The second-generation AirPods Pro have had hearing features for a while now. However, those tools are being expanded in iOS 18 to include hearing tests, hearing aids, and hearing protection, which will soon be available on the earbuds. Apple’s three-pronged approach to hearing now includes awareness, support, 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 all probably took as kids. The test where you sit in a booth and raise your hand when you hear a sound. The company is offering an alternative to booths, bulky equipment, and a trip to the doctor with AirPods Pro and an iPhone. In any quiet environment, earbuds and phones can now perform 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 into the AirPods Pro settings to find the section dedicated to hearing. First, the software will check to make sure the fit of your AirPods provides a good seal for the test and that your space is quiet enough for the technology to produce reliable results.
Once the hearing test begins, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) will be enabled and you’ll tap on your iPhone screen when you hear tones from both the left and right ear. Apple used 150,000 real-world audiograms and millions of simulations to develop a test that’s quick and easy. But most importantly, the company says, it’s created a test that’s accurate.
Once the test is complete, you’ll get the results instantly on your phone, telling you the level of hearing loss (if any) in each ear. If you have mild hearing loss but could perhaps benefit from help in certain frequencies, the software will suggest some changes to Media Assist settings for entertainment audio and calls.
If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, the hearing test may suggest you use the AirPods Pro hearing aid feature to improve daily life. I got a brief overview of the hearing test after the iPhone 16 event, and it seems quick and easy just as Apple describes it.
To be clear, I didn’t actually do a real test, but only a simulated version with simulated results, but every step of the process was accounted for in my brief session. Overall, you should be able to complete the hearing test in about five minutes.
The hearing test results will be stored in the Health app, allowing you to see changes over time. You can retake the test as many times as you like, with access to hearing health articles and the ability to download results just a tap away. I should also note that the hearing aid is designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. If the hearing test determines you have severe hearing loss, the software will recommend you visit an audiologist for further guidance.
The hearing aid is a software-based solution that amplifies certain frequencies so that certain sounds sound better on AirPods Pro.
It’s the first submission of its kind sent to the FDA, and is a tool that allows you to customize amplification, balance, and tone at any time in the settings. The feature should help people with mild to moderate hearing loss hear conversations and environmental sounds better, as well as improve what they hear in music, videos, and calls.
Both the hearing aid and hearing test should be available this fall as part of the iOS 18 update, pending FDA approval.