Hearing aids cost a lot of money, which is why some people don’t try or buy them. Now Apple’s mass-produced headphones promise to be able to do the same.
Modern hearing aids. The headphones of the Airpods Pro model got new features in the software update.
At Apple’s fall product launch event, a surprising announcement was made when Airpods Pro headphones were promised to also serve as hearing aids in the future.
Hearing aids cost hundreds, sometimes even thousands of euros. The batteries also have to be changed, which is tiring and requires dexterity.
Compared to this, the price of Apple’s headphones of a couple of hundred euros seems like quite a deal, if the feature only works as promised. The threshold for trying is also lower for those who would not like to admit that they need a “real” hearing aid.
With the latest IOS update, the feature finally came to Finland as well. In this article, we will tell you how to enable the feature.
Requirements: Airpods Pro 2 and IOS 18.1
To test the new hearing aid feature, your Airpods Pro must be the second generation that went on sale in 2023. The phone must be running the latest OS version 18.1.
Here’s how to get started
The first thing you should do is make sure that your AirPods have enough power. Once they have been successfully connected to your phone, the hearing aid feature itself can be activated.
After the headset is connected to the phone, point the phone in the settings towards Airpods headphones. In this menu, select Hearing aid.
At the same time, you should test your hearing with the hearing test offered by Apple. This test plays sounds from headphones to which the listener must respond according to the instructions. The test results are used to configure the hearing aid. The headphones can also use a curve according to the results of a professional hearing test.
If you want to use one made by a professional, choose Use the previous test resultand select the desired result from the drop-down menu. If the result has not yet been added to the menu, it can be done from Add the test resultand following the instructions that appear afterwards. After that, the test result is available In the Health app.
This is how the Hearing Test works
If you don’t have the results of a previously performed hearing test, your phone can do one for you.
The hearing test is started by selecting Test your hearing. Once you have selected the test, follow the instructions that appear on the screen. In the test, the screen is tapped every time you hear sound from either earpiece.
Both ears are tested separately, and finally the test results are shown in the form of a curve. The microbit tester’s hearing seems to be fine.
Hearing aid for use
Once the test result or predefined curve is enabled, you can also enable the hearing aid feature itself. This can be done by selecting from the same menu Turn on the hearing aid and Get started. Apple warns that it may take a while to get used to the hearing aid, as it will probably modify the sound heard in a new way for many users.
Apple also advises that you should not blindly trust the device. According to the manufacturer, you can get the best user experience by modifying the settings a little at a time. The settings are saved in the Airpods, so the hearing aid feature works even when your phone is not nearby.
Once the hearing profile is activated, it works naturally with any sound played by the phone. This way, for example, listening to music and audiobooks should also sound clearer, not to mention phone calls, of course.
Edit settings
When you select from your phone’s settings Airpods > Settingsyou can edit, for example, the confirmation level. Through this, you can change how much ambient sounds are amplified, the balance of the left and right headphones, the tone of the voice, and the amplification of the conversation. It can also help with hearing problems Environmental noise reductionwhich is adjusted in the settings with sliders. This feature removes unnecessary noise, but preserves, for example, speech.
The level of amplification can also be adjusted from the shortcut menu, by dragging your finger down from the upper right edge of the iPhone, or from the control center of the Apple Watch.
Congratulations, you can now use the hearing aid feature successfully!