Apple Users In Malaysia Can Now Test For Hearing Loss & Sleep Apnea With Their Devices
All you need is an iPhone, an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, and the AirPods Pro 2.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 26 Mar 2025, 04:43 PM
Apple has released a slew of cutting-edge health features for iPhone users in Malaysia, specifically aimed at addressing hearing loss and sleep apnea
To get started, all you need is an iPhone with the latest iOS18, an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, and the AirPods Pro 2.
Depending on the device you use, you'll be able to access and track the newly added health features via the Health app on your paired iPhone.
These features employ a combination of advanced sensors, machine learning, and user-friendly software to accurately determine hearing loss and sleep apnea. Previously, they were only available in the US.
Starting today, 26 March 2025, Malaysian Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 owners will be able to enjoy the same privileges.
First up, sleep apnea — a common yet underdiagnosed condition affecting 10% of the global adult population.
With 80% of sleep apnea cases undiagnosed, Apple intends to address the health issue through its Breathing Disturbances metric
Sleep apnea disrupts breathing during sleep, leading to potential long-term health risks such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Through Apple’s new Breathing Disturbances metric, Apple Watch users can detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.
The feature works by analysing subtle wrist movements that indicate irregular breathing patterns during sleep. If these disturbances persist over 30 days, the user receives a notification suggesting they consult a healthcare provider.
The Health app also offers a detailed breakdown of nightly disturbances and allows users to export a three-month report for their doctor.
The feature is available to owners of Apple Watch Series 9 or later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 who have turned on the Track Sleep feature.
Next, hearing loss — another major public health issue affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people globally, which Apple intends to solve through a slew of hearing health features for the AirPods Pro 2
With this update, the AirPods Pro 2 is transformed into a comprehensive hearing health tool, covering prevention, awareness, and assistance.
Daily exposure to loud environments — whether from commuting, concerts, or household chores — can damage hearing over time. So, the new Loud Sound Reduction feature in the AirPods Pro 2 helps minimise this risk. It actively reduces excessive noise in real-time while maintaining the clarity of live audio, ensuring users can still enjoy music or conversations without unnecessary strain.
While Apple’s Hearing Test allows users to check their hearing health in just five minutes through a series of high and low beeps, the Hearing Aid mode turns the AirPods Pro 2 into an over-the-counter hearing aid for users with mild to moderate hearing loss
The test results of the Hearing Test are displayed as an easy-to-read audiogram, which can be securely stored in the Health app and shared with a doctor if needed.
Hearing Aid mode, on the other hand, is a software-based solution that personalises real-time audio adjustments based on the user’s hearing profile.
Unlike traditional hearing aids, it integrates seamlessly with music, phone calls, and everyday sounds, providing a natural listening experience without the need for external devices. It also integrates seamlessly across all synced Apple devices that you own.
Apple's physician-researchers Dr Matt Bianchi and Dr Rajiv Kumar — who were involved in the sleep and hearing health features respectively — said the features were designed for Apple users to obtain actionable and reliable information based on science with privacy at its core
Bianchi said the Breathing Disturbances feature, for instance, was developed using clinical-grade sleep studies and validated through one of the largest-ever sleep apnea research trials in the world.
"The end result was an algorithm that can reliably flag potential cases, offering users an early warning system for a condition that often goes unnoticed," Bianchi said to SAYS in a virtual interview.
The new feature he said is addition to the existing features that track each sleep stage — REM, Core, and Deep.
"The Sleep Apnea notifications are an effort to keep pushing into improving people's sleep, especially at a proportion of people who don't know that they have sleep apnea which is a very treatable condition," Bianchi explained.
Speaking to SAYS, Apple’s physician-researcher Dr Rajiv Kumar said the brand’s approach to hearing health is backed by research from the Apple Hearing Study
In 2019, Apple conducted a collaboration with the University of Michigan School of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand factors that can affect hearing health.
A total of 160,000 adult participants from the US took part in the study; the research team found that 75% of people diagnosed with hearing loss don't receive the support they need.
"Since 2019, there's been a lot more public health information about the capabilities of living with hearing loss, and a more recent study shows it's actually the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia," Dr Rajiv told SAYS.
He added that the new features are designed around three pillars: hearing loss prevention, awareness, and assistance.
"By offering an accessible and affordable hearing aid alternative, Apple aims to bridge this gap," he added.
