The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Apple’s (AAPL) new AirPod device as a hearing aid.
The approval from the U.S. regulator is a win for Apple, which recently unveiled the new AirPod Pro 2 that contains software capable of turning the earbuds into hearing aids.
The new AirPod Pro device amplifies sound and can provide a hearing aid to people at a much lower cost and without a prescription.
Industry figures show that most hearing aid devices require a doctor’s prescription and can cost more than $3,000 U.S. Many hearing aid devices are also not covered by private medical insurance.
In a news release, the FDA said that it was approving Apple’s AirPods as an “over-the-counter hearing aid” that can provide help to adults with “mild to moderate hearing loss.”
In 2022, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter hearing aids. But those devices typically cost as much as $1,500 U.S.
Apple’s AirPod Pro 2 will cost around $250 U.S., according to the company. The earbuds use software that tests a person’s hearing and can then configure the AirPods to increase sound.
The AirPod hearing aid feature is Apple’s latest foray into providing health features on its devices. The Apple Watch can monitor people’s heart rate and sleep patterns.
Apple’s stock has risen 28% over the last 12 months and currently trades at $222.77 U.S. per share.
