At Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, the spotlight was primarily on the iPhone 16, but an exciting announcement regarding the AirPods Pro 2 caught attention. Apple revealed that its premium earbuds would soon function as over-the-counter hearing aids through a software update, pending approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

On Thursday, the FDA announced it had granted approval for what it calls “the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device,” enabling this new functionality for the AirPods Pro 2. Michelle Tarver of the FDA noted, “Hearing loss is a significant public health issue impacting millions of Americans. Today’s marketing authorization of an over-the-counter hearing aid software on a widely used consumer audio product is another step that advances the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of hearing support for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.”

This development follows the FDA’s October 2022 decision to allow the sale of hearing aids without a prescription, fostering a new industry of more accessible hearing devices.

Earlier this week, TechCrunch had the opportunity to demo the new hearing test feature, which will be available in iOS 18 when connected to AirPods Pro 2. To utilize the feature, users must receive a result indicating mild to moderate hearing loss or upload test results from a healthcare professional. 

The hearing aid functionality works by adjusting various frequency levels to amplify critical sounds, such as the human voice.