An upcoming version of Apple AirPods will have a feature that lets users test their hearing and utilize adjustments custom-tailored to optimize sounds.
The company announced Monday that its AirPods Pro 2 will include built-in hearing aids that also work with a hearing test feature that works with an Apple phone or tablet. The tool is designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, but the company said it’s geared toward prevention as well.
The company expects that the hearing features will receive marketing authorization from global health authorities soon, and will be available this fall in more than 100 countries and regions, including the US, the company said.
Users can take a five-minute hearing test usingiPhones or iPads running iOS 18, and then their AirPods will automatically suggest “personalized dynamic adjustments” that will allow them to hear sounds that are boosted to prescribed levels in real time. Results will include audiograms that are stored in the Health app.
Then the hearing settings will be applied automatically to listening media.
“This helps [users] better engage in conversation, and keeps them connected to the people and environment around them,” Apple noted in a news release.
“Hearing health is a cornerstone of overall well-being. Protecting and preserving our hearing enhances our quality of life both in the short-term and long-term,” Rick Neitzel, PhD, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan and lead investigator of the study, also said in the statement. “These tools will help people protect their ears from noise pollution, be aware of changes in their hearing over time and have important conversations with their healthcare providers when they need additional support.”
“For decades, Apple has led the way in designing products for everyone and supporting users with a broad spectrum of hearing abilities,” Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, also said in the release. “These features on AirPods Pro will make an impact on so many people by driving more awareness around hearing health and empowering individuals with new customizable tools to help them stay connected.”
The company is adding more health tools, as they also announced new Apple Watch features that can detect sleep apnea. Those features are expected to launch this month, and were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
