[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Buds offer features that test hearing and amplify sound based on individual hearing levels.

SamsungElectronics announced on the 4th that the “Hearing Test” and “Hearing Aid” features to be included in the Galaxy Buds have received medical device approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

Both features are scheduled to be rolled out sequentially via software updates to the Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Buds3 Pro starting early next year.

The Hearing Test can be run from the Galaxy Buds menu in the smartphone’s settings. While wearing the Buds, the test measures hearing in each ear separately and determines the softest sound level that can be heard at each frequency to generate a hearing profile. It uses the pure-tone air-conduction audiometry method, which is the standard testing method.

Test results are categorized into seven levels: normal, mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and profound. Users can review their test results along with guidance on necessary follow-up actions.

Based on the test results, Hearing Care amplifies sounds that the user has difficulty hearing, tailoring the amplification to their individual audiogram. It is designed for users aged 18 and older who are suspected of having mild to moderate hearing loss, allowing them to adjust the sound to suit their hearing without the assistance of an audiologist.

The “NAL-NL2” hearing aid prescription formula, developed by the National Acoustic Laboratory of Australia, is used to calculate the individual amplification level. The feature also supports noise cancellation, front-sound focusing, and background noise suppression. Users can check their noise exposure levels and hearing test results in the Samsung Health app.

SamsungElectronics has been developing hearing support technology since introducing the personal sound amplification feature in the Galaxy Buds+ in 2020. In 2021, the feature underwent clinical validation confirming its effectiveness in facilitating everyday communication for users with hearing loss. The same feature also received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last July.

Park Heon-soo, Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, said, “With this approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, we have broadened access to hearing support by directly integrating the ‘Hearing Check’ and ‘Hearing Care’ features into the Galaxy Buds.” He added, “SamsungElectronics will continue to expand proactive and personalized health management experiences based on the connectivity of the Galaxy ecosystem and digital health technology.”