Hearables and Hearing Health: How AirPods and OTC Hearing Aids Are Changing Everyday Listening

Earbuds are no longer just for music and phone calls. Some can now test hearing, reduce exposure to loud sounds, make nearby voices easier to understand, and even work as over-the-counter hearing aids.

These smart listening devices are often called hearables. They combine everyday audio features with tools that support hearing, communication, and personal health.

Apple’s introduction of regulated hearing-aid features for AirPods has brought new attention to this category. Sony, Samsung, and other technology brands are also offering products that make the line between earbuds and hearing aids less clear.

However, not every product that amplifies sound is a hearing aid. Understanding the difference can help you choose the right support for your hearing needs.

What Are Hearables?

Hearables are smart devices worn in or around the ears. They often look like wireless earbuds, but they can include features such as:

• Bluetooth audio streaming

• Active noise cancellation

• Ambient sound amplification

• Personalized sound settings

• Hearing tests or hearing screenings

• Loud-sound alerts

• Voice enhancement

• Fitness or health tracking

The term “hearable” covers a wide range of products. Some are regular consumer earbuds with accessibility features. Others are regulated over-the-counter hearing aids designed specifically for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

That distinction matters. An earbud that makes surrounding sounds louder is not automatically a hearing aid.

Apple AirPods Enter the Hearing-Aid Market

Apple made one of the biggest changes to the hearables market by introducing a Hearing Aid feature for compatible AirPods Pro.

In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Apple’s Hearing Aid Feature as the first over-the-counter hearing-aid software designed for use with compatible AirPods Pro. The feature is intended for adults aged 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

Apple now supports its hearing-health experience on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. With compatible Apple devices and software, users can access:

• A guided hearing test

• A personalized hearing profile

• Real-time sound amplification

• The Hearing Aid feature

• Loud Sound Reduction or Hearing Protection

• Media Assist for personalized music, calls, and video audio

• Conversation Boost to make nearby voices easier to follow

AirPods Pro 3 also introduced improved voice clarity and automatic Conversation Boost when the Hearing Aid feature is active.

These developments are exciting because millions of people are already comfortable wearing wireless earbuds. Turning a familiar consumer product into a regulated hearing-support option may encourage people to pay attention to their hearing sooner.

However, feature availability varies by country. Users also need compatible Apple hardware, current software, and the correct AirPods model. Standard AirPods and AirPods Max should not be assumed to offer the regulated Hearing Aid feature simply because they include noise control or accessibility settings.

Other Brands Are Joining the Hearables Movement

Apple is not the only company combining familiar consumer technology with hearing support.

Sony OTC Hearing Aids

Sony offers self-fitting OTC hearing aids such as the CRE-C10 and CRE-E10. These devices are designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and can be set up at home using a smartphone app.

The CRE-C10 is a small in-the-ear device designed to resemble a modern earbud. It does not provide Bluetooth music or call streaming, showing that an earbud-like appearance does not always mean a device functions like regular wireless earbuds.

The CRE-E10 combines an earbud-style design with self-fitting hearing support and selected streaming features. Sony’s products are dedicated hearing aids rather than ordinary earbuds with an ambient listening mode.

Samsung Galaxy Buds

Some Samsung Galaxy Buds include accessibility tools that amplify surrounding sound. Compatible models allow users to adjust the balance between the left and right earbuds, raise ambient sound levels, boost voices in front of them, and reduce background noise.

For example, Samsung provides hearing-enhancement controls for the Galaxy Buds3 Pro through its Galaxy Wearable app.

These features may make conversations easier for some users. However, Samsung Galaxy Buds are consumer earbuds with hearing-enhancement features—not FDA-authorized OTC hearing aids.

They can support situational listening, but they should not be presented as replacements for properly selected hearing aids.

Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses

Hearable technology is also moving beyond the ear. Nuance Audio hearing glasses have open-ear hearing technology built into their frames.

These products direct sound toward the wearer’s ears while leaving the ear canals open. They provide another discreet option for people who already wear glasses and want help following conversations.

Together, Apple, Sony, Samsung, and Nuance Audio show that hearing support is becoming available in more familiar and stylish forms.

How Hearables Can Support Hearing Health

The greatest benefit of hearables may be that they make people more aware of their hearing.

Easier Access to Hearing Checks

Some hearables allow users to complete a hearing test or screening at home. While these tools do not replace a complete professional evaluation, they can help someone recognize that their hearing may have changed.

Early awareness can encourage people to seek appropriate support before communication becomes more difficult.

