Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid Feature Glow in Their Time 

On Monday, September 9th, at its Glowtime event, Apple announced the release of the AirPods Pro 2, featuring capabilities for hearing tests, hearing aids, and hearing protection. 

How Does AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid Work? 

This new feature of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 enables it to serve as an over-the-counter hearing aid for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, making hearing assistance more accessible. 

However, before using the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature, users must undergo Apple’s Hearing Test, which is based on pure-tone audiometry a clinical standard for measuring hearing loss. The test can be completed in just five minutes using the AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad. 

“This first-of-its-kind software-based Hearing Aid feature brings users the ability to fine-tune their experience at any time,” Apple said in its keynote Glowtime event, “making access to hearing assistance easier than ever at an approachable price point.” 

The outcomes of the hearing test related to the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature come with an audiogram and a graph showing the level of hearing loss in each ear along with a classification and recommendations tailored to the user. This information will be stored securely in the Health app and can be shared with healthcare providers. 

For users who already have an audiogram from a professional, Apple allows that data to be integrated into the hearing aid feature. 

Personalized Dynamic Adjustments  

Once the test is complete, users can set up their AirPods Pro 2 to work like hearing aids. In a press release about the latest health features, Apple stated that this feature will allow “personalised dynamic adjustments so users have the sounds around them boosted in real time,”  

With a new setting called Media Assist, the settings will automatically carry over into phone calls, music, movies, and games across devices connected. 

The iPhone maker also announced that the release date for the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature is expected in fall 2024, but it is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other global health authorities. 

To access these features, users will need a compatible iPhone or iPad running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or later. Apple also confirmed that the hearing aid feature and the hearing test will be available in over 100 countries, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan. 

Are Apple AirPods Pro 2 Worth it? 

Beyond the hearing aid features, Apple is also introducing new Hearing Protection settings to the AirPods Pro 2, which will be enabled by default across all listening modes and rely on the ear tips to provide passive noise reduction. 

The main question remains: does noise canceling protect hearing? The H2 chip, which powers the AirPods, actively reduces louder, more sudden noises up to 48,000 times per second, making the sound of live events, such as concerts, clear and natural with Apple’s new multiband high dynamic range algorithm. 

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