Apple's Vice President of Health, Dr. Sumbul Desai has been a pivotal force behind new health tools on iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. The executive was in the UK to witness the launch of the latest innovation from her team at Apple — a free software update that transforms its top-selling Bluetooth earbuds into a clinical-grade hearing aid capable of compensating for mild- to moderate hearing loss.
Dr. Desai sat down with GB News' Ellie Costello on the day the upgrade rolled out to AirPod Pro owners nationwide to discuss the technology powering this new feature, the reaction to the arrival of this functionality in the UK, and the importance of privacy when looking to innovate within healthcare.
Watch an extended cut of the in-depth conversation with Dr. Desai and Ellie Costello above.
AirPods Pro will compensate for the mild- to moderate hearing loss detected by the built-in Hearing Test. It works to boost the frequencies that you struggle to hear in the real-world, as well as when listening to your favourite songs, podcasts, or videos on your iPhone or iPad
APPLE PRESS OFFICEWith the Hearing Aid function enabled, the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds that've been on sale in the UK for two years can now double-up as a clinical-grade hearing device. Using a personalised hearing profile put together by Apple's software after taking a five-minute Hearing Test found in the Settings app for any iPhone or iPad, your AirPods will automatically boost the sounds you struggle most to hear in real-time.
When asked about the impact on quality of life for individuals who enable this feature for the first time, Dr. Desai told GB News: "Hearing is your connection to the world — it's how you communicate, how you build relationships. It's core to your social being. And so our hope is that this will have impact, to be able to drive connections for those who have been suffering from hearing loss and allow them to experience those special moments."
The hearing test built into millions of iPhones and iPads across the UK uses pure-tone audiometry — a gold-standard clinical approach
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Millions of Britons are living with hearing loss, and many haven't taken steps to get an assistive hearing device.
"I think that is one of the reasons this is such a powerful feature for us and something we're incredibly proud of," Dr Desai tells GB News "In the Apple Hearing study about 75% of people who actually could benefit from assistive devices don't use them. That's for a number of reasons, whether it's stigma, comfort, or just getting over that hump to get to the doctor to get it looked at.
"We're very excited about the potential impact that this can have — knowing that hearing loss one is one of the reasons people start experiencing social isolation and depression, but also it's a modifiable risk factor for dementia."
Given the ubiquity of Apple's popular earbuds — in their trademark white finish, Ellie Costello asked Dr Desai whether transforming these everyday gadgets into a medical-grade device could address the stigma sometimes associated with wearing hearing aids.
"I certainly hope so," said the Apple executive, who was named of the 100 most influential people in health by TIME magazine last year "I think the stigma is what holds back so many people from getting the help they need.
"Our view on it is that — as you mentioned — people use AirPods every day. If this can now help them with their hearing in a way that doesn't make them feel scared or anxious or shameful about using a hearing assistive device, which it shouldn't, but if this helps get them over that and bridges them to getting the help they need — even if ultimately they end up needing a hearing aid in the long term — this is a nice way to get started.
"It's something that we're very, very hopeful that it will have an impact on the stigma aspect."
Performing a hearing test only takes a few minutes on your iPhone or iPad, with the results available immediately. These can be shared with your doctor, or used to fine-tune the Hearing Aid functionality built into the AirPods Pro 2 APPLE PRESS OFFICE To get started with the Hearing Aid functionality baked into your AirPods Pro 2, you'll need to start with the Hearing Test feature. This takes approximately five minutes to complete and can be done from home using a compatible iPhone or iPad.
You'll hear various tones and bleeps at different volumes and you'll need to tap on the screen to register when you've heard a tone. Upon completion, this will provide a comprehensive score indicating any hearing loss and its severity. Results include an audiogram and are securely stored in the Health app, where they can be shared with healthcare providers.
"We designed it so it could be used across all age groups — all tech savviness if you will," Dr Desai explained to GB News. "You simply take the hearing test right on your iPhone using the AirPods Pro 2.
"It creates a personalised hearing profile, which then automatically preprogrammes the AirPods Pro 2 to work as a hearing assistive device. With just the touch of a button, you'll now be able to augment the frequencies where you may need some assistance.
"What's beautiful about the hearing test is that it's a clinically validated audiogram, so we compared it to what is considered gold standard in the hearing world. The hearing aid feature allows you to use it — not just when you're talking with another individual — but whether you're using it across phone calls, your media, your entertainment."