Personalized Sound

Many hearables use apps to adjust sound according to the user’s preferences. Depending on the product, users may be able to change:

• Volume

• Bass and treble

• Left and right balance

• Background-noise reduction

• Speech emphasis

• Listening programs

Personalization can make sound more comfortable, but the amount of control varies widely between products.

If you are deciding whether smartphone controls are right for you, read our guide to app-controlled versus app-free hearing aids.

Better Awareness of Loud Sound

Phones, smartwatches, and earbuds can monitor headphone volume or warn users about loud environments. These tools can help people recognize unsafe listening habits.

However, an alert alone cannot protect your hearing. You still need to lower the volume, move away from the sound, limit exposure time, or wear proper hearing protection.

Reduced Stigma

Many people delay hearing support because they worry that hearing aids will look old-fashioned or attract attention.

Hearables help challenge that idea. Wireless earbuds are already part of everyday life, while modern OTC hearing aids are becoming smaller, lighter, and more stylish. Both developments make hearing support feel more normal and approachable.

Hearables Are Not All the Same

The growing number of hearing-enhancement features can also create confusion. Terms such as “conversation mode,” “ambient sound,” “voice boost,” and “personalized audio” may sound similar to hearing-aid features, but they do not always mean the product is a regulated hearing aid.

Before buying, ask:

• Is the product a regulated OTC hearing aid or a consumer earbud?

• Is it intended for hearing loss or only occasional sound enhancement?

• Does it personalize amplification using a hearing test?

• Can it be worn comfortably for most of the day?

• Does it require a particular phone or operating system?

• How long does the battery last when hearing features are active?

• What support is available if the fit or sound needs adjustment?

A strong list of smart features does not automatically make a product the best choice. Comfort, sound quality, battery life, support, and daily usability matter just as much.

When Dedicated In-Ear Hearing Aids Make More Sense

AirPods and similar hearables are useful for people who want entertainment, communication, and hearing support in one device. However, some users want a device built mainly for hearing clearly throughout the day.

Dedicated in-the-ear hearing aids can offer a smaller fit, simpler controls, and fewer distractions from notifications, calls, and music.

Eara offers two discreet options for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

Eara Veil: Deep, Discreet and Personalized

The ultra-discreet Eara Veil IIC hearing aids are designed to sit deep inside the ear canal for a low-profile fit.

Veil includes 16-channel digital sound processing, app-based personalization, three listening modes, seven volume levels, and up to 16 hours of use on a charge. At approximately 1.8 grams per device, it is designed for people who want advanced adjustment in a small, discreet hearing aid.

Unlike multipurpose earbuds, Veil focuses on comfortable everyday hearing rather than music streaming and other entertainment features.

Eara Clear ITC: Simple, App-Free Hearing

For users who prefer straightforward controls, the easy-to-use Eara Clear ITC hearing aids offer an app-free alternative.

Clear ITC sits inside the ear and provides three listening modes and four volume levels controlled directly from the device. Its dual microphones and digital processing support clearer everyday listening, while the rechargeable case makes it easy to keep the hearing aids ready.

This option may suit someone who wants a modern in-ear design without pairing a phone, managing an app, or navigating complicated settings.

Hearables or Hearing Aids: Which Should You Choose?

The right choice depends on what you want the device to do.

A hearable such as AirPods Pro may make sense if you:

• Already use compatible Apple products.

• Want music, calls, and hearing support in one device.

• Are comfortable managing hearing settings through a phone.

• Need occasional or situational hearing assistance.

• Do not mind the visible earbud design.

A dedicated OTC hearing aid may be better if you:

• Want a device designed primarily for daily hearing support.

• Prefer a smaller or more discreet fit.

• Need consistent use throughout the day.

• Want controls designed around different listening environments.

• Prefer either detailed personalization or simple app-free operation.

Neither category is automatically better. The goal is to find a device that matches your hearing needs, comfort preferences, technology skills, and daily routine.

A More Open Future for Hearing Health

Hearables are helping move hearing support into everyday life. Apple’s regulated Hearing Aid feature shows that a familiar consumer product can also provide meaningful help for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Sony, Samsung, Nuance Audio, and dedicated OTC hearing-aid brands are expanding the range of choices even further.

This change is encouraging. People no longer have to choose from one style, one level of technology, or one way of controlling their hearing experience.

Whether you prefer AirPods, an app-personalized IIC hearing aid such as Veil, or a simple app-free option such as Clear ITC, better hearing support is becoming easier to access—and much easier to wear with confidence.