AirPods as Hearing Aids? Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s Major Health Update
Along with iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10, Apple announced at its annual fall event on Monday that AirPods Pro 2 will soon focus on hearing health as “the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience.” In addition to the addition of active hearing protection and a clinically validated hearing screening feature, AirPods Pro 2 will also double as an over-the-counter hearing aid.
According to Apple, the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid is the first software-based device of its kind that makes hearing assistance more accessible and easier to implement, all at an affordable price.
Here’s everything we know about the big health upgrade coming to the AirPods Pro 2.
First you take the hearing test
For users with mild to moderate hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 will add an over-the-counter hearing aid capability. But first, you’ll need to take Apple’s Hearing Test, a clinical hearing test based on pure-tone audiometry that takes about five minutes to complete using AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad.
People could already upload hearing tests to the Health app to hack their AirPods into hearing amplifiers. But Apple’s addition of its own validated test makes it more likely that people will use the hearing health features.
After completing the test, users are provided with a summary of their hearing test results, which includes an audiogram (a graph of hearing test results) and a number corresponding to hearing loss in each ear, along with a classification and recommendations. This data is stored securely in the Health app, where it can also be shared with your healthcare provider.
If you already have an audiogram from a hearing care professional, Apple says you can use that audiogram to program the hearing aid feature.
Next, set up your AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids
The results of the hearing test allow you to convert your AirPods Pro 2 into a hearing aid. According to Apple“Once installed, the feature enables personalized dynamic adjustments, allowing users to amplify the sounds around them in real time.”
The hearing test findings are also automatically applied to phone calls, music, movies and games across all of the user’s devices, without them having to adjust the settings themselves. This is known as the Media Assist feature.
When will the Apple hearing aid feature be available?
Both the hearing test and the addition of hearing aid air to the AirPods Pro 2 are scheduled for release in fall 2024, Apple said. It’s important to note that the hearing aid feature is still pending marketing authorization from the FDA and other global health authorities. We’ll update this article once a date is set.
Which devices does the Apple hearing aid work on?
The hearing aid and hearing test will be available on AirPods Pro 2 via a firmware update. It must be paired with a compatible iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 and later.
Apple also notes that some features may not be available in all regions or all languages. However, more than 100 countries and regions, including the US, Germany, and Japan, have access.
Who is the Apple hearing aid intended for?
Both functions are intended for people aged 18 and over. The hearing aid is specifically designed for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
Hearing aids are notoriously expensive, in part because many people don’t cover them through their insurance. When hearing aids became available over-the-counter and without a prescription in late 2022, many people praised the rule because it could help remove some of the barriers to getting hearing aids, including the high cost and perceived stigma of wearing them. However, the adoption of hearing aids still pales in comparison to the number of people who need them.
The fact that people can use their AirPods as hearing aids, instead of buying a whole new device, can help break down barriers in everyday communication for the It is estimated that 1.5 billion people worldwide have hearing lossmost of which have milder symptoms.
What is Apple Hearing Protection?
In other hearing health news, Apple is adding hearing protection to AirPods Pro 2 as standard in all listening modes. This feature sees the earbuds deliver passive noise cancellation, with the H2 chip actively reducing louder, more sporadic noise 48,000 times per second.
Thanks to the brand-new multiband high dynamic range algorithm, sounds from live events like concerts sound natural and clear on AirPods Pro 2.
Hearing protection will also be available in the US and Canada starting in fall 2024 with AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac running the latest operating system.
More from the Apple event
Hearing health is a health issue that Apple is committed to. In addition to heart health and reproductive health, Apple has conducted its own hearing health research to inform its product development and educate the public about the potential impacts of loud technology and daily life.
Check this out: Apple AirPods Pro 2 can test your hearing
