Apple intros sleep, hearing health features for AppleWatch, AirPods Pro 2

Apple is introducing new sleep and hearing health features for the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2. According to the company, these enhancements will be available across their range of products.

The Apple Watch is adding a new feature that can alert users to potential sleep apnea through a Breathing Disturbances metric. These notifications are anticipated to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration as well as other health agencies worldwide. This feature is set to roll out this month in over 150 countries and regions, including the United States, European Union, and Japan.

Apple's AirPods Pro will come with active hearing protection, a clinically approved Hearing Test, and an over-the-counter hearing aid option. The Hearing Test and hearing aid features are anticipated to gain approval from international health agencies shortly and will launch this fall across over 100 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, and Japan.

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Breathing Disturbances is an innovative feature on the Apple Watch that employs the accelerometer to pick up subtle wrist movements related to disruptions in normal breathing while you sleep. Every month, the watch reviews this data and alerts users if it indicates ongoing moderate to severe sleep apnea. This allows users to consult with their doctor regarding potential diagnosis and treatment options.

Since the quality of sleep is crucial, breathing issues can be used to evaluate how restful sleep is. Factors like alcohol consumption, medications, sleep posture, and others can impact breathing disruptions. Users can check their nightly breathing disturbances in the Health app, which categorizes them as either elevated or not elevated. They can also track this data over spans of one month, six months, or a year.

To have better discussions with their healthcare providers, users can download a PDF that displays when sleep apnea episodes may have happened, along with three months of breathing disruption data and other details. The Health app also offers educational articles to help users gain a deeper understanding of sleep apnea.

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The algorithm designed to detect sleep apnea was created using sophisticated machine learning techniques along with a comprehensive collection of clinical sleep apnea test data. This feature underwent validation in a clinical trial that was remarkably large for sleep apnea technology. According to the company, every individual flagged by the algorithm was found to have at least mild cases of sleep apnea.

To assist users in avoiding loud background sounds, Hearing Protection is included with AirPods Pro. The ear tips offer some passive noise isolation, while the H2 chip actively minimizes louder, sporadic noises at an impressive rate of 48,000 times per second. This feature is automatically activated in all listening modes and is beneficial in many noisy environments. Additionally, the new multiband high dynamic range algorithm ensures that sounds at live events, such as concerts, still come through clearly and beautifully.

Apple is launching a professional-quality hearing test that follows the standard method known as pure-tone audiometry. This test can be conducted by users on their own using AirPods Pro along with a compatible iPhone or iPad.

Users can complete the test in roughly five minutes right from their own homes. The Hearing Test option utilizes cutting-edge sound technology to create an engaging experience. After finishing the test, users will receive a straightforward summary of their outcomes, featuring a score indicating hearing loss in each ear, a classification, and suggestions. The results, which come with an audiogram, are kept safe and private in the Health app and can be shared with a healthcare professional for more informed discussions.

The AirPods Pro now offer a hearing aid function for individuals with mild to moderate hearing difficulties. By utilizing a customized hearing profile generated from a Hearing Test, these earbuds can effectively operate as a clinical-level hearing aid. Once configured, this feature allows for real-time adjustments to amplify surrounding sounds based on the user's unique hearing needs. The personalized profile is automatically integrated into audio experiences like music, movies, games, and phone calls across various devices, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. Additionally, users have the option to configure the Hearing Aid feature using an audiogram provided by a hearing specialist.

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Once you complete the Hearing Test, your hearing profile can further enhance how you experience sound with the AirPods Pro, making it suitable for a wider range of users, even those with minimal or no hearing loss. They can still find value in customizing sound for specific frequencies. Additionally, there's a new feature called Media Assist that can enhance specific elements of speech during phone calls or improve the clarity of musical instruments in a soundtrack, benefiting an even larger audience.

Coming soon to the Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad are some new enhancements:

Since the debut of the Health app in 2014, Apple has rolled out valuable features targeting 18 different aspects of health and fitness through its devices, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, iPhone, and iPad.