The second generation AirPods Pro has had hearing health properties for some time. However, these tools are expanded in iOS 18 Hearing Testing, Hearing Aids and Hearing Protection It will be available on headphones soon. Apple’s three-pronged approach to hearing health now includes education, assistance and prevention, but it all starts with a “clinically validated” hearing test you can do yourself.
Apple has created its own version of the hearing test we probably took as kids. The one where you raise your hand when you hear a sound while sitting in a booth. The company offers an alternative to the cubicle, bulky equipment and a trip to the doctor with AirPods Pro and iPhone. In any quiet environment, headphones and a phone can now offer a test similar to what you’d get in a doctor’s office. Here’s how it works.
From the Settings menu on your iPhone, you’ll tap AirPods Pro settings to find the Hearing Health section. First, the software will check to make sure that the fit of your AirPods provides a good seal for the test and that your location is quiet enough for the technology to provide reliable results. As soon as the Hearing Test starts, active noise cancellation (ANC) will be activated and you will tap your iPhone screen when you hear tones on both the left and right sides. Apple used 150,000 real audiograms and millions of simulations to develop a quick and easy test. But most importantly, the company says, it created the exact one.
Once the test is complete, you’ll get instant results on your phone that tell you the level of hearing loss (if any) in each ear. If you have minimal hearing loss but could benefit from assistance at certain frequencies, the app will recommend some adjustments to the Media Assist settings for entertainment audio and calls. If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, the Hearing Test may suggest using the AirPods Pro Hearing Aid feature to improve daily life.
I’ve got a brief overview of the Hearing Test below iPhone 16 eventand it looks as fast and easy as Apple describes. To be clear, I didn’t actually take the real test, just a simulated version with fake results, but my abbreviated session covered every step of the process. All told, you should be able to complete the Hearing Test in about five minutes.
Hearing Test results will be stored in the Health app, allowing you to see changes over time. With access to hearing health articles and one-click downloads of results, you can repeat the test as many times as you like. Also note that the Hearing Aid is designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. If the Hearing Test determines that you have severe hearing loss, the program will recommend that you see an audiologist for further guidance.
The hearing aid is a software-based solution that boosts certain frequencies, so certain sounds are amplified on the AirPods Pro. It is the first of its kind to be submitted to the FDA and is a tool that allows you to customize the gain, balance and tone at any time in the settings. This feature should help people with mild to moderate hearing loss better hear conversations and environmental sounds, while also improving what they hear in music, videos and calls.
Both the Hearing Aid and the Hearing Test will await FDA approval this fall. iOS 18 update.
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