Apple AirPodsPro Now Act As OTC Hearing Aids

October 24, 2024 — If you think you might have a hearing problem (or more likely, if a family member says you do), you should get your hearing tested. Now that some models are available over the counter, hearing aids are becoming more affordable. One easy way to test your hearing and get an inexpensive hearing device is coming later this month from Apple. The AirPods 2 will provide an over-the-counter hearing aid for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, once a free software update slated for October 28 is installed.

The AirPods 2 are among the latest versions of Apple’s popular earbuds. Not only do they work great (your editor loves his) for listening to books, music, podcasts, phone calls, etc., but later this month, they will also function as hearing aids.

After the software update on your AirPods is complete you have the option to turn them into an inexpensive hearing device. In a quiet room the AirPods will give you a hearing test, which will determine whether you have no hearing loss, or if the loss is mild, moderate, severe, or profound. If you need assistance, the AirPods will set you up for it.

A reporter at tech site, Techradar, recently put the AirPods Pro 2 system to a test. He obtained prototypes which he used on himself and his father. While the journalist’s test showed he had no hearing loss, his father’s was moderate. Dad had no experience with earbuds before, but he immediately loved his experience with the AirPods Pro. He heard sounds and people’s voices better, found music more enjoyable, and once connected to his TV, he heard that much better, too.

Some assistance already available

A New York Times reporter recently did some testing with AirPods before the hearing aid feature was available. In “Hate Noisy Dining: Stick These in Your Ear“, Pete Wells purposely asked for a noisy table at a popular NY restaurant. He wanted to see if some of the AirPod’s existing features would improve his chances of hearing what his dinner companions were saying. The bottom line: he could hear them better than without the earbuds. However, in his opinion, the difference was not enough to justify buying them solely for that feature (although they have many other great reasons for purchase). He suggested waiting for the software update that provides better hearing assistance. To try the pre-update version yourself, go to AirPods within Bluetooth, click on Transparency mode, then go to Accessibility under Settings, and look for “Audio & Visual.” Once there (and this is quite a hunt), navigate to Headphone Accommodations/Transparency Mode, and finally, you will find Ambient Noise Reduction and Conversation Boost. Turn them on to the max. Whew!

Downsides

While the ease of testing and lower expense (Airpod Pros retail for about $249, but available at Amazon for $199), is appealing, there are some downsides. For one, they are not suitable for severe or profound hearing loss. For another, they are much more noticeable than most modern hearing aids. However, most of us have become accustomed to seeing people around us with AirPods dangling from their ears as they go about their daily lives. But to get them to work, you have to have them in your ears. No one is going to want to have them there for all their waking hours.

Confused about what model of AirPods you might have?

We knew we had the AirPods Pro, but wasn’t sure if we have the Pro 1, Pro 2, or higher. This link will help you determine which model you have. Turns out we have the Pro 2!

Bottom line:
We can’t wait for the software update, hearing test, and implementation—because our hearing isn’t what it used to be. In the meantime, we updated the pods to try the Conversation Boost and Ambient Noise Reduction mode. We’ll let you know how it goes.

Comments? Have you bought or are you considering buying hearing aids. How about over the counter versions. Please share your experience.