Are Apple AirPods Also Hearing Aids? What You Need to Know About Apple's Revolutionary New Health Features

Apple AirPods 2 Get Clinical-Grade Hearing Aid Feature: What You Need to Know — Apple

Apple announced a handful of new products during its “It’s Glowtime” fall product reveal this week, including the iPhone 16 smartphone and Apple Watch 10But one of the biggest news from Apple’s event wasn’t a new product, but the new hearing aid feature that will be available on the company’s Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds this fall.

The free upgrade will come via a software update. This means that current Apple AirPods Pro 2 owners will be able to take advantage of the new hearing aid and hearing protection features without having to buy new earbuds. (The hearing aid feature, however, requires that you pair the AirPods Pro 2 with an Apple iPhone.)

Want to learn how Apple AirPods Pro 2 could help you or a family member with mild to moderate hearing loss? Read on – our CBS Essentials tech experts explain the details you need to know.

Can Apple AirPods Pro 2 really be used as hearing aids?

Apple is currently working with the FDA to release an update to the AirPods Pro 2 that will allow the earbuds to function as over-the-counter hearing aids and hearing protectors.

The experts are already call the new hearing aid function a game changer. While you could easily spend $500-$1,000 or more for over the counter hearing aids Among other brands, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 retail for just $249 (and can often be found on sale for under $200).

To take advantage of the upcoming hearing aid feature, you’ll need to pair your Apple AirPods Pro 2 with an Apple iPhone. From your iPhone, you can then take a clinical-grade, at-home hearing test that will determine your level of hearing loss, if any. Based on the results of your test, AirPods Pro 2 will automatically be configured to your level of hearing loss and can act as a hearing aid. hearing aids when worn in everyday situations.

Note: The hearing test provided by your iPhone is not a substitute for a hearing test performed by an audiologist or ENT specialist. You should first consult your own doctor if you suspect you have hearing loss.

When you use the earbuds to listen to music or take hands-free phone calls, AirPods Pro 2 automatically adapt to your hearing level. active noise cancelling headphones Headphones reduce ambient noise so you can enjoy clear, easy-to-understand sound in almost any situation. Headphones can also double as hearing protection, reducing extremely loud noises that can damage your hearing.

You can manually adjust amplification and tone at any time when you use AirPods Pro 2 as an over-the-counter hearing aid. You can also let iPhone and AirPods make adjustments automatically, without having to change the controls on iPhone or AirPods.

How to use the hearing aid feature of AirPods Pro 2?

First, you will need to download and install the latest version of iOS 18 on your iPhone which will have the home hearing test feature. It will also be necessary to update the firmware of your AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds. Both updates will be free.

Once installed, you will be able to activate the Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features that will be integrated into the AirPods.

To set up AirPods Pro 2 to work as hearing aids, you’ll need to take the hearing test on your iPhone. This can be done in just a few minutes. Once the test is complete, your iPhone will display your personalized hearing profile and guide you through the process of setting up AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids.

AirPods settings will be adjusted automatically to match your personal needs. All data from your hearing test is stored locally and privately in the Health app on iPhone. You can take the hearing test as often as you like. You can also share the results with your audiologist or doctor.

How much do AirPods Pro 2 cost?

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have a suggested retail price of $249, which is what you’ll pay for them at the Apple Store. However, popular retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, frequently have them on sale for $200 or less. That makes them a great cheap hearing aid option.

The hearing aid functionality will be added as a free software upgrade to Apple AirPods Pro 2.

What other health features has Apple added?

The new iPhone 16 smartphones and Apple Watch Series 10 smartwatches are packed with new and improved health, fitness and safety features. At the same time, Apple is updating the AirPods Pro 2 so that they can be used as over-the-counter hearing aids. A new feature, called Hearing Protection, will also be unlocked.

Once the firmware update is installed, every time you wear the earbuds, they monitor the ambient sounds around you at a rate of over 48,000 times per second. When AirPods pick up loud, potentially dangerous sounds—like a loud concert, sitting next to a screaming baby, mowing your lawn, or walking past a construction site—AirPods Pro 2 use their built-in technologies to automatically reduce the sounds to a safe volume. The sounds you want to hear will continue to be natural, clear, and vibrant.

AirPods Pro 2 feature pro-level noise cancellation, adaptive sound that personalizes the sounds you hear based on your surroundings, adaptive EQ, a conversation boost mode that helps you focus and hear voices when people are talking, and the ability to adjust the volume. Plus, if you like, you can play soothing sounds like ocean waves or rain to help mask unwanted environmental noise.

If you head to the Accessibility menu in your iPhone’s Settings, you’ll discover more ways to customize your phone and headphones to meet your unique needs.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 deliver premium sound for everyone

With these earbuds, you get features like adaptive audio, pro-level active noise cancellation, a transparency mode, conversation detection, and inline touch controls. Other notable features include voice isolation, personalized volume, adaptive EQ, and loud noise reduction. These AirPods are rated IP54 for dust, sweat, and water resistance, so you can wear them to the gym or during your workouts.

The pro-grade active noise cancellation feature does a very good job of drowning out (and often eliminating) ambient noise, even when you’re not listening to audio. When you’re listening to music or audio that supports it, ANC works in conjunction with spatial audio (with dynamic head tracking) to deliver lossless audio with ultra-low latency. As a result, the high-fidelity sound produced by these AirPods is much more immersive, robust, and lifelike than that offered by most other earbuds.

And with Adaptive Audio, Conversation Mode, and Transparency Mode, you can maintain situational awareness or converse with people in the real world when needed. The audio you’re listening to and ANC will automatically adapt, allowing you to have a conversation with someone nearby, while ANC always works in the background to reduce unwanted loud noises. At the same time, these headphones learn and adapt to your personal preferences as you use them in different environments. As a result, you’ll enjoy your personalized audio options without having to fiddle with the controls.

Another feature we really like that’s built into the AirPods Pro 2 is the touch controls that you can use by tapping or swiping your finger along the edge of an earbud. Of course, you also get seamless switching between Apple devices and access to Siri (and Apple’s latest AI feature that Siri brings). Plus, you have the ability to ask Siri to read incoming text messages or emails, or alert you to urgent app-specific notifications while you’re wearing these AirPods.

Pro tip:For help choosing the best Apple AirPods model for your needs and budget, check out our newly updated Apple AirPods Buying Guide 2024.

Will other Apple AirPods models have hearing aid functionality?

This hearing aid and hearing protection update will only affect all AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. Hearing aid and hearing protection functionality will not be available for AirPods 4AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation or AirPods Max earbuds.

Jason R. Rich

Jason R. Rich (www.JasonRich.com) is an internationally recognized consumer technology expert with over 30 years of writing experience. He is also an accomplished author and photographer. One of his most recent books, The Remote Worker’s Handbook: How to Effectively Work From Anywhere ($24.99, Entrepreneur Books), is now available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.