The Apple Watch now offers sleep apnea notifications, utilizing the tech giant’s new breathing disturbances metric. Apple says it expects FDA authorization soon, along with approval in other geographies. The company plans to roll out the feature in more than 150 countries and regions — including the U.S., Europe and Japan — this month
Additionally, the company’s AirPods Pro earbuds now feature active hearing protection, a clinically validated hearing test feature and an over-the-counter hearing aid feature. The company said its hearing aid offers first-of-its-kind software, helping to make access to hearing assistance easier. It expects marketing authorization around the world for these features soon, with a launch expected this fall.
“At Apple, we believe that technology can help you live a healthier life, and we’re excited to enable incredible new health capabilities for serious conditions that affect billions of people around the world, while continuing to keep user data private,” said Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health. “With Apple Watch, we continue to offer our users the ability to uncover important health conditions with new sleep apnea notifications. And on AirPods Pro, powerful features put users’ hearing health front and center, bringing new ways to help test for and receive assistance for hearing loss.”
More about the new sleep apnea detection offering at Apple
The Apple Watch now uses its accelerometer to detect small movements at the wrist associated with interruptions to normal respiratory patterns during sleep. Every 30 days, the wearable analyzes breathing disturbance data, then notifies users of consistent signs of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea. Then, the user can speak to their doctor about next steps, including diagnosis and treatment.
According to the company, the feature can also help assess sleep restfulness. Breathing disturbances can be influenced by alcohol, medications, sleep position and more. Users can view their nightly breathing disturbances in the Health app. They can also export a PDF that shows when sleep apnea may have occurred, plus other data, for informed conversations with healthcare providers.
Apple developed its algorithm for this feature using advanced machine learning and extensive data from clinical-grade sleep apnea tests. It then validated the feature in a clinical study, with every participant identified by the algorithm diagnosed with at least mild sleep apnea.
“Empowering consumers everywhere to have the ability to reliably identify the presence of abnormal breathing patterns during sleep can help uncover a woefully underdiagnosed and serious medical condition such as sleep apnea,” said Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy University of Arizona Health Sciences Center for Sleep, Circadian, and Neurosciences’s professor and director in Tucson, Arizona. “This is a major step forward in improving public health.”
More on the new hearing features with AirPods
In order to help prevent exposure to loud environmental noise while preserving the sound signature of what people listen to, Apple introduced its hearing protection feature. The AirPods’ ear tips help provide passive noise reduction, with H2 chips actively reducing louder, more intermittent noise.
To give users even more insight into their hearing health, Apple also introduced its intuitive, clinical-grade hearing test. It based the test on the standard clinical approach known as pure-tone audiometry. Users can take the test themselves using their AirPods Pro and a compatible iPhone or iPad. The test takes about five minutes. Results, which include an audiogram, are stored privately and securely in the Health app and can be shared with providers for more informed conversations.
With the OTC hearing aid feature, users with mild to moderate hearing loss can now transform their AirPods Pro into a clinical-grade device. Apple clinically validated the feature in a controlled, randomized study, the company said.
“For decades, Apple has led the way in designing products for everyone and supporting users with a broad spectrum of hearing abilities,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives. “These features on AirPods Pro will make an impact on so many people by driving more awareness around hearing health and empowering individuals with new customizable tools to help them stay connected.”
