Apple announced a hearing aids functionality for the AirPods Pro 2 in June 2024, the most recent big move for accessibility in the industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration quickly approved the feature, paving the way for an over-the-counter hearing aids option.

The FCC has adopted a new rule which will require all smartphones to be hearing aid-compatible, no matter what brand.

The FCC on Wednesday announced new requirements for the iPhone and all other smartphones to offer compatibility with all Bluetooth hearing aids, including Apple's AirPods Pro 2.

Now that hearing aids are available over-the-counter, the FCC takes accessibility a step further with requirements for Bluetooth and volume control.

The new rules will go into effect after a transition period, and also require that phones meet volume-control benchmarks.

On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers to make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050,

The FCC has approved a new rule requiring 100% of all mobile handsets sold in the US to be compatible with hearing aids.

The FCC has approved regulations that mandate phone manufacturers to ensure their products work with hearing aids. Making phones compatible with hearing aids could help the aging American population.