Apple announced that its most premium earbuds would double as an over-the-counter hearing aid, courtesy of a software update, pending approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA on Thursday announced that it has granted what it calls “the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device, Hearing Aid Feature.”

The FDA on Thursday authorized a piece of software called Hearing Aid Feature (HAF) that will allow Apple AirPods Pro 2 ear buds and other compatible Apple AirPods Pro devices to function as hearing aids when paired with an iOS 18-compatible iPhone or iPad.

Apple says that the AirPods Pro 2, its latest flagship wireless earbuds, can be used as “clinical-grade” hearing aids. The feature hasn’t been FDA-cleared, however, although the company says that it expects approval “soon.” The new AirPods were announced at the Apple “It’s Glowtime” event.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Apple’s “Hearing Aid Feature” software, which can amplify sound for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The software, which will be available in the coming weeks, works with AirPods Pro 2 earbuds that are paired via Bluetooth with a compatible iPhone or iPad.