What did everyone think of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference this year? With all the predictions about “Hearing Aide Mode,” I was eagerly watching for the big reveal… that never came.
With a slew of updates, including “Apple Intelligence,” their new foray into AI for iPhone users, many of us were surprised to see that Hearing Aid Mode didn’t make an appearance at all.
Instead, Apple introduced two new hearing-related features for their AirPods – impressive but not quite the game changer that many people (including us!) were anticipating.
Voice Isolation Feature
The first new feature is designed to minimize background noise, leveraging the noise cancellation capabilities of AirPods. Set to make calls more intelligible by cutting out wind and ambient noises, this “Voice Isolation Feature” will work wonders for people that struggle to maintain a clear conversation in noisier environments.
Music Haptics
Aimed specifically for individuals who are hard of hearing, “Music Haptics” plays taps, textures, and refined vibrations in sync with music audio. Individuals will not just hear the music but also experience it through tactile feedback, feeling the rhythm and nuances of the songs in more depth.
The Missing Hearing Aid Mode
So, what happened to Hearing Aide Mode? Many news outlets were surprised to see zero mention of the much-rumored new feature, especially for those that typically have accurate track records in reporting and predicting Apple news.
Our thoughts? Maybe Hearing Aide Mode isn’t ready for the public eye just yet.
Hearing Aid Mode was rumored to be partnered with the third generation of the Apple AirPods Pro, set to release in January 2025. Maybe they’re waiting to release information about the new feature once the hardware that will house it is announced?
Alternatively, perhaps Apple is planning to integrate hearing functionalities through all of their other existing tools and features, which would greatly upgrade the user experience.
Watch this space – we’ll see what happens!
The Future of Hearing Health at Apple
Features like fall detection, ECG monitoring, and blood oxygen measurements are already available on all Apple devices, and introducing voice isolation and music haptics shows their ongoing dedication to accessibility and inclusivity.
As for Hearing Aide Mode, it’s evident that Apple is continuing to explore ways to improve the quality of life for their users with hearing impairments – even if this widely-expected feature hasn’t appeared just yet.
I’m excited to see how the new features perform and how Apple continues to make strides in normalizing hearing health through their innovative upgrades.
The second that Voice Isolation Feature and Music Haptics are available, I’m downloading them to put them to the test!
I’ll keep you updated on any developments and share my experiences with the new features as they come.
For questions about hearing care, or to talk about your unique situation with a member of our team, please feel free to request a callback or call us directly at (812) 532-3011.
