This wasn't just a one-off incident. The Apple Watch has often been credited with saving lives multiple times and at the recently-held It's Glowtime event, the Cupertino-based tech giants announced health features that are sure to improve lives of millions of users across the globe. From the Apple Watch’s sleep apnea notifications to the AirPods Pro’s hearing health enhancements, the tech giant’s latest developments provide users with more control and insight into their personal health.
Sleep Apnea Detection with Apple Watch
One of the most notable features unveiled last night was Apple Watch’s ability to detect sleep apnea, a condition that affects more than one billion people globally. Apple said that sleep apnea, a disorder where breathing frequently stops and starts during sleep, often goes undiagnosed, leading to serious health risks such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Apple’s approach uses a new metric called "Breathing Disturbances." This feature leverages the Apple Watch’s accelerometer to monitor wrist movements associated with breathing patterns during sleep. Every 30 days, the watch will assess data for any irregularities and alert users if it detects signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. These notifications will serve as early warnings, encouraging users to consult with healthcare professionals for further diagnosis or treatment.
Users will also be able to view their nightly breathing data on their iPhone, categorised as “elevated” or “not elevated.” With this, Apple aims to promote a better understanding of sleep quality. Factors like alcohol consumption, medication, and sleep positions can affect breathing disturbances, and users can monitor these influences directly in the Health app. Additionally, users can export a PDF summarising three months of breathing disturbance data, providing a comprehensive tool for conversations with doctors.
Apple also said that the new sleep apnea feature was validated through an extensive clinical study, the largest of its kind for this type of technology. Each participant in the study was identified as having at least mild sleep apnea, offering strong evidence for the accuracy and reliability of the feature.
With approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health authorities pending, Apple expects the sleep apnea feature to roll out across more than 150 countries, including key markets such as the US, Japan, and the EU.
AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features
In addition to sleep tracking, Apple also transformed its AirPods Pro 2 into a robust tool for hearing health. Recognising that hearing loss is a significant concern worldwide, with 1.5 billion people affected, Apple said that it has designed an all-in-one solution to prevent, monitor, and assist with hearing health.
One of the highlights of the new AirPods Pro 2 is the
To raise awareness about potential hearing issues, Apple also introduced a self-administered Hearing Test feature that works in tandem with the AirPods Pro and a compatible iPhone or iPad. This clinically validated test mimics the standard pure-tone audiometry used in clinical settings. Apple said that users can take the test in just five minutes from the comfort of their home, and once completed, they receive a detailed summary of their results. The results, which include an audiogram, are stored in the Health app, allowing users to share them with healthcare providers for further consultation.
Hearing assistance for those with hearing loss
For those diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss, Apple’s AirPods Pro now function as over-the-counter hearing aids. Using the personalised hearing profile generated by the Hearing Test, the AirPods Pro can dynamically adjust the audio profile in real time to amplify the user’s surroundings. Whether engaging in conversation, watching TV, or listening to music, the AirPods Pro automatically adjust to meet the user’s specific hearing needs.
This innovation makes hearing aids more accessible, bypassing the high costs and logistical hurdles typically associated with traditional devices. The AirPods Pro’s hearing aid capabilities have been clinically validated, and Apple said that it worked to ensure that the sound quality remains impeccable, even when tailoring the audio output to a user's individual needs.
Long-term protection of hearing health
Apple’s focus on hearing health also extends to long-term protection. Through the Noise app on Apple Watch, users can receive notifications when their environment reaches noise levels that could affect their hearing. The Health app on iPhone also provides insights into how users' hearing has changed over time. For those concerned about hearing damage from headphones, users can now set a volume limit on their iPhone to reduce loud audio automatically.
Apple also said that it has ensured that all health data remains secure. Data generated from sleep tracking, breathing disturbances, hearing tests, and more is stored privately in the Health app and can only be shared with healthcare providers if users choose to do so.