Bea Beltran Tech 11.19.2022 00:Nov AM EST

Study Shows That AirPods Could Be a Hearing Aid Alternative

There have been reports saying that AirPods may serve as an alternative to hearing aids. Researchers stated that it may be used by adults, with mild or moderate hearing loss, according to CNET. Compared to actual hearing aids, The Apple Airpods Pro can actually be a cheaper option.

The Possibility of AirPods Used as a Hearing Aid

A group of researchers in Taiwan conducted a study to dive deeper into the possibility. They discovered that Airpods paired with a smartphone, did not have much difference in speech perception compared to a hearing aid. Granted, the tests were done with no background noises. The smartphone used was an iPhone XS Max with an iOS 13 OS.

21 people participated in a study with the AirPods, which was funded by the Veterans General Hospitals, the University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Nine of the sample size were women accounting for 42.9%, and 12 were men which was 57.1% of the participants. As mentioned in iScience.

Hearing aids cost around $3000 dollars up to $6000, and that doesn't include otolaryngologist and audiologist consultations. It takes a while before the device is acquired, not to mention that it has limited insurance coverage. This may be the cause why nearly 75% of people with hearing disabilities, do not get hearing aids for themselves.

Studies say that hearing loss may come as adults reach an older age, and that the number may double by 2060. This could be a huge step in the medical field, since hearing loss is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the US. This could be a cause of emotional distress, social isolation, and loneliness.

The US Food and Drug Administration has acknowledged the issue of hearing loss, by finalizing a ruling for hearing aids to be obtainable over the counter. According to Brian Deese, the director of the National Economic Council, Americans would save around $2800 if over-the-counter hearing aids were implemented.

Read Also: Are AirPods Pro Really Worth It?

Why Are Hearing Aids Expensive?

Hearing aids cost thousands of dollars, which may not be affordable for a lot. According to TruHearing, there are reasons for that. One of the reasons is that hearing aids are still being improved. The hearing industry aims to make the devices smaller, more powerful, and sound more natural.

There is also the issue of having a small market. Around two million hearing aids were sold in the US in a year, which sounds like a lot. However, the development of hearing aids costs millions of dollars. With a population of 319 million people, two million hearing aids are few in comparison.

The processes prior to acquiring hearing aids also contribute to the price. It takes around three to six hours for a specialist to perform a hearing exam, evaluation, fitting, and programming of the hearing aids. Due to the small market, they will need to charge bigger to keep the place running. Unlike the universality of earphones, hearing aids have to be custom molded for the patient's ear. It requires expertise, time, and effort to be able to do that.