Apple recently announced some exciting new health-related features coming to their devices. Your Apple Watch will soon have the ability to detect sleep apnea, while the AirPods Pro 2 can now be used as hearing aids for those who need them. Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, explained that the company has been focusing on health capabilities beyond just fitness and will continue to explore this area. Currently, Apple devices can track heart and respiratory rates, menstrual cycles, body temperature, perform electrocardiograms, monitor sleep cycles, detect falls, and offer fitness apps for workouts and activities.
The latest Apple Watch Series 10, set to be released on September 20, includes an ultra-sensitive accelerometer that can detect subtle changes in breathing patterns while the wearer is asleep. Over a 30-day period, the watch analyzes these patterns and alerts the user if it suspects sleep disturbances that may indicate sleep apnea. The data collected is encrypted and stored on the Apple Health app for users to access and share with their doctors for further analysis.
The previous version of the Apple Watch used pulse oximetry technology to detect sleep apnea, but due to patent infringement issues, Apple has switched to using the accelerometer for this purpose. The accelerometer is capable of picking up even the smallest breathing movements, providing an early warning for potential sleep apnea. While this feature cannot diagnose the condition, it can prompt users to seek medical advice for further evaluation.
As for the AirPods Pro 2, a new software update will allow users to conduct professional-grade hearing tests and convert their AirPods into hearing aids for mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved this software update, making the AirPods Pro 2 the first hearing aid software device on the market. The hearing test involves users indicating which tones they can hear through the AirPods, and based on the results, adjustments can be made to enhance their hearing experience.
This dual functionality of the AirPods Pro 2 offers convenience and simplicity for users with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The ability to conduct a hearing test and improve hearing using a single device is a significant advantage. The AirPods Pro 2 already includes a feature that alerts wearers to potentially harmful noise levels and adjusts them accordingly, further enhancing their safety and convenience.
The hearing aid feature will be available as a software update for the AirPods Pro 2 this fall, while Apple is awaiting FDA clearance for the sleep apnea detection feature. Once approved, users of the latest Apple Watch Series 10, as well as the Series 9 and Ultra 2, will be able to access the sleep apnea alert feature through a software update. Apple is committed to expanding its health-related capabilities and providing users with innovative tools to monitor and improve their well-being.