Using Wireless AirPod Earphones as a Hearing Aid

Topic: Hearing Aids and Devices
Author: Cell Press
Published: 2022/11/16 - Updated: 2023/01/04 - Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Contents: Summary - Definition - Introduction - Main Item - Related Topics

Synopsis: Investigating whether AirPods and other earbuds can be used as an alternative to expensive hearing aid devices. Globally, the wireless earphone market is increasing. Some companies are interested in exploring the possibility of designing earbuds with sound amplification features. Our study proves that the idea is plausible. The team compared Airpods 2 and AirPods Pro-the model with a noise canceling feature with premium hearing aids and a basic pair of hearing aids.

Defining AirPods

AirPods

AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earbuds designed by Apple Inc. The most recent model, AirPods (3rd Generation), is a replacement for the 1st and 2nd Generation models. These models are Apple's entry-level wireless headphones, sold alongside the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. In addition to playing audio, the AirPods contain two microphones - one facing outward at ear level and another at the bottom of the stem - that filter out background noise, as well as built-in accelerometers and optical sensors capable of detecting taps and pinches (e.g., double-tap or pinch to pause audio) and placement within the ear, which enables automatic pausing of audio when they are taken out.

AirPods are compatible with devices supporting Bluetooth 4.0 or higher, including Android and Windows devices.

First-generation AirPods - Fully compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models with iOS 10 or later, Apple Watch models with watchOS 3 or later, and Mac models with macOS Sierra or later.
Second-generation AirPods - Fully compatible with devices running iOS 12.2 or later, macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later, and watchOS 5.2 or later.
Third-generation AirPods - Fully compatible with devices running iOS 15.1 or later, iPad 15.1 or later, macOS Monterey 12.0 or later, and watchOS 8.1 or later.

Introduction

Smartphone-bundled earphones as personal sound amplification products in adults with sensorineural hearing loss.

Some commercial earbuds can perform as well as hearing aids. The result, presented on November 15, 2022, in the journal iScience, could help many people with hearing loss access more affordable sound amplification devices.

Main Item

Hearing loss has broad health impacts, but professional hearing aids are expensive and require frequent tuning visits to otolaryngologists and audiologists. These factors lead to major barriers for many to access professional hearing aids. One estimate suggests nearly 75% of people with hearing loss in the United States do not use hearing aids.

"There's also a social stigma associated with hearing aids," says Yen-fu Cheng, the study's corresponding author, and an otolaryngologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. "Many patients are reluctant to wear them because they don't want to appear old. So, we started exploring if there are more accessible alternatives."

Continued below image.

A pair of wireless Bluetooth AirPods (Second-generation). A far cheaper alternative to hearing aids?

Continued...

Apple came out with a feature called "Live Listen" in 2016 that allows people to use its wireless earphones, AirPods, and iPhone for sound amplification. The feature makes AirPods functionally similar to a personal sound amplification product, which is designed for people with normal hearing for certain occasions like birdwatching.

Cheng and his team wanted to investigate whether AirPods, widely available devices, can serve as alternative hearing aids. The team compared Airpods 2 and AirPods Pro-the model with noise canceling feature-with, premium hearing aids, and a basic pair of hearing aids.

The premium hearing aids cost $10,000, and the basic type cost $1,500.
Both models of AirPods are significantly cheaper than hearing aids, with AirPods 2 costing $129 and AirPods Pro costing $249.
Notably, AirPods Pro met four out of five technology standards for hearing aids.

The team tested the four devices with 21 participants with mild to moderate hearing loss. The researchers read a short sentence, such as "the electricity bills went up recently," to participants, who were asked to repeat their words verbatim wearing the devices. They found AirPods Pro performed similarly well compared with basic hearing aids in a quiet environment and is slightly inferior to premium hearing aids. AirPods 2, while having the lowest performance among the four, helped participants hear more clearly than those wearing no hearing aids.

Continued below image.

A pair of white wireless Bluetooth AirPods (Second-generation) in their included charging case.

Continued...

In a noisy environment, AirPods Pro showed comparable performance to premium hearing aids when the noises came from the lateral direction of the participant. But when the noises came from the front of the participants, both AirPods models failed to help participants hear better.

"Two reasons may account for the difference between the two scenarios," says Ying-Hui Lai, the study's co-author and a bioengineer at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taipei. "It may relate to the trajectories soundwaves travel with, as well as the advanced signal processing algorithm by premium hearing aids. This finding will hopefully inspire engineers to design hearing aids and personal sound amplification products that are more sensitive in certain directions." He adds that AirPods Pro performs better than AirPods 2, likely because of its noise-canceling feature.

"Globally, the wireless earphone market is increasing. Some companies are interested in exploring the possibility of designing earbuds with sound amplification features. Our study proves that the idea is plausible," Lai says.

As a clinician, Cheng says persuading patients to use hearing aids is often challenging.

"These wireless earbuds are, of course, not perfect, but they would be a good starting point for many patients who don't have access to professional hearing aids. Even with these earbuds, they will see an increase in quality of life." Cheng says.

This work is supported by Veterans General Hospitals and University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program and the Ministry of Science and Technology. iScience, Lin and Lai et al.: "Smartphone-bundled earphones as personal sound amplification products in adults with sensorineural hearing loss."

Attribution/Source(s):

This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Cell Press, and published on 2022/11/16 (Edit Update: 2023/01/04), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Cell Press can be contacted at cell.com. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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