Improve your hearing with the AirPods Pro 2 and iOS 18

For many, Apple’s AirPods are just another pair of earbuds: a convenient way to listen to music, podcasts, or videos. But thanks to the latest software improvements, the AirPods Pro 2 have taken a big leap forward in what they can do—especially when it comes to hearing health.

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Beyond noise cancellation

AirPods Pro 2 have always been known for their noise cancellation, which is great for tuning out everything from airplane engines to vacuum cleaners. Recent updates introduced new features like Adaptive Mode, which adjusts seamlessly between Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode based on your surroundings. It’s perfect for noisy city streets or quiet coffee shops where you want to hear what's around you but you just want to block the unimportant noise.

Another helpful feature is Loud Sound Reduction, which protects your ears in loud environments like concerts or bars, ensuring you can enjoy the show or have a conversation without discomfort. They are like earplugs that don't muddy the sound. Personalized Volume tailors media playback to match your environment, and Conversation Awareness automatically lowers your media volume and reduces background noise when you start speaking.

But the most groundbreaking feature arrived with iOS 18.1: Hearing Health. This includes a clinically validated hearing test and a hearing aid feature that compensates for mild to moderate hearing loss—all built into the AirPods Pro 2.

Take Apple’s hearing test

Many people don’t realize they have hearing loss until it becomes a significant issue. Apple’s new hearing test helps identify potential problems early. To get started, ensure your AirPods Pro are paired with your iPhone, you’ve avoided loud noise exposure for at least 24 hours, and you are in a quiet place.

1. Prepare for the test: Open your AirPods Pro case or put them in your ears. Then, go to the Settings app and select your AirPods Pro from the menu that appears. Tap "Take a Hearing Test" to begin.
2. Fit matters: The test begins with a fit check to ensure your ear tips are snug and effective at blocking outside noise. AirPods Pro come with four sizes of silicone tips; use the fit test to find the most comfortable and effective option.
3. The test itself: Listen for a sequence of tones and tap the screen each time you hear them. The tones will get quieter as the test progresses, so don’t worry if you miss some—the system gives you multiple chances.
4. Review your results: At the end, you’ll see a chart with your hearing levels. Scores under 20 decibels (dBHL) indicate normal hearing. Levels between 20 and 40 suggest mild hearing loss, while 41 to 55 indicate moderate loss. If your results show more severe loss or you have ongoing issues, it’s a good idea to consult an audiologist.

Enable hearing assistance

If the test reveals mild to moderate hearing loss, you can turn on the AirPods Pro’s Hearing Aid feature. This adjusts audio to improve clarity based on your test results.

• Activate Hearing Aid: You can enable this feature at the end of the hearing test or later by going to Settings > AirPods Pro > Hearing Assistance.
• Fine-tune settings: Under Hearing Aid, you’ll find sliders for amplification, balance, tone, and ambient noise reduction. These adjustments allow you to customize the experience for your specific needs.
• Enhance conversations: Conversation Boost focuses on voices directly in front of you, making face-to-face chats clearer.
• Media Assist: This feature improves audio quality for music, videos, and phone calls using your hearing test results. You can toggle it separately for Music/Video and Calls/FaceTime.

Protect and enhance your hearing

The AirPods Pro 2 aren’t just about assisting hearing—they also protect it. With Loud Sound Protection enabled in Transparency and Adaptive Modes, you can enjoy concerts or other noisy environments while reducing the chance of damage to your ears. Additionally, their advanced noise-canceling capabilities can help you concentrate in noisy workspaces or relax during travel.

Are AirPods Pro 2 right for you?

While the AirPods Pro 2’s hearing health features are impressive, they might not be for everyone. If you prefer earbuds without silicone ear tips, the standard AirPods 4 offer some noise cancellation, but they lack these new hearing and protection features. For those with mild to moderate hearing loss, however, the AirPods Pro 2 offer a groundbreaking combination of hearing assistance, protection, and enhancement that’s hard to beat.

Whether you’re exploring these features for the first time or just looking to get more out of your AirPods Pro, Apple’s updates make it easier than ever to improve and protect your hearing.

(Featured image by iStock.com/Julija Matuka)