March 08, 2025, 06:08 PM
ZSMICHAELWe Tried Apple’s New Hearing Test—
Key Points
What's This?
Apple's new hearing test and hearing aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 can detect hearing loss and amplify sound, potentially benefiting millions with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Anand believes Apple’s test will give people a rough sense of their hearing. “I’m excited that there’s another screening tool, and I’m curious to see how it performs,” she said.
The AirPods Hearing Protection feature, which reduces loud environmental noise, could have the biggest impact, Anand said. Loud concerts, jackhammers and other noise are significant threats to hearing, she said. More younger people are having hearing troubles.
In the wild
Yauman immediately heard a difference. For a real-world test, we headed to a trendy restaurant. She marveled at how “incredibly clear” the AirPods sounded. She noted the thwap from her son’s flip-flops, the clang of dishes and the thumping background music.
She was a bit overwhelmed by the restaurant’s cacophony. She turned down ambient noise in settings, which helped. It was still noisy, but Yauman could hear those of us talking around the table clearly.
“It’s a complete test of hearing,” said Anand, adding that the exam is designed to tell you where in your ear the hearing loss is—and what’s causing it. An at-home test can’t determine either. Earwax buildup, for instance, could be cleared easily by a professional. Other hearing loss could indicate a tumor or other serious condition, she said.
After about five minutes, Yauman got her results: mild hearing loss. The software offered the option to set up the AirPods as hearing aids, and warned her that it can take a few weeks to get used to the new sound. (You can also upload an audiogram from your doctor to tune the Hearing Aid feature.)
The iPhone’s results were similar to Yauman’s assessment from her doctor. Payal Anand, director of audiology at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, said both charts showed “mild sloping to severe hearing loss,” especially for higher frequencies.
Daniel Stern, father of my fellow columnist Joanna Stern, also took Apple’s test. It found he could hear people speaking but said other sounds may be a challenge. It suggested using Media Assist, found in AirPods settings, which adds clarity to calls, videos and music.
The at-home hearing test is convenient and provides results similar to professional audiologists, but it has limitations and cannot diagnose underlying causes of hearing loss.
While the AirPods hearing aids offer clear sound and noise reduction, they may not be suitable for everyone due to battery life, handling difficulties, and social stigma associated with wearing earbuds in public.
Beth Yauman thought her car’s turn signals had stopped making sounds years ago. They worked—she just couldn’t hear them. With AirPods Pro now in her ears, the clicking is back.
I got early access to Apple’s AAPL 1.59%increase; green up pointing triangle new clinical-grade hearing test and hearing-aid capability for AirPods Pro 2. Since I don’t have hearing issues, I also got a pair for Yauman, who has mild hearing loss.
Apple will release the features next week through a free software update. They require the $249 second-generation AirPods Pro and an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPad OS 18.1.
The test can tell anyone if they should worry about hearing loss, and another feature can block loud noises. The software is a potential game-changer for millions of people who live with mild to moderate hearing loss, especially the people who already own a pair of AirPods Pro.
Only a quarter of the people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Prescription models typically cost thousands of dollars, and some people have to wait weeks or even months to see an audiologist to determine eligibility. Over-the-counter aids were supposed to solve that problem, but the most affordable options are being returned at high rates due in part to lack of adequate customer service.
An existing pair of earbuds and a test you can take from your couch could address those issues—if you can figure out how to use them.
At-home hearing exam
Yauman, 74 years old, said her hearing began declining in her early 50s.
While watching TV, she would often have to press rewind to understand a scene.
“It was most annoying for my kids. They got tired of me saying, ‘What?’” said the Rossmoor, Calif., resident. After a stroke made it worse, she visited an audiologist. She is now waiting for her first prescription pair to arrive. The cost? $1,650.
I visited Yauman at her home to try Apple’s $249 version, which doesn’t require a prescription. First, she needed to take the hearing test in a quiet room.
