Apple has confirmed a pending marketing authorisation for the use of its AirPods Pro product as a hearing aid device, with a supporting hearing test feature offering users insight into their hearing health, a classification of their results, and recommendations.
The Hearing Test functionality with AirPods Pro can turn the device into “a clinical-grade hearing aid”, with Apple highlighting features including personalised dynamic adjustments to enhance sound quality and help users better connect with the people and environment around them, and a loud sound reduction feature aiming to reduce damage to users’ hearing.
Additionally, a separate health feature unveiled by Apple looks to detect signs of sleep apnea through a breathing disturbances metric integrated into the Apple Watch by using an accelerometer to detect small movements at the wrist which can be associated with interruptions to respiratory patterns when the user is asleep.
Apple has also shared plans to introduce a range of other health features for users of its products, including the Vitals app, which allows Apple Watch users to check their daily health status and view overnight health metrics such as heart rate and respiratory rate.
Spotlight on self-care
A recent HTN Now panel discussion explored the role of digital in supporting self-care and delivering personalised care, looking at how digital can improve patient pathways and experiences, and the data points which should be leveraged to enable health and care organisations to deliver tech enabled care now and in the future.
Another panel discussion from HTN in July saw our panellists focus on the implementation of supported self-care, with conversation touching upon the relationship of self-care and tackling health disparities as well as how to adopt and scale self-care pathways.
In June, we explored a study aiming to identify which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps.
Apps to support health management
In the last few weeks, HTN has covered news relating to a number of new apps in the healthcare space, including a collaboration between Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley and Otsuka to evaluate the real-world implementation of a therapeutic smartphone app designed to treat major depressive disorder, with gathered insights to inform the expansion of access to the app across the UK and NHS.
A new chatbot function was also launched on the NHS Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Talking Therapies website, designed to take website visitors through an online conversation and exercises to process referrals to the service.
And last month, NHS England announced a new partnership with libraries across England to offer support to people using online health services and the NHS app, with hopes librarians can “play a key part” in helping people to better understand and manage their health.
