Mon–Sat: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM  •  RCI-Certified Audiologists [📞 +91-9811418578](tel:9811418578) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/FairfieldClinicDelhi/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fairfieldhearingclinics/) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@FairfieldHearingClinic) [Home](/)  /  [Blog](/blogs)  /  [Types & Technology](/blogs/types-technology) Types & Technology 17 Aug 2026 · 5 min read # Your Earbuds Are Becoming Hearing Aids: Samsung, Apple & India Written by [Shahabuddin Khan](/team/shahabuddin-khan), Director · Hearing Care Professional · Medically reviewed by [Dr. Nayeem Ahmad Siddiqui](/team/dr-nayeem-ahmad-siddiqui) · Updated 17 Aug 2026 ## Key takeaways. ●       Samsung's Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature is FDA-cleared and rolls out from late 2026 to Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Buds4 Pro, for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss [1][2]. ●       It includes a roughly 5-minute clinical-grade hearing test that makes an audiogram, and uses NAL-NL2, a standard professional fitting formula [1]. ●       Apple's AirPods Pro received the first such FDA authorization in 2024; the US created the over-the-counter (OTC) hearing-aid category in 2022 [3]. ●       This could cut stigma and widen access - a big deal in India, where about 63 million people have hearing loss but there is roughly one audiologist per 500,000 people [5]. But earbuds help only mild-to-moderate loss, are not a medical diagnosis, and do not replace professional care — which India needs more, not less [3][5]. 1.  The moment earbuds grew earsFor a hundred years, a hearing aid was a special medical device you bought from a specialist. That wall is now cracking. In 2022, the United States created a new class of “over-the-counter” (OTC) hearing aids that adults could buy without a prescription for mild-to-moderate hearing loss [3]. In 2024, Apple became the first to put an FDA-authorized hearing-aid feature inside a mainstream consumer earbud - the AirPods Pro [3]. And now Samsung has followed, with its Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature cleared by the FDA and set to roll out from late 2026 on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Buds4 Pro [1][2]. Two of the biggest technology companies on earth are now, officially, in the hearing business. When giants move together, it usually signals the start of something big. 2.  What is actually inside (in simple words)Behind the headlines, the technology is surprisingly serious. Three things make it work: ●       **A 5-minute hearing test.** The earbuds play soft tones at different pitches into each ear and build a chart of your hearing, called an audiogram - the same kind of test used in a clinic [1]. ●       **A professional fitting formula (NAL-NL2).** This is the clever part. NAL-NL2 is a well-known “recipe”, created by hearing scientists, that decides exactly how much to boost each pitch so speech is clear but never uncomfortably loud. Audiologists use it every day for expensive prescription hearing aids - and now the earbuds use it too [1]. ●       **Smart sound cleaning.** The feature also adds noise reduction and “beamforming” (also called directional focus), which helps the earbuds lean towards the voice in front of you and quieten the background [1]. In short: an everyday earbud can now test your hearing and shape sound using real clinical science - not just a “volume boost”. 3.  Why this is genuinely new: the invisible hearing aidHere is the fresh idea that makes this story matter. For decades, the biggest barrier to better hearing was not technology - it was shame. Millions of people avoid hearing aids because they fear looking “old” or “disabled”. Now imagine a world where the hearing aid **hides in plain sight**. When a college student, an office worker and a grandparent all wear the same Galaxy Buds or AirPods, no one can tell who is streaming music and who is quietly hearing life more clearly. The hearing aid does not disappear by getting smaller - it disappears by becoming **normal**. That single change could bring millions to their very first hearing check. 4.  The India lens: 63 million ears, too few doctorsThis is where the story becomes especially important for India. India carries one of the largest hearing-loss burdens in the world, yet has some of the fewest specialists to help. **By the numbers — India** ●       ~63 million Indians live with significant hearing loss - roughly 6% of the population [5]. ●       Only about 1 audiologist per 500,000 people - while the WHO suggests about 1 per 25,000 [5]. ●       Rural and small-town areas are the most underserved, so diagnosis is often delayed for years [5]. ●       Despite the need, very few older Indians who struggle to hear actually use a hearing aid [5].In a country this large and this short of specialists, a familiar earbud that can screen hearing and help with mild loss is not a small thing. It could act as a first doorway - nudging someone in a town with no audiologist to realise, “I do have a problem,” and to seek help sooner. Combined with lower cost and less stigma, that doorway could be powerful. 