Apple is serious about your health. The Cupertino tech giant has introduced new health-focused features for the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2, aimed at enhancing sleep and hearing health for millions of users worldwide. The company’s latest advancements include sleep apnea notifications on Apple Watch and the world’s first integrated hearing health experience on AirPods Pro 2, which includes clinical-grade features like an over-the-counter hearing aid.
Sleep Apnea Detection on Apple Watch
Apple Watch now offers sleep apnea notifications using a new Breathing Disturbances metric. This feature detects irregular respiratory patterns during sleep using the device’s accelerometer, providing notifications when signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea are detected. Users can monitor their nightly breathing disturbances through the Health app, where they are categorised as elevated or not elevated and can export detailed reports for healthcare providers.
The sleep apnea feature is pending FDA clearance and will be available in over 150 countries, including the US, EU, and Japan. This functionality expands Apple Watch’s role as a personal health monitor, adding to existing features like heart rate and respiratory tracking.
AirPods Pro 2 Now A Hearing Health Tool
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 introduces a unique suite of hearing health tools, including active noise reduction, a clinical-grade hearing test, and a software-based hearing aid. The hearing aid feature, designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, leverages personalised adjustments to enhance sound quality during conversations, music, and phone calls. This innovative approach is set to make hearing assistance more accessible and affordable.
The hearing health tools also include a self-administered hearing test that uses pure-tone audiometry, allowing users to assess their hearing at home. Test results are stored securely in the Health app and can be shared with healthcare providers. The hearing aid capability, expected to launch this fall, is pending regulatory approval and will be available in more than 100 countries, including the US, Germany, and Japan.
Commitment To Health & Privacy
Apple emphasises the importance of privacy in these new features, ensuring that all health data is encrypted and stored securely. The company continues to expand its health and fitness offerings, which now span 18 health areas across Apple Watch, AirPods, iPhone, and iPad, all designed to empower users with actionable insights while keeping their data private.
Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health, highlighted the impact of these innovations: “With Apple Watch, we continue to offer our users the ability to uncover important health conditions with new sleep apnea notifications. And on AirPods Pro, powerful features put users’ hearing health front and centre, bringing new ways to help test for and receive assistance for hearing loss.”
These new features are part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to enhancing user health through technology, providing innovative solutions for conditions that affect millions globally.