Apple has announced a significant expansion of its health-focused features for users in India, bringing advanced capabilities to its wearable devices. Apple Watch owners will now receive notifications for potential sleep apnea, while AirPods Pro users can access a new hearing test function designed to detect possible hearing loss.
Apple Watch Gains Sleep Apnea Detection in India
The updated Apple Watch feature utilizes its accelerometer sensor to analyze breathing patterns during sleep. By tracking wrist movements, the device detects and measures "Breathing Disturbances." The Watch continuously monitors these patterns over a 30-day period, employing machine learning to identify repeated signs of severe sleep apnea.
Should the system detect such patterns, users will receive a notification prompting them to consult a medical professional for further evaluation and treatment. All nightly breathing disturbance data is stored within the Apple Health app, allowing users to track trends over one month, six months, or a year. This data can also be exported as a PDF report to share with healthcare providers. The Health app further includes educational content about sleep apnea.
This sleep apnea detection feature will be available for Apple Watch SE (3rd generation), Apple Watch Series 9 and later models, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later models in India.
AirPods Pro Introduce Hearing Test Capability
For AirPods Pro users in India, a new hearing test feature is rolling out, aimed at helping detect potential hearing loss. This function employs a clinical method known as pure-tone audiometry. Users can perform the test by pairing their AirPods Pro with an iPhone or iPad.
During the approximately five-minute test, the AirPods play various sound frequencies and tones, ranging from 250Hz to 8,000Hz. The system then analyzes the user's responses and hearing sensitivity in each ear using advanced acoustic science. Upon completion, users receive a hearing score for each ear, a classification of their hearing ability, and an audiogram for assessment. Recommendations based on the results are also provided.
All test results are securely stored in the Apple Health app and can be shared with doctors or hearing specialists for further consultation. This feature is being rolled out to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Pro (3rd generation) users in India.
Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health and Fitness, emphasized Apple's commitment to empowering individuals with tools to manage their health. "At Apple, we believe technology should empower people to take control of their health, and that starts with giving users tools to detect conditions they may not even know they have," she stated. "From sleep apnea notifications on Apple Watch to a hearing test with AirPods Pro, we’re excited to bring these meaningful capabilities to our users in India."