New Health Features Announced For Select Apple Watch Models And AirPods Pro 2: Focusing on Sleep And Hearing

Apple has unveiled new health features for the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2, reinforcing their dedication to user wellness at the 'It's Glowtime' event. These updates focus on improving sleep and hearing health, addressing issues that impact billions globally.

The Apple Watch now includes a feature to detect signs of sleep apnea, a disorder affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. Sleep apnea involves brief pauses in breathing during sleep, which can lead to serious health problems if untreated. The new "Breathing Disturbances" metric uses the watch's accelerometer to monitor wrist movements related to breathing irregularities while sleeping.

Sleep Apnea Detection

Over a 30-day period, the Apple Watch analyses this data and alerts users to potential moderate to severe sleep apnea. Users can then consult their doctors for diagnosis and treatment. This feature also helps assess overall sleep quality, which can be influenced by factors like alcohol consumption and sleep position.

Users can view this data in the Health app and track it over different periods (one month, six months, or one year). A PDF report with detailed information about sleep apnea events and breathing disturbances can be exported for discussions with healthcare providers. The feature was developed using machine learning and validated in a large clinical study, Apple noted.

Hearing Health Enhancements

Hearing loss affects about 1.5 billion people globally. Apple introduces a comprehensive hearing health experience with new features for prevention, awareness, and assistance. The "Hearing Protection" feature for AirPods Pro reduces exposure to loud noises, helping to prevent hearing damage. The H2 chip in the AirPods Pro actively cuts down louder, intermittent sounds, while passive noise reduction is provided by the ear tips.

This feature remains active across all listening modes. For awareness, Apple introduces a clinical-grade Hearing Test available through AirPods Pro and a compatible iPhone or iPad. This test, based on pure-tone audiometry, takes about five minutes and provides users with an easy-to-understand summary of their hearing health.

Results are stored in the Health app and can be shared with healthcare providers. The feature was validated against clinical standards using real-world data.

Assistance Features

For users with mild to moderate hearing loss, AirPods Pro now include an over-the-counter Hearing Aid function. This feature uses the Hearing Test results to personalize and enhance hearing in real time, improving conversation and environmental awareness.

The Hearing Aid feature was validated in a randomized study and provides personalized audio adjustments for better listening experiences. The Apple Watch's new Vitals app allows users to monitor daily health metrics and sleep quality. Additionally, the Health app will offer more support for pregnant users, including tracking gestational age and symptoms.

Global Availability

Sleep apnea notifications will be available this month in over 150 countries, including the US, EU, and Japan, for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features will be available this autumn in over 100 countries, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan, for AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware.

Hearing Protection will be available in autumn 2024 in the U.S. and Canada for AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware. Note that some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Users can save journaling time as mindful minutes and log their state of mind in the Journal app. Apple continues to enhance its health features across devices with privacy at the core, ensuring all health data is encrypted and secure.

Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple's Vice President of Health said, "At Apple, we believe technology can enhance your health, and we're excited to introduce groundbreaking capabilities for conditions affecting billions worldwide while maintaining user privacy."

"With Apple Watch," she added,"we're advancing our commitment to health by adding new sleep apnea notifications. And with AirPods Pro," she continued,"we're placing a strong focus on hearing health by offering innovative tools for testing and assisting with hearing loss."