Opinion

Simon Jones: Listen up

Cast your minds back to the autumn of last year (Over the counter culture, September 13, 2024), where, in this very column, I talked about the hearing aid functionality included in the newly launched Apple AirPods Pro 2 and what it could mean for the audiology crossover within optometry.  

I didn’t think it would only be four months before we were talking about it again, but new government guidance on the sale of hearing aids has expedited the conversation somewhat.  

First things first, this isn’t all about Apple. Far from it. But Apple captures the imagination in a way that few other brands do. Even Wes Streeting was referencing AirPods while talking about the new guidance, in a similar way to how he conflates high street optometry with certain multiples. There are plenty of manufacturers of earphones waiting to capitalise on the changes in this, with Sennheiser at the front of the queue. It’s owned by audiology device producer Sonova Holding AG, after all.  

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