YOU can take a hearing test at home in five minutes with a pair of AirPods – and I’ve already had a go.
The new Apple AirPods feature went live yesterday, and is now available to millions of people around the world.
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Hearing tests are so important – but few too people take them.
Most Brits haven’t had their hearing checked recently according to the RNID national hearing loss charity – and the same is true for Americans, as per the American Speech-Language-Hearing Assocation.
It can be laziness, or fear, or stigma, or any combination of reasons that stop us from going to the doctor for a hearing test.
So Apple is trying to fix that by letting you take a “clinical-grade” hearing test with a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Millions of people already have these wireless earbuds, and it comes as a free upgrade.
It’s available right now and I’ve already given it a go.
Here’s how it went – and then I’ll explain how to try it yourself.
TRYING THE AIRPODS HEARING TEST
Apple announced the hearing test feature back in June at its WWDC event.
And ever since, I’ve been itching to give it a proper go.
Now it’s available to the public, and I was finally able to try it.
The instructions are easy enough: put in your AirPods, and tap when you hear the tones.
Some are easy to hear, and others are extremely quiet.
“Using pure‑tone audiometry built on advanced acoustic science, the test plays a series of tones that you respond to by tapping the screen,” Apple explains.
“Helpful animations, tap‑back effects, and progress indicators guide you through the experience, which takes about five minutes.
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“More than 150,000 real‑world audiograms and millions of simulations helped develop a Hearing Test that’s accurate, fast, and easy.”
What shocked me was exactly how quiet it has to be for you to even take the test.
I tried doing it at my desk and that was an instant no-go – even though the office was fairly quiet at the time.
Then I headed into a meeting room, and even that was too loud.
The test paused because someone walked past outside the room, and the footsteps proved too loud.
Then the room’s air conditioning kicked in, and the hum meant that the test was cancelled and I had to start over.
I finally found a room quiet enough to try it out, and completed the test in about four or five minutes.
So be warned: find somewhere extremely quiet or this test just won’t work.
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Anyway, I went through the test convinced it was all over for my hearing.
There were huge gaps where I couldn’t hear a single think.
I sat there thinking: this is what years of going to heavy metal concerts has done to me.
Yes, I was fully expecting to have absolutely awful hearing.
But it turns out that – to my total surprise – my hearing is generally just fine.