How Good Are the AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aids? We Tested Them to Find Out.

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How Good Are the AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aids? We Tested Them to Find Out.

Like all over-the-counter hearing aids, the AirPods Pro 2 are intended for people with only mild to moderate hearing loss. To assess this, Apple offers a hearing test that uses both the earbuds and the screen of your iOS device. The test is thoughtfully designed, aligning with much of the methodology utilized in a doctor’s office. You’re asked to tap the screen whenever you hear a tone, and the tones jump in pitch and play at irregular intervals to prevent you from guessing.

We had two staffers (including me) and one of our regular hearing-aid testers go through the AirPods Pro 2 hearing test, and all of us have previously had professional audiograms done. Apple’s results were close to those we received in an office—though Apple’s labeling of test results seems to leave a large margin for error. One panelist’s test showed a result of 0 to 5 decibels of loss, and another panelist’s was rated as 25 to 30 dB of loss—yet both were labeled as “mild to no” hearing loss. But only the higher-loss test result prompted the hearing-aid functionality in the AirPods; the lower-loss test result did not.

Two charts side-by-side showing the results of a hearing test through Apple.
Comparing two results from Apple’s hearing test: The chart at left shows little to no loss in both ears, while the chart at right shows moderate to severe loss.

We also measured the before and after frequency response of the AirPods Pro 2 (using the same specialized equipment we use to test noise-cancelling headphones), in order to see how the test results changed the earbuds’ sound. The amplification changes aligned properly with the hearing-test results. In other words, where the test noted a hearing deficit, we saw a corresponding relative increase in volume.

While the Apple-generated audiogram is a great start, an audiologist can perform many other tests that give a more-detailed picture of your hearing capabilities. In addition to the pure-tone tests (audiogram), there are the tuning-fork (bone-conduction) and the tympanometry (eardrum-health) tests, which help to pinpoint the cause of any hearing loss.

Additionally, the Apple system tests up to a frequency of 8 kilohertz only. If you’d like to check your hearing above that range, you’ll want to seek out a musician’s audiologist who can test up to 20 kHz. In other words, Apple’s system is like a visit to a walk-in clinic: If you need more-in-depth or specialized care, you’ll want to see an expert.

If you’ve already had a professional audiogram done, importing it into Apple’s system is possible but cumbersome. Our panelists became frustrated when attempting to input their audiologist-sourced results. Imported data transfers were incomplete or applied only to one ear. “The settings are spread out and have different ways to access them. Sometimes it’s through accessibility settings, other times through health,” one tester said. He finally was able to find a fix, but it took “several YouTube videos and about four hours.” Hopefully, these quirks can be smoothed out in future iOS firmware updates.

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