Apples' AirPods as the next health device

Northridge, CA - Apple has reportedly announced last week they are exploring different ways to use their wireless earbuds, AirPods, as a health device that could potentially be used as hearing aids.

Stock Photo. Man wearing AirPods, Apple's wireless earbuds that are panned by many as a pricey accessory rather than a bluetooth device.

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be more ways that your smart device would be more intertwined in your daily life, it is now becoming an extension of our body.

Apple is currently studying the potential of Airpods, their very own wireless earbuds, as the next health device. The earbuds could potentially have the new features of a thermometer, knowing your posture and the ability to be used as hearing aids.

AirPods Pro, Apple’s newest and higher-end earbuds, offers a feature to improve hearing. The latest feature is called “conversation boost,” this launched a little over a week ago.

The feature increases the volume and conversation clarity of any person or people in front of the wearer and makes it easier to hear in a face-to-face conversation.

While the success of this feature is yet to be seen, many of the proposed features reveal how the company is actively working on the next big health push starting with their AirPods.

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Using the device as a hearing aid has grabbed many people’s interest in how exactly will Apple execute their vision and how will those that have hearing impairments or hard of hearing will be able to use the device.

Photo Creds: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Offering AirPods as hearing aids could significantly expand sales. Millions of people suffer from hearing loss, including many whose impairment is less severeand choose not to treat it, experts from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association say.

AirPods may not yet be suited for some that have impairments or are hard of hearing because they don’t have all-day battery life.

AirPods can’t be marketed as hearing aids today because of federal regulations that date back decades to when many hearing aids were unsafe or ineffective. Those restrictions require the devices to be sold through licensed hearing specialists who tune the hearing aids specifically to the wearer.

The proposed AirPods features for health purposes don't have a release date on when they offer it to the public and won't be for anytime soon, but are currently in the works.

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Leslie Valle explains what exactly are AirPods.

By, Leslie Valle

Contributions from The Wall Street Journal, ASHA

Audio, Leslie Valle

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U.S. airlines damages wheelchairs more than you'd think

NORTHRIDGE, CA - Air Travel Consumer report finds 834 wheelchairs were damaged by U.S. airlines in July 2021.

Photo Creds: John Morris/WheelchairTravel.org.

In July 2021 Air Travel Consumer report found that 834 wheelchairs were damaged by U.S. airlines, this makes an average of 28 wheelchairs damaged a day. These wheelchairs are owned and used by people that need them to live their day to day lives and without them their mobility is taken away.

These incidents were reported as “mishandled” transported items from the US airlines according to the consumer report.

Very few airlines have policies for the carrying of wheelchairs and ADA does not require airlines to let passengers fly in their personal wheelchairs. It was not up until December 2018 that airlines were not required to report lost or stolen damaged wheelchairs or any other durable medical equipment.

This changed when Illinois Senator and double amputee, Tammy Duckworth, added a policy Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act requiring airlines to report wheelchair breaks or other medical devices.

"Wheelchairs should be treated like a human limb because they're my legs," says Sen. Duckworth in a video call with Inside News.

The report also requires the inclusion of wheelchairs or scooters to be lost, stolen or delayed in the process of being checked and stored.

Creds: Transportation.gov ---- Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: Ranking Of U.S. Reporting Marketing Carriers

Currently, most passengers who need wheelchair service are transferred from their personal wheelchair to a narrow designed airline wheelchair. Their own customized wheelchair is then checked or stored in a cabin.

Wheelchairs for everyday use are very expensive and can cost on average between $1,000-$2,000.

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Matt Wetherbee, wheelchair owner said, “[the airline] didn’t load [my wheelchair] to the cargo because they said there was too much other luggage.”

The report also shows a modification for the most feasible location for a personal wheelchair would be toward the front of the aircraft near the boarding door, this gives an adequate space for the need to maneuver down the aisle.

This modification however can be costly to the airline company, the aircraft would have to remove two rows at the front of the plane. These rows are dedicated to business or first class which are some of the airlines top customers.

Removing rows can also cost the premium capacity of the plane. Changes would cost about $1 million a year the airline companies.

By, Leslie Valle

Contributions from The Washington Post, Business Insider and Transportation.gov

Audio by Leslie Valle

EDUCATE YOURSELF

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How Congress' $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill can save the lives of many

NORTHRIDGE, CA - The newest Infrastructure bill contains a plan on how to replace the nations water systems leading to lesser health risks for many Americans.

Pipeline Stock Photo

The party had been struggling for months to find a middle ground that worked hand in hand with President Bidens' agenda, but those efforts were repeatedly shut down which delayed the legislation passing the bill.

The legislation will deliver 550 billion dollars of new federal investments in America's infrastructure over five years, including money for roads, bridges, mass transit, rails, airports, ports and waterways. The package will invest tens of billions of dollars to improve the water systems.

This now represents the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history which also includes dedicated funding to replace lead service lines and the dangerous chemicals found within them.

Aged and contaminated pipelines pose a big threat to the nations water systems and the U.S. health, especially those in marginalized communities.

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Aging water infrastructures need constant attention and investment to ensure full safety, but this can be pricey especially when a neighborhood doesn’t cover much of the costs.

As a result low-income communities of color can see much spottier replacement rates in their neighborhoods due to lack of money to be able to replace the pipes. The smallest amounts of of lead exposure to one is so severe, even lowest levels can cause irreversible neurological damage.

Photo Creds: World Health Organization

“We need to make sure all residents, without regard to how much money they make or the color of their skin, benefit from these rules designed to protect people and protect public health.” said Tom Neltner, chemicals policy director with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Currently, up to 10 million American households and 400,000 schools along with child care centers lack safe drinking water and it is unimaginable what damage has already been done.

Disadvantaged communities that need it most will be able to benefit from this plan as it will no longer exclude them from having lack of financial assistance.

The infrastructure bill’s $15 billion could put a dent in disadvantaged communities' pipe issue, but it’s unlikely to be enough to fix the nation’s lead problem on its own. It is still our own responsibility to keep our city accountable on the lead exposure in our communities.

AUDIO

Leslie Valle explains how the infrastructure bill will help the nations pipeline issue.

By, Leslie Valle

Contributions from Grist, CNN

Audio, Leslie Valle

EDUCATE YOURSELF

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