UPDATE
12 December 2024
Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features available today with AirPods Pro 2
Starting today, the world’s first end-to-end hearing health experience with AirPods Pro 2 comes to users in the United Arab Emirates. This experience includes a scientifically validated Hearing Test, a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature, and Loud Sound Reduction.1,2 Apple has secured marketing authorization from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention for the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features.
“As an audiologist in the UAE, I am thrilled about the new Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features becoming available in our region. This advancement brings a significant opportunity for individuals with hearing impairments to access innovative technology that can enhance their quality of life,” said Dr. Lubaina Sharafally, American Hospital Dubai. “The convenience of conducting a hearing test through a user-friendly app and sharing the results with health professionals via a simple PDF can streamline the diagnostic process, enabling quicker interventions and tailored treatment plans. This integration of technology not only empowers individuals to take control of their hearing health, but also fosters collaboration between patients and healthcare providers, and will ultimately lead to improved outcomes and better communication strategies for the hearing impaired population in the UAE.”
Approximately 1.5 billion people around the world are living with hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. Research has identified links between untreated hearing loss and a person’s overall wellbeing, in addition to increased risk of social isolation and dementia.
The intuitive, clinical-grade Hearing Test feature allows users to take the test with their AirPods Pro and a compatible iPhone or iPad.
To bring awareness to users’ hearing health, Apple is introducing an intuitive Hearing Test based on the gold standard clinical approach called pure-tone audiometry that users can take themselves with their AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad. Users can take the test in about five minutes from the comfort of their own home. The Hearing Test feature leverages advanced acoustic science and provides users with a simple and convenient interactive experience. When a user completes the Hearing Test, they will see an easy-to-understand summary of their results, including a number representing their hearing level in each ear, a classification, and recommendations. The results, which also include an audiogram, are stored privately and securely in the Health app on iPhone or iPad, and can be shared with a healthcare provider to have more informed conversations.
To support users with mild to moderate hearing loss, AirPods Pro 2 add an innovative over-the-counter Hearing Aid capability. Using the personalized hearing profile from the Hearing Test, this new feature seamlessly transforms AirPods Pro into a clinical-grade hearing aid. After setup, the feature enables personalized dynamic adjustments so users have the sounds around them filled in and boosted in real time. This helps them better engage in conversations and keeps them connected to the people and environment around them. With the incredible audio quality of AirPods Pro 2, the user’s personalized hearing profile is automatically applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls across their devices, without needing to adjust any settings. Users can also set up the Hearing Aid feature with an audiogram created by a hearing health professional.
In order to help users minimize exposure to loud environmental noise while preserving the entire dynamic range of what they’re listening to, Loud Sound Reduction is available on AirPods Pro 2. The ear tips help to provide passive noise reduction, while the H2 chip helps to actively reduce louder noise at 48,000 times per second. On by default in Transparency and Adaptive Audio listening modes, Loud Sound Reduction can be helpful in a variety of loud settings. Plus, with an all-new multiband high dynamic range algorithm, sounds at live events like concerts remain even more natural and vibrant.
Both the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are grounded in science and were validated through rigorous scientific studies.
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- The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are available in more than 100 countries and regions. A complete list of regions is available at apple.com/ae/airpods-pro/feature-availability. The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features will be supported on AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware paired with a compatible iPhone or iPad with iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 and later, and are intended for people 18 years or older. The Hearing Aid feature is intended for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Loud Sound Reduction works with AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware when paired with a compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac running the latest operating system software.