermittent noise using the H2 chip while maintaining the clarity of desired sounds. This feature is beneficial in various noisy environments, from concerts to everyday commutes. The new Hearing Test allows users to check their hearing health, while the Hearing Aid feature offers easily accessible hearing assistance at an affordable price.
These features are expected to receive authorization from global health authorities soon and will be available in more than 100 countries, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan, by this fall. Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of Health, remarked, “At Apple, we believe technology can enhance lives.
We’re excited to bring new health capabilities that address serious conditions affecting billions while maintaining our commitment to user privacy.”
Apple maintains its standard of privacy by ensuring these health features are secure and user data is protected. Some features will not be available in all regions or languages, and compatibility will vary by device model. Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will support these new health features, pushing the boundaries of health technology and reinforcing Apple’s commitment to improving public health.
Availability for the sleep apnea notification and hearing features is anticipated in fall 2024.
