AirPods, my new secret weapon?

I’ve been wearing hearing aids for about seven years, although I probably should have started sooner.

The bulky, behind-the-ear style has always made me feel self-conscious. It’s like a constant reminder of my hearing loss, a neon sign flashing, ‘I can’t hear you!

Traditional hearing aids are commonly marketed as ‘discreet’ or ‘hidden’. They come in a range of skin-tone colours to help them blend in. The message is very clear – let’s try and hide them from the world. And let’s not forget the hefty price tag; on average mine are about £5,000 (yes, thousand!) a pair, and they need replacing every 5 years.

So, understandably, I’m curious if this is all about to change.

A game-changer for hearing aid wearers?

At its recent September event, tech giant Apple announced that, via a software update, its ever-popular AirPods Pro 2 will soon double as clinical-grade hearing aids.

While the news has undoubtedly caused a ripple in the market for traditional hearing aid producers (many of whom saw their share prices plummet overnight), I wonder how Apple’s move might challenge long-standing social norms and etiquette around wearing headphones.

For those like me, with mild to moderate hearing loss, the ability to discreetly and affordably address their needs with a pair of stylish earbuds is a potential game-changer. The AirPods hearing aid feature offers a personalised solution, tailored to individual hearing profiles. This could help to reduce the stigma often associated with wearing traditional hearing aids, making it easier for people to manage their hearing health without feeling self-conscious.

After all, AirPods are “cool” right?

But, where do you stand on this? Imagine coming into a face-to-face meeting with me and I keep my headphones on (well, AirPods in, but you get the idea!).

How many of you would think that was OK?

Actually, that is pretty much what happens every time you speak to me (and has been for the past seven years or so); the difference is that you probably didn’t realise it. With my aids hidden, it is totally acceptable.

Challenging social norms.

Introducing AirPods as hearing aids is potentially poised to disrupt some of our deeply ingrained social conventions. For instance, wearing headphones in public has traditionally signalled a desire for solitude. With AirPods potentially serving as both entertainment devices and hearing aids, this interpretation might become less clear-cut.

It’s a bit like how we still feel compelled to ask clients if it’s okay to take notes on our laptops during meetings, perhaps to reassure them we’re not scrolling through social media. Yet, we rarely hesitate or seek permission to jot down notes in a notebook. The shift from tangible notebooks to digital devices has subtly altered our expectations and behaviours.

Similarly, the rise of virtual meetings has certainly normalised the use of headphones. In the virtual world, headphones are often considered a practical way to improve audio quality and reduce distractions. However, in a physical meeting room, wearing headphones might still be considered rude or dismissive.

Perhaps this shift in social norms might contribute to accepting AirPods as hearing aids. As more people become accustomed to seeing others wearing headphones during meetings, the stigma associated with using them for hearing assistance may gradually diminish.

The uncertainty of sound.

Let’s be honest, the uncertainty of whether someone wearing AirPods can hear you or not, is likely to create some amusing situations. Imagine trying to strike up a conversation with me, only to realise that I’m using my AirPods to listen to music and can’t hear a word you’re saying. Or perhaps you might accidentally shout at me, assuming I am listening to music when they are actually in ‘hearing aid’ mode.

If nothing else, it does allow me to use selective hearing when I want to!

A new ear of hearing etiquette.

As AirPods become more commonplace as hearing aids, we must reconsider our approach to headphone etiquette.

Don’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a person by their headphones.

Just because someone is wearing headphones doesn’t necessarily mean they’re trying to tune you out. In fact, it might be the opposite. They might be using their headphones as hearing aids to better hear what you’re saying.

So, before you assume someone’s ignoring you, consider that they might actually be trying harder to listen.

What do you think?

I’d love to hear (ironically) how you think using headphones as hearing aids could work in your business?

It’s a game-changer for those of us with hearing loss (in cost savings alone). But how does it fit into your professional world? How will you help shift the social norms and support colleagues to keep their headphones on during meetings? It is potentially something we all need to consider sooner rather than later?

Feel free to drop me a line on LinkedIn or send me an email with your thoughts!