Forget flying cars, the most promising personal technology trend of the future may focus on health.
During Apple’s iPhone event in September, the announcements that sparked the initial buzz weren’t new phones, but health-based updates to the new AirPods Pro and Apple Watch models.
Apple introduced hearing health-based features, including hearing tests and listening profiles, and improved protection in AirPods Pro 2 headphones, which can also be used as over-the-counter hearing aids.
Food and Drug Administration in September, shortly after the features were announced during Apple’s event, authorized “the first over-the-counter hearing aid software, Hearing Aid Feature, intended for use with compatible versions of Apple AirPods Pro headphones.”
For the Apple Watch, sleep apnea notifications are being added, and the device can help track breathing activity. Sleep apnea, which is when a person stops breathing for a short time while asleep, can not only disturb sleep, but the condition can also harm a person’s mental and overall health.
But what do updates like these actually mean for consumers, and how does it fit into an existing healthcare culture?
“Apple has long been a leader in accessibility,” said Andy Miller, senior president of innovation and product development at the AARP AgeTech Collaborative, which works as a consulting agency to provide technology solutions for an aging population. “There are so many features on the iPhone that most people wouldn’t even know are there. This is just a natural extension of that.
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Hearing tests potentially made ‘simple’
An important part about hearing-based features like the ones Apple announced is that it encourages consumers to think more about their hearing, said Terry Zwolan, an audiologist and director of Audit Access and Standard of Care for Cochlear Americas, an industry leader in implantable hearing devices. the solutions.
Hearing Updates can benefit those who know they have mild to moderate hearing loss and may be looking for more affordable hearing aid options, but it also expands access for those who may not know they are developing a loss. hearing and can now self-test and request more specific information about their health.
“One of the downsides of hearing loss is that it’s not visible and you can’t really tell if it’s happening to you,” Zwolan said. “It shows them how important it is to protect your hearing.”
If the process can be made simple and is something consumers can do themselves, it’s a net positive.
“I think it’s going to really push the whole listening space to be better for people,” Miller said. “There isn’t a huge amount of innovation in this space.”
Consumers may want to check their own hearing at least once a year, Zwolan said.
“The key is to look at (the hearing loss) over time, because if it progresses beyond being treatable by OTC, there are next steps,” Zwolan said.
A link between healthcare professionals and iPhone users
While prolonged use of headphones can generally contribute to hearing loss, this is due to the volume and loudness settings.
Not having a limiter installed on the output of any type of headphones or earphones can cause long-term damage to your hearing, Zwolan said. Many smartphones have features such as audio limiters and warnings to users about excessive noise.
“It’s not one of those things you’ll automatically know,” Zwolan said. One may think something is loud but not realize the negative effects. “You need technology to alert you to the fact that you’re listening to loud sounds for too long that will damage your hearing.”
The new features encourage better communication between consumers and healthcare professionals.
“What I like about the new technology is that you can get an audiogram from a hearing healthcare professional and upload it to your iPhone instead of the self-test, or you can do your own self-test and send in your medical record,” Zwolan said.
An audiogram is a graph of the results of a pure-tone hearing test. Health professionals can use it to determine a patient’s hearing sensitivity and the type or degree of hearing loss.
The aging population will navigate more health issues, making it important for tech companies to innovate around health in personal devices.
“It’s a big myth that older people don’t engage with technology. They’re actually extremely engaged and one of the highest groups of early adopters in terms of spending,” Miller said.
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‘Sleep is very important’
Raising awareness about hearing health and helping people who need professional help get it is a big win for everyone, Zwolan said.
“What we don’t want is for people to take a hearing self-test and then not do anything about it,” Zwolan said. “The big advantage of self-testing is improving access and giving everyone a way to know about hearing loss if they have a hearing loss.”
Miller expressed enthusiasm for sleep apnea features in personal technology devices. “Sleep is so important.”
And while it’s not a new feature, Miller would like to see more developments around “contextual mirroring,” or tying together different elements of health data to get a better sense of overall health and impact.
“When you think about your health, it’s not just about ‘let me track your heart rate’ or ‘let me track your sleep,'” says Miller. “Yes, that’s important. But one of the things that’s very important is tying social engagement to that.”
Social isolation can have the same impact on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a US Surgeon General’s report. Loneliness can have a number of negative health impacts, such as a higher risk of developing depression, dementia or heart disease, and can cause the body to age faster.
“I think anything you can do to help people embrace the technology they need to live their best lives is what we should be doing,” Miller said.