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 first generated buzz weren’t new phones, but health-based updates to the new AirPods Pro and Apple Watch models.
Apple introduced hearing health-based features such as hearing tests and hearing profiles, as well as enhanced protection features for AirPods Pro 2 headphones that can also be used as over-the-counter hearing aids.
In September, shortly after the feature was announced at an Apple event, the Food and Drug Administration approved “Hearing Aid Function, the first commercially available hearing aid software device for use with compatible versions of Apple AirPods Pro headphones.” ”
Apple Watch adds sleep apnea notifications, and the device helps track your breathing activity. Sleep apnea, a condition in which you temporarily stop breathing during sleep, can not only disrupt your sleep but also damage your mental and overall health.
But what do such updates actually mean for consumers, and how do they fit into the existing healthcare culture?
“Apple has long been a leader in accessibility,” said Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development at AARP AgeTech Collaborative, a consulting agency that provides technology solutions for an aging population. “There are so many features on the iPhone that you don’t even know exist, and this is just a natural extension of that.
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Hearing tests could become “easier”
The whole point of hearing-based features like the one announced by Apple is to encourage consumers to think more about their hearing, says Dr. Schmidt, an audiologist at Cochlear Americas, an industry leader in implantable hearing aids, and an audiologist at Cochlear Americas, an industry leader in implantable hearing aids. said Terry Zworan, director of access and standards of care. Solution.
Up-to-date hearing information is helpful for people who know they have mild to moderate hearing loss and are looking for more affordable hearing aid options, but at the same time, those who know they have developed hearing loss It expands access for those who are unaware, allowing them to self-test and request hearing aids. More information specific to their health.
“One of the downsides of hearing loss is that it’s invisible, so you can’t really know that you have hearing loss,” Zwolan says. “It shows them how important it is to protect their hearing.”
If the process is simplified and something consumers can do themselves, that’s ultimately a plus.
“I think this makes the whole auditory space better for people,” Miller said. “There’s not a lot of innovation in this area.”
Consumers may want to self-check their hearing at least once a year, Zwolan says.
“The important thing is to monitor[the hearing loss]over time, because if it progresses to the point where it can’t be treated with OTC, there are next steps,” Zwolan said.
Connections between healthcare professionals and iPhone users
In general, using headphones for a long time can cause hearing loss, and the cause is the volume setting and volume.
According to Zwolan, any type of headphone or earphone that does not have a limiter set on its output can cause long-term damage to your hearing. Many smartphones have features such as audio limiters and warnings to users about excessive noise.
“It’s not something you automatically know,” Zwollan said. Some people may think something is noisy but are unaware of its negative effects. “We need technology that alerts us to the fact that listening to loud volumes for long periods of time can damage our hearing.”
New features facilitate better communication between consumers and healthcare professionals.
“What I like about this new technology is that instead of a self-test, I can get an audiogram from a hearing health care professional and load it onto my iPhone, or I can take a self-test and send it to my medical record,” Zwolan says. he said.
An audiogram is a graphical representation of the results of a pure tone hearing test. Medical professionals can use this to determine a patient’s hearing sensitivity and the type or degree of hearing loss.
As our population ages, we face more health issues, making health-centered innovation in personal devices important for technology companies.
“It’s a big misconception that older adults aren’t engaged with technology. In fact, they’re very engaged and are one of the highest early adopter groups when it comes to spending,” Miller said.
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“Sleep is very important”
Zwolan said raising awareness about hearing health and helping those who need professional help get it is a huge win for everyone.
“What we don’t want to do is have people self-test their hearing and then do nothing about it,” Zwolan said. “The big benefit of self-testing is that it improves access and provides a way for everyone to learn about their hearing loss if they have it.”
Mr. Miller expressed excitement about the sleep apnea capabilities of the personal high-tech device. “Sleep is very important.”
And while this isn’t a new feature, Miller expects further developments around “contextual insights,” or connecting different elements of health data to better understand overall health and impact. .
“When you think about your health, it’s not just, ‘Let me track my heart rate,’ or ‘Let me track my sleep,'” Miller says. “Yes, that’s important. But one thing that’s really important is to tie social engagement to it.”
Social isolation can have as much of an impact on your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a general report from the American College of Surgeons. Loneliness can have a variety of negative health effects, including an increased risk of developing depression, dementia, and heart disease, and can cause your body to age faster.
“Anything we can do to help people embrace the technology they need to live their best lives, I think that’s what we should be doing,” Miller said.
