**Franklin Leonard on Navigating Hearing Loss, Accessible Technology, and the Promise of AirPods as Hearing Aids**

Franklin Leonard utilizes all his senses to thrive in his diverse career. As a prominent film producer, contributing editor at *Vanity Fair*, and founder and CEO of the Black List—an annual publication that highlights Hollywood’s top unproduced screenplays, many of which later become successful films—Leonard is consistently engaged in reading, writing, watching movies, and conducting interviews. However, his busy life faced a significant challenge two years ago when an illness led to a loss of half the hearing in his left ear. This made following conversations and understanding movie dialogue quite difficult, affecting both his personal and professional experiences.

“It has been frustrating, but more importantly, it has highlighted how inadequate disability policies are in this country,” Leonard remarked on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this month. He noted that contemplating hearing aids was met with financial hurdles, stating, “Even the most affordable quality ones are priced in the thousands, and health insurance does not cover them even if there is a documented need,” he mentioned.

Recently, Leonard’s parents surprised him with a pair of FDA-cleared AirPods featuring hearing aid functions, which he referred to as a “game-changer” on X. While he celebrated the innovation, he also criticized the limited skin-tone color choices available for the device. Mashable reached out to Leonard to find out how these AirPods have altered his life and what additional improvements he anticipates in accessible technology.

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### **Mashable: How did the hearing-enabled AirPods come into your life, and what transformations have they facilitated?**

**Leonard:** In short, I encountered an advertisement for them. The audio representation of hearing loss in the ad resonated closely with my experience in my left ear. I casually mentioned them to my mother, who had been inquiring about my Christmas wishes. As expected, she made it happen, and the AirPods were delivered to my home last Friday.

I tested them that evening, but since I was home with my wife, it wasn’t a comprehensive evaluation. The following day, I brought them to several Christmas gatherings, and to my astonishment, I found it easy to engage in conversations. I rarely needed to ask people to repeat themselves, which was a great relief.

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### **As technology becomes increasingly accessible to individuals with sensory disabilities, do you think tech companies should prioritize the creation of products for those who may feel self-conscious about their limitations? For instance, should AirPods be designed to be less conspicuous or should Meta smart glasses resemble conventional eyewear more closely?**

Per the CDC, roughly 1 in 4 Americans reports experiencing a disability. Crafting products with these people in mind isn’t just ethically sound—it’s also a shrewd business move. My proposal for flesh-colored AirPods was not merely about expanding options for individuals of color; it sought to provide more choices for all users. No one’s skin tone matches that of a standard Apple AirPod, and while I get that the unmistakable white design is integral to Apple’s brand image (and aids in locating them if lost), it would be beneficial to have alternatives.

Making AirPods less visible could allow individuals to wear them socially with greater ease as their main hearing support. Right now, it’s very apparent when they are in use. Personally, I have no qualms about wearing them—I don’t feel ashamed in needing a little extra help to listen more clearly. Additionally, I believe no one with a disability should feel embarrassed about utilizing any needed assistance.

In some ways, I aim to normalize the visible need for support, which was part of the intention of my post. However, I also acknowledge that my perspective comes from a place of privilege. Many individuals encounter much larger obstacles than I do.

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### **Technology often faces criticism over issues like social media misinformation, screen addiction, and AI posing job threats. However, advancements like the AirPod hearing aids highlight the more positive aspects of technology. How do you balance the pros and cons?**

The evolution of technology has consistently been a double-edged sword. The industrial revolution increased efficiency but also led to labor exploitation. Nuclear weapons caused devastation, yet they also provided us with nuclear energy. The same principle applies to contemporary technologies like social media and AI—they aren’t intrinsically good or bad. It’s the actions of those who govern and control these technologies that shape their consequences.

At present, I’m not very hopeful about the ethical direction of those overseeing these tools, though I remain open to positive surprises. For now, I’ll concentrate on the concrete advantages, such as how these AirPods have simplified my life, while still advocating for more considerate and inclusive tech product design.

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Franklin Leonard’s journey