The AirPods Pro 2nd generation have added a new health function. From now on you can test your hearing and detect early hearing loss using the AirPods. You can do this by simply performing a hearing test at home that has been approved by the FDA.
Millions of people are unaware that they live with hearing loss, and even more do not get tested. Thanks to the AirPods feature, it is faster, easier and more convenient than ever to get scientifically validated results after performing a hearing test.
Perform a hearing test with AirPods Pro
Do you want to perform a hearing test with the AirPods Pro? Then you must have the second generation and an iPhone with iOS 18.1 or newer. The AirPods must also have the latest firmware. Then follow the steps below.
- Connect your AirPods to your iPhone
- Go to ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘AirPods Pro’ [naam]’
- Go to ‘Hearing health’
- Choose ‘Take a hearing test’
- Follow the steps on the screen
Before your hearing is tested you will need to answer a number of questions such as confirming your age, whether you have an allergy or a cold or if you have been in a loud environment in the last 24 hours. You are then advised to take a seat in a quiet environment where there is hardly any background noise and you can concentrate well. Then you can start the test.
Test your hearing
Once you have completed all the preparatory steps, the test can begin. During the hearing test you will hear beeps that are played softer and at a different frequency. By tapping the screen you indicate that you have heard the tone. If you can hear them all, you don’t have hearing loss. Apple indicates that you need five minutes per ear.
Apple uses the Four-Frequency Pure Tone Average (4F-PTA) classification. This is the average of the hearing thresholds at four different frequencies (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz) measured during an audiometric examination. This test is also used by a hearing care professional to assess the severity of hearing loss.
Hearing test results
After you complete the test, you will immediately see the results. Apple also provides advice in addition to the results. If your hearing is good, you can read more information about the health of your hearing. If the results are not bad, Apple will provide advice to consult a doctor and additional information.
View test results afterwards
When testing your hearing, an audiogram is created that is saved in the Health app. You can consult this afterwards via the ‘Hearing’ category.
AirPods as hearing aids
If desired, you can use the AirPods Pro as a hearing aid based on the test results of your hearing test. Thanks to the optimization of the transparency mode, the AirPods Pro 2 are equipped with a hearing aid function. This is designed to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
The device uses a personalized hearing profile generated by the hearing test to make real-time adjustments. This allows sounds around the user to be amplified, keeping them connected to their surroundings.
Apple notes that this feature will not only be useful in conversations, but will also automatically improve the listening experience for media content, including music, movies and phone calls. Users can fine-tune their settings to meet their specific hearing needs.
Turn on hearing aid function
- Connect your AirPods to your iPhone
- Go to ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘AirPods Pro’ [naam]’
- Go to the ‘Hearing Assistance’ option
- Enable the option ‘Configure hearing aid’
You can only enable this function if you have completed the hearing test above and it appears that you have hearing loss. If the test shows that you have little to no hearing loss, the default audio settings will remain in effect.