According to a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, AirPods Pro users can expect a significant new feature with the release of iOS 18 later this year: a "hearing aid mode." Gurman's Power On newsletter, highlights this as the "big news" for AirPods Pro in the upcoming iOS update.
This isn't the first time such a feature has been rumored. Previous reports in 2021 suggested a hearing aid function might be exclusive to a next-generation model. However, Apple released the second-generation AirPods Pro in September 2022, followed by a refreshed model with a USB-C port.
While AirPods Pro currently offer Conversation Boost, which enhances clarity for those directly in front of the wearer, they aren't marketed as hearing aids due to FDA regulations. The FDA defines hearing aids as devices designed to aid individuals with impaired hearing, a classification requiring regulatory approval.
Interestingly, the FDA recently approved a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids called Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs). Unlike hearing aids, PSAPs are intended for non-hearing-impaired consumers and don't require the same regulatory scrutiny.
It remains to be seen if Apple will need FDA clearance for the rumored "hearing aid mode." Further details may emerge at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, with the iOS 18 release likely coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 series in September.