Dr Desai introducing the Hearing Aid functionality from the Apple HQ in California
Ellie Costello raised the issue of privacy, asking Dr Desai: "I think for many people looking at this feature and wanting to use it, they'll understandably be nervous about their personal health data. What are you doing to keep health data safe in your hands?"
"I'm so glad you asked that question. At Apple, we really believe that your data is your data, and in fact, so much so that your data doesn't get put on a cloud. Your data is encrypted on device locally, so your data is on your phone or on your watch," Dr Desai confirmed. "That's something that we really believe fundamentally. Particularly in health, you should expect the same privacy that you expect from your physician — you should expect that of your technology too.
"We fundamentally believe that your data is yours. Apple does not want to look at the data, does not have the data. We go to great lengths, particularly in the health space, to make sure that we protect an individual's data."
The announcement of the Hearing Aid functionality coming to AirPods Pro 2 has already made a big splash — it was front page news on the Daily Telegraph and Health Secretary Wes Streeting issued a statement saying "by harnessing innovation in UK healthcare, we can turn our country into a medical technology superpower. That’s why the Government stripped back pointless red tape so these groundbreaking hearing aids could be launched in the UK."
Apple wouldn't have been unable to launch the feature without a shake-up to the regulations around these devices in the UK that blocked sales of Hearing Aids over-the-counter.
Available in the UK now, AirPods Pro 2 owners across the UK can use their wireless earbuds as a clinical-grade hearing aid
APPLE PRESS OFFICE"What's your response to that sort of reaction from the UK?" Ellie Costello asked Apple's Vice President of Health.
"We're thrilled," Dr Desai responds. "I have to say, the UK Government has been such a great partner. Wes has been a great partner. One of the things about our hearing aid features — it's a regulated feature because it is held to the traditional medical standard of hearing aids.
"As a result, we have to go through the regulatory pathway and work with the Government to get clearance. Where the UK Government and Wes have been so incredibly helpful is bringing this to customers in an over-the-counter manner. It doesn't require a prescription. You can simply take the hearing test and use the feature.
"That is innovative. And that is the innovation that really comes from companies like Apple partnering with the governments."
Asked whether Apple would continue to work with the Department of Health, Dr Desai said: "Absolutely. It's so important, particularly in the world of health, to be collaborative and work with regulators and governments to make an impact. They care about their population, and we obviously want to have impact and drive better health across the world."
Dr Desai opened up about the personal letters sent to her and Apple CEO Tim Cook, which she describes as "fuel for our teams", describing the impact these features have had on their lives. "One of the ones that we just got last week was a grandmother who was able to hear her soft-spoken grandchild for the first time by using this, and I think that is what's so special about it."
Asked by Ellie Costello about the impact these letters have on Dr Desai, who started her career in television journalism before attending medical school later in life after seeing a close family member fall ill, she told GB News: "They motivate our team. They're like fuel for our team to do even more. We all read them.
"And often, to be honest, they surprise us. We just received one recently. We have a Vitals feature on Watch where you're able to look at different metrics, like your heart rate, your sleep, your respiratory rate.
"This one totally shocked me — someone noticed on their Vitals feature that they got a notification saying they a few of their metrics were off. So they went to the doctor and they ended up getting diagnosed with leukemia.
"And so, sometimes they even blow my mind in terms of what we see. And I think they're just having impact in ways that we couldn't even imagine. And I think that's what's so special."
Dr Sumul Desai, who has spearheaded some of the biggest health features on Apple AirPods, iPhone and Apple Watch, spoke to GB News Breakfast host Ellie Costello from their Battersea offices
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Asked about what she sees as her biggest achievement since joining Apple in mid-2017, Dr Desai laughs: "that's a really tough question — that's like choosing a favourite child."
She highlights a few favourites, including the work around hearing health and the new Hearing Aid functionality coming to AirPods Pro, the cardio fitness features built into the Apple Watch, as well as its ECG and high-heart-rate warning notifications.
Dr Desai also spotlights the Cycle Tracking, telling GB News: "The women's health features I'm particularly proud of. A company like ours getting behind women's health and talking about cycle tracking and ovulation and temperature changes that occur, educating individuals in that space."