5.  The catch: what earbuds still cannot doExcitement must be balanced with honesty. As audiologists, we see the limits clearly: ●       **Only for mild-to-moderate loss.** Earbud hearing features are not designed for stronger (moderately-severe, severe or profound) hearing loss - which is common in India, especially in older adults [3]. ●       **A screen, not a diagnosis.** The 5-minute test is helpful, but it cannot find medical causes such as ear wax, infection, or a hole in the eardrum. Some hearing loss is a warning sign of something treatable - or serious. ●       **Not all-day medical devices.** Battery life is limited, and earbuds are not built for continuous, all-day wear the way prescription hearing aids are. ●       **Not for children,** and availability depends on the country. These features roll out market by market and need local approvals - so their status in India may differ and can change over time [1][3]. 6.  Why audiologists matter more, not lessIt may seem that “DIY” earbuds make hearing experts less important. The truth is the opposite. When millions start screening their own hearing, far more people will discover a problem - and they will need trained humans to guide what comes next: to confirm the diagnosis, to remove wax or treat infection, to program devices for complex or stronger losses, and to fine-tune and support over time. Think of the earbud as a smoke alarm. It is wonderful at raising the alert - but you still want a firefighter for the fire. The technology widens the door; the audiologist makes sure people walk safely through it. 7.  A glimpse of the futureThis is likely just the beginning. The line between “earbuds”, “hearables” and “hearing aids” is fading. New standards such as Auracast can broadcast clear audio directly into ears at airports, temples and stations, and artificial intelligence keeps improving how devices separate speech from noise. Soon, checking your hearing may feel as ordinary as checking your steps or heart rate on a smartwatch - a quiet, regular habit rather than a scary, one-time event. 8.  What this means for you●       **Treat earbud hearing features as a helpful first step - **a way to notice a problem, not to finalise your care. ●       **Still get a proper hearing test** from a qualified professional, especially if your difficulty is more than mild, is in one ear, came on suddenly, or comes with pain, discharge or ringing. ●       **For real, everyday hearing - **particularly for older adults or stronger losses - properly fitted hearing aids remain the right choice. ●       **Welcome the change, but stay wise.** The technology is exciting and hopeful; your ears still deserve expert human care. 9.  ConclusionWhen two of the world's biggest tech companies quietly turn earbuds into hearing aids, it is more than a product update - it is a shift in how the world may care for its ears. For India, with tens of millions waiting in silence, the promise is real: less stigma, wider access, and an easy first step toward better hearing. But technology is the doorway, not the destination. Use it to notice, then let a trained professional help you hear life fully - clearly, safely, and for years to come. **Curious what your ears are really telling you?** Book a free, professional hearing test with our RCI-certified audiologists - the trusted next step after any earbud screen. **Call +91-9811418578  •  www.fairfieldhearing.in  •  New Friends Colony, New Delhi** **Disclaimer (Medical, Legal & Trademark)** This article is provided by Fairfield Hearing Clinics for general education and awareness only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, a prescription, or a recommendation to buy or use any particular product, brand or device. Product features, regulatory clearances, eligibility rules and country availability described here can change at any time and differ by region. The information was believed to be broadly correct at the time of writing, based on public announcements, but you should always confirm the current details from official sources. A hearing test taken on earbuds or a phone is a screening check only and is not a medical diagnosis. Please do not rely on this article to diagnose or treat any condition, or to delay seeking care. For advice about your hearing or the right solution for you, consult a qualified, registered audiologist or an ENT physician who can examine you in person. If you have ear pain, discharge, sudden hearing loss, or hearing loss in one ear, seek prompt professional care. Trademark note: “Samsung”, “Galaxy Buds”, “Apple”, “AirPods” and other names are trademarks of their respective owners. Fairfield Hearing Clinics is not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or sponsored by Samsung, Apple, or any other company mentioned. All product names and third-party sources are used only for identification, news commentary and educational purposes.References & Credits*All information above has been summarised in our own words for easy reading. Full credit belongs to the original authors and publishers listed below. Readers are encouraged to consult the original sources for the latest details.