Apple’s AirPods are arguably one of my favourite pieces of tech – or they are certainly the piece of tech I use more than anything else (phone and laptop not included). They are in my ears for hours every single day – every call, every dog walk, every online meeting. Sometimes I even put the AirPods Pro 2 in to drown out ambient noise and treat myself to a little quiet, even if I don’t play anything through them.
All AirPods models have a number of features, from one-tap setup to automatic switching between Apple devices, whether that’s the AirPods Pro 2 or the AirPods 4 with ANC. But AirPods Pro 2 specifically, take the feature set one step further and for those in the UK who suffer from hearing loss, there’s big news.
What’s new for AirPods Pro 2?
When Apple launched the iPhone 16 models and Apple Watch Series 10 in September 2024, it announced that it was introducing a Hearing Test and Hearing Aid feature to the AirPods Pro 2. The Hearing Test feature has been available for a while, but the Hearing Aid feature was restricted to a couple of countries and until now, the UK wasn’t one of them.
As of 24 February, Apple has announced UK users now have access to the clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature through a free software update.
IMAGE CREDIT: APPLE
How does the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 work?
It’s claimed that mild to moderate hearing loss affects millions in the UK and the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 is designed to help. Those who own a pair of AirPods Pro 2 can take a Hearing Test, which takes all of around 5 minutes. I’ve done it, it’s simple to do and easy to follow.
A personalised hearing profile is then generated from the Hearing Test, and once setup, the AirPods Pro 2 can then become a hearing aid, making personalised dynamic adjustments to boost the sound around a user in real time.
The Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 is software-based, said to be the first of its kind, and it applies the hearing profile automatically to music, movies, games, and phone calls when you are wearing AirPods Pro 2. You can also fine-tune the Hearing Aid feature and Apple recommends you do this to get the best experience.
I haven’t tried it myself yet, though my Hearing Test result said I have no hearing loss. My mother however, does, so the Hearing Aid feature is something I will be asking her to try out this week.
IMAGE CREDIT: APPLE
How to setup AirPods Pro 2 as a Hearing Aid
In order to use the AirPods Pro 2 as a Hearing Aid, you will need to ensure they are running the latest firmware, and your iPhone or iPad is running the latest software. It’s also worth making sure your AirPods Pro 2 are fully charged because unlike traditional hearing aids, AirPods Pro 2 will need recharging. Once your AirPods are charged, in your ears and connected to your paired iPhone or iPad, follow the steps below listed on Apple’s Support page to set the AirPods Pro 2 up as a Hearing Aid:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on your AirPods.
- Tap Hearing Assistance.
- Tap ‘Take a Hearing Test’ if you haven’t previously done it.
- If you already took the Hearing Test (or you want to use audiogram results from your doctor), tap ‘Use a Prior Test Result’.
- To use a previous hearing test result to set up your AirPods Pro 2 for your specific hearing needs, tap a result from the list, then tap ‘Next’.
- If you want to use an audiogram from your hearing health professional and haven’t added it yet, tap ‘Add a Hearing Test Result’, then follow the instructions. After adding these test result, you can access them in the Health app.
- Tap ‘Set Up Hearing Aid’.
- Tap ‘Get Started’.
- Tap ‘Next’.
- Tap ‘Turn On Hearing Aid’.
- Depending on your test results, you might be prompted to turn on Media Assist instead of Hearing Aid. You can read more about that on Apple’s Support page.
It’s worth noting that Hearing Aid settings are stored on your AirPods, so if your paired device is not nearby, Hearing Aid will keep working using the most recent settings.
IMAGE CREDIT: APPLE
When is the hearing aid feature available on AirPods Pro 2?
Apple already announced availability of the Hearing Aid feature in a number of countries, including the US, but until 24 February 2025, the feature wasn’t available to users in the UK.
As of 24 February 2025, UK users that have the Apple AirPods Pro 2 can access the Hearing Aid feature, which arrived as a software update. Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi .
You can also use your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to check that your AirPods have the latest version.
