Recent Apple updates focus on health tech. Experts think that's a big deal.
Forget flying cars: The most promising personal tech trend of the future might focus on health.
During Apple's iPhone event in September, the announcements that sparked initial buzz weren't the new phones but the health-based updates to the new AirPods Pro and Apple Watch models.
Apple introduced hearing-health-based features, including hearing tests and hearing profiles, and enhanced protections in the AirPods Pro 2 headphones, which can also be used as over-the-counter hearing aids.
Last month, shortly after the features were announced during Apple's event, the Food and Drug Administration authorized "the first over-the-counter hearing aid software device, Hearing Aid Feature, intended to be used with compatible versions of the Apple AirPods Pro headphones."
For the Apple Watch, sleep apnea notifications are being added, and the device can help track breathing activity. Sleep apnea, which happens when a person briefly stops breathing while asleep, not only can be disruptive to sleep but also can damage a person's mental and overall health.
But what do updates like these actually mean for consumers, and how does it fit into an existing health care culture?
"Apple's long been a leader with accessibility," said Andy Miller, senior vice president of innovation and product development at AARP AgeTech Collaborative, which works to provide tech solutions for an aging population. "There are so many features in the iPhone that most wouldn't even know are there. This is just a natural extension of that.
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Hearing tests potentially made 'simple'
An important part about hearing-based features like the ones Apple announced is it encourages consumers to think more about their hearing, said Terry Zwolan, an audiologist and director of audiology access and standard of care for Cochlear Americas, an industry leader in implantable hearing device solutions.
The hearing updates can benefit those who know they have mild to moderate hearing loss and might be looking for more affordable hearing aid options, but they also expand access for those who may not know they are developing hearing loss and can now self-test and seek more information specific to their health.
"One of the downsides of hearing loss is it's not visible, and you can't really tell that it's happening to you," Zwolan said. "It shows them how important it is to protect your hearing."
If the process can be made simple and is something consumers can do on their own, it's a net positive.
"I think it's going to really push the whole hearing space to be better for people," Miller said. "There's not a tremendous amount of innovation in this space."
Consumers may want to self-check their hearing at least once a year, Zwolan said.
"The key is to watch (hearing loss) over time, because if it progresses beyond being treatable by OTC, there are next steps," Zwolan said.
A link between healthcare professionals and iPhone users
While prolonged use of headphones in general can contribute to hearing loss, it's due to volume settings and loudness.
If there are no limiters set on the output of any type of headphone or earbuds, it can cause long-term damage to your hearing, Zwolan said. Many smartphones have features such as audio limiters and warnings for users about excessive noise.
"It's not one of those things that you're going to automatically know," Zwolan said. Someone might think something is loud but not realize the harm. "You need technology to help alert you to the fact that you're listening to loud sounds for way too long that's going to damage your hearing."
The new features encourage better communication between consumers and healthcare professionals.
"What I like about the new technology is you can take an audiogram from a hearing health care professional and load it into your iPhone instead of the self-test, or you can take your self-test and send it to your medical record," Zwolan said.
An audiogram is a graph of the results of a pure tone hearing test. Health professionals can use it to determine a patient's hearing sensitivity and type or degree of hearing loss.
The aging population is going to navigate more health problems, which makes it crucial for tech companies to innovate around health in personal devices.
"It's a big myth that older folks don't engage with tech. They're actually extremely engaged and one of the highest early-adopter groups as far as spending goes," Miller said.
More:Apple releases iOS 18 update for iPhone: Customizations, Messages, other top changes
'Sleep is so important'
Increasing awareness around hearing health and helping people who need professional help it is a big win for everyone, Zwolan said.
"What we don't want is have people take a hearing self-test and then not do anything about it," Zwolan said. "The big advantage of the self-test is improving access and giving everybody a way to know about their hearing loss if they have a hearing loss."
Miller expressed excitement over the sleep apnea features in personal tech devices. "Sleep is so important."
And while it's not a new feature, Miller would like to see more developments around "contextual insight," or tying together elements of health data to get a better sense of whole health.
"When you think about your health, it's not just about 'Let me track your heartbeat' or 'Let me track your sleep,'" Miller says. "Yes, that's important. But one of the things that's super-important is tying in social engagement to that."
Social isolation can have the same effect on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a U.S. surgeon general report. Loneliness can have a number health consequences, such as a higher risk of developing depression, dementia or heart disease, and it can cause the body to age faster.
"I think anything you can do to help folks embrace the technology that they need to live their best lives is what we should be doing," Miller said.
(This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)