* **[1] **Samsung Newsroom / Samsung Mobile Press. “Samsung's Hearing Aid Feature on Galaxy Buds Cleared by FDA.” - hearing test, NAL-NL2, noise reduction, beamforming; Galaxy Buds3 Pro & Buds4 Pro. [https://news.samsung.com/global/samsungs-hearing-aid-feature-on-galaxy-buds-cleared-by-fda](https://news.samsung.com/global/samsungs-hearing-aid-feature-on-galaxy-buds-cleared-by-fda) **[2] **HearingTracker / MobiHealthNews — reporting on Samsung Galaxy Buds FDA-cleared OTC hearing-aid feature and Q4 2026 rollout. [https://www.hearingtracker.com/news/samsung-galaxy-buds-gain-fda-cleared-otc-hearing-aid-feature](https://www.hearingtracker.com/news/samsung-galaxy-buds-gain-fda-cleared-otc-hearing-aid-feature) **[3] **U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - 2022 OTC Hearing Aid Rule, and 2024 authorization of the first OTC hearing-aid software on a consumer audio product (Apple AirPods Pro). [https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-first-over-counter-hearing-aid-software](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-first-over-counter-hearing-aid-software) **[4] **World Health Organization — Deafness and hearing loss (global context and definition of disabling hearing loss). [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss) **[5] **Prevalence of hearing loss in India (The National Medical Journal of India) and related Indian reviews - ~63 million affected; audiologist shortage (about 1 per 500,000 vs WHO's 1 per 25,000). [https://nmji.in/prevalence-of-hearing-loss-in-india/](https://nmji.in/prevalence-of-hearing-loss-in-india/) ### Not sure which hearing aid is right for you? Get a free hearing test and an honest, expert recommendation — with a no-obligation trial. [Book Your Free Test](/book-a-test) Frequently asked questions Can Samsung Galaxy Buds really work as hearing aids? + Yes. Samsung's Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature is FDA-cleared and will roll out from late 2026 on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Buds4 Pro, for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss - with clear limits [1][2]. What is NAL-NL2? + NAL-NL2 is a widely used professional formula that decides how much a hearing aid should boost each pitch so speech is clear at a comfortable loudness. Audiologists use it for prescription hearing aids, and Samsung's feature uses it too [1]. Are earbud hearing aids as good as prescription hearing aids? + They can help mild-to-moderate loss, but they are not a full replacement. They have limited power, no professional fitting or aftercare, shorter wear time, and are not for stronger losses [3][5]. Is this available in India? + These features roll out country by country and need local approvals, so availability in India may differ and can change. Please check the manufacturer for the current status. A professional hearing test is always available locally. Does the earbud hearing test replace a clinic test? + No. It is a useful screening check, not a medical diagnosis. Some hearing loss has medical causes - such as wax or infection - that only a professional can find and treat. Who should still see an audiologist? + Anyone with more than mild-to-moderate loss, one-sided or sudden loss, ear pain or discharge, and children or older adults with real hearing difficulty. #### Shahabuddin Khan Director · Hearing Care Professional [View profile →](/team/shahabuddin-khan) Related articles Hearing Loss & Conditions ### [Are Your Earphones Damaging Your Hearing? A Simple Guide to Safe Listening](/blogs/hearing-loss/are-earphones-damaging-my-hearing) Can everyday earphones really harm your ears? Yes - if they are used too loud for too long. Loud sound can permanently d... 17 Aug 2026 · 5 min read Hearing Loss & Conditions ### [Can AirPods Be Used as Hearing Aids? What Apple's Hearing Aid Feature Can and Cannot Do](/blogs/hearing-loss/can-airpods-be-used-as-hearing-aids) Can AirPods be used as hearing aids? Yes — but only in a limited way. In 2024, the United States Food and Drug Administr... 08 Aug 2026 · 5 min read ## Have a hearing question? Book a free, no-obligation hearing test with our RCI-certified audiologists. [Book Your Free Test](/book-a-test) [📞 Call +91-9811418578](tel:+919811418578)