After connecting the AirPods Pro to an iPhone, an AirPods menu appeared in the Settings app. That’s where Apple’s new features—called Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection—live. She tapped “Take a Hearing Test.” She confirmed she’s an adult, hasn’t been sick and hasn’t recently been in a loud environment, all of which can affect results. (Neither the test nor the Hearing Aid feature are suitable for children.)
The software played several tones at different volumes and frequencies. Yauman tapped the screen when she heard the tones.
Apple’s hearing test produces results in a conventional audiogram format that can be exported as a PDF to share with your doctor.
After about five minutes, Yauman got her results: mild hearing loss.
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https://www.wsj.com/tech/perso...d=series_ptnicnguyenMarch 09, 2025, 04:47 PM
dry-flyI just bought a pair of AirPod pro 2’s solely for this. I have significant hearing loss in my right ear from a ND. Yes, it can happen to the best of us.
They are due here this week. I was going to wait for the AirPod pro 3 but they won’t be out until much later this year.
March 09, 2025, 08:09 PM
corsairquote:
Originally posted by mrvmax:
I tried those but my issue I shearing when in places with a lot of background noise so they did not work for me.
I am currently trying to get my hearing aids dialed in with my local audiologist and it has been a chore.
From what I've heard from others, this is the biggest short-coming with these.
Given how rapidly tech churns-out new generations of product, I imagine improvements are just around the corner.
March 09, 2025, 09:04 PM
mike_jackminI have these, and mild/moderate hearing loss, and I am happy with them.
The noise-cancellation mode is astonishing. I can sit ten feet from my ancient dishwasher while it's running, and not hear a thing.
The software is fussier than it needs to be, and you want to take care that you get a good fit with the buds themselves. Aftermarket ear pads are available if the provided set does not work for you.
March 10, 2025, 02:08 PM
BigWhupMy AirPods Pro first edition, not a 2, appears to accommodate the test as well. I went thru the test just now.
I have used them on my 93 year old Mom, and she can't hear shit, but at half volume with these in her ears, and the phone acting as a microphone she can hear every thing you say.
My wife is next up for the test.
March 10, 2025, 02:21 PM
BigSwedeI got hearing aids from Costco, dog got hold of one of them and the only part I found was the little part that actually goes in your ear
I bought the Audien hearing aids because of the advertisements. I guess I assumed that when they arrived there would be an app that would give me a hearing test. Nope, I know, dumb on my part for assuming. The have four different hearing settings and five volume levels. All trash. I couldn't hear people speaking to me close by but I could hear a mouse fart from 200 yards away
I don't have an Apple phone but my wife does. Could I do this with the Airpods using her phone?
I did hear about this a few months ago on the news
March 10, 2025, 02:37 PM
sjtillI have hearing aids, Widex Moment RIC; and I never use them. Despite Widex supposedly having the most musical sound and no delay, they're a hassle to use. Eventually I'll need to start.
Using AirPods Pro 2, adjusted for my official audiogram, sounds much more natural to me. And they're easier to put in; and since lots of people go around with them in their ears all the time you look nerdy but not dorky, if you follow me.
Listening to music, especially classical, is very important to me; and so far the AirPods do a better job of that than even good hearing aids.
March 10, 2025, 02:54 PM
BigWhupquote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
Originally posted by BigWhup:
quote:
... Could I do this with the Airpods using her phone?
The AirPodsPro original version work in conjunction with the iPhone and the phone needs to be near the AirPods to work. So, Yes if your wife's phone is nearby.
Odd that my Air Pods Pro don't allow the test at least how the online instructions come up you should find the test in the Health app under Hearing but it's not there.
How did you get it to come up.
Well it just came up automatically on mine, but my wife's slightly older version of AirPodsPro does not come up automatically on her phone, so maybe there is an improvement made later that was not on the early version of AirPod Pro. Don't know.
Mine said the results would be in the health app but I haven't found that just yet. You do see the test results after taking the test. And yes, in the health app I do see "take a hearing Test" on my airPod Pro
but on my wife's AirPod Pro, that option does not show up.
