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Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. Read the announcement
Hearing Loss
December 16, 2024
7

Apple’s New Role in Hearing Health

Explore how Apple transforms hearing health with technologies and solutions that enhance accessibility for people with hearing loss!

Author:
Nicole Brener
Apple’s New Role in Hearing Health
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It’s been exciting to watch Apple advance health technology, helping us stay active and making sleep tracking easier than ever. Now, they’re turning their focus to hearing health—a move that feels timely and important. 

With over 1.5 billion people worldwide experiencing hearing loss, Apple has a unique opportunity to make a real difference.

By integrating hearing health features into the products millions of people already use daily, Apple is normalizing conversations about hearing loss and making care more approachable and accessible.

At the same time, Apple is raising awareness about hearing health, an often overlooked topic. For many, mild to moderate hearing loss goes untreated, held back by stigma, cost, or outdated solutions.

Next, we’ll uncover the specific products and features driving Apple’s impact on hearing health.

How Apple Is Advancing Hearing Health with Technology

Apple embedded hearing health features that support prevention, accessibility, and improved hearing experiences in their AirPods Pro 2, one of their most popular headphones, transforming their devices into hearing health devices.

In this way, Apple empowers users to monitor and protect their hearing, adopt safer listening habits, and access tools that improve the quality of life for those with hearing challenges.

How Apple Is Using Technology to Protect Hearing

Apple is bringing hearing health into its devices by combining smart design and advanced technology. Some of the standout features include:

  • Alerting users to potentially harmful noise levels.
  • Encouraging safe listening by sending notifications when audio exceeds recommended limits.
  • Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) to amplify sound and enhance clarity.

Advanced Features for Better Hearing Health

Time to get technical. The AirPods 2 come loaded with hearing protection capabilities and assistive hearing technology. Here’s what these headphones offer:

Hearing Test

It’s estimated that 80% of adults in the U.S. have not had their hearing checked in the past five years. Now, you can test your hearing without leaving home using the hearing test feature on Apple AirPods 2. The test is simple to use and helps check your hearing in just a few steps. All it takes is answering a few simple questions and a quiet environment to run a noise test.

Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

AirPods 2 feature active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce external noise and listen at lower, safer volumes. This setting is ideal during flights to block out the hum of airplane engines, at the office or while studying to concentrate better, or to drown out the noise of buses, trains, and cars while commuting.

The Transparency Mode, on the other hand, amplifies environmental sounds when needed, helping users stay aware of their surroundings, especially while walking outdoors and in public spaces.

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Adaptive EQ

The Adaptive EQ in AirPods 2 automatically tunes audio frequencies to match the unique shape of the user’s ear. This not only improves sound quality but also ensures a more comfortable and safe listening experience. It’s a great feature for hearing voices better during calls or while listening to dialogue from TV or podcasts. 

Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking

Spatial Audio replicates a theater-like sound experience by using dynamic head tracking, making it feel like the speaker is in the room with you while maintaining safe volume levels.

Audio Notifications & Volume Control

AirPods 2 includes audio notifications that alert users to incoming messages, calls, or volume changes. 

How Live Listen & Hearing Aid Compatibility Help

AirPods 2 are designed to complement hearing aids and act as an assistive tool for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. Features like Live Listen transform AirPods into a remote microphone, allowing users to hear conversations more clearly in noisy environments.

The Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) functionality pairs with hearing aids, making Apple’s devices an accessible option for users with specialized hearing needs.

Image source: https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/hearing-health/
Image source: https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/hearing-health/

Apple Watch & iPhone: Complementing Hearing Health

The Apple Watch and iPhone further enhance hearing health with integrated tools like the Noise app and Health app:

  • Noise app: Available on the Apple Watch, this app alerts users when ambient noise reaches harmful levels, encouraging preventive action. You can set the desired noise threshold.
Image source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102315
Image source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102315
  • Health app: Tracks multiple health data over time, including hearing health, providing users with insights into their listening habits and environmental noise exposure. 

These features empower users to monitor their hearing health proactively and make informed decisions about protecting it.

Tips for Using Apple Technology to Protect Your Hearing

Apple devices are powerful tools for promoting hearing health, but they’re most effective when used correctly. Here are a few tips:

  1. Enable noise monitoring: Use the Noise app to track and manage exposure to harmful sound levels.
  2. Follow volume recommendations: Keep volume below 70% for extended listening and pay attention to volume notifications.
  3. Use Live Listen: Turn your AirPods into a remote microphone to hear conversations more clearly in challenging environments.
  4. Schedule listening breaks: Take regular breaks from headphones to reduce auditory strain.
  5. Leverage HAC features: If you use hearing aids, ensure they’re paired with your iPhone or AirPods for an optimized experience.
  6. Download assistive listening apps: Whether you use hearing aids or not, captioning apps like Nagish are helpful tools to help you navigate calls and live conversations with ease.

Conclusion

Apple is changing how we think about hearing health, making it feel easy, natural, and just another part of how you live your life. 

With the new hearing health features in Apple’s AirPods 2, individuals have an opportunity to take proactive control of their hearing, bridging the gap between accessibility and preventive care. As this technology evolves, we’re eager to hear from users and learn how it’s enhancing their daily lives.

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Nicole Brener

Copywriter based in Miami, FL. Leads copywriting workshops and mentors women entrepreneurs at the Idea Center of Miami Dade College.

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Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. 
‍Read the announcement

Apple’s New Role in Hearing Health

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.