The FCC announced new requirements for all smartphones to be compatible with all Bluetooth hearing aids, and one strange effect is that this includes AirPods Pro 2.
Your iPhone must also support all Bluetooth hearing aids, not just MFi hearing aids.
New FCC hearing aid rules
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially adopted new rules today.
All mobile devices, such as smartphones, must be 100% compatible with hearing aids. This change will allow the 48 million Americans with hearing loss to choose from the same cell phone models available to all consumers.
Apple’s support page states that iPhone supports MFi certified hearing aids.
You can use and adjust settings for MFi hearing aids and sound processors on your iPhone. For a list of models that work well with iPhone, see the Apple Support article Hearing devices compatible with Made for iPhone.
However, FCC requirements require extending support to all Bluetooth hearing aids, whether clinical grade or over-the-counter (OTC).
The European Commission will also encourage mobile phone manufacturers to move away from proprietary Bluetooth connectivity standards, benefiting consumers by ensuring more universal connectivity between mobile phones and hearing aids, including over-the-counter hearing aids. We have also established Bluetooth connectivity requirements that will result in:
Includes AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 are now certified as consumer hearing aids. Engadget They note that this requires Android smartphone manufacturers to allow AirPods Pro 2 to be used in hearing aid mode.
This rule also applies to recently approved over-the-counter hearing aids, including AirPods Pro 2.
Apple announced last month that hearing aid mode would be introduced in a software update later this year.
Photo by GN Group on Unsplash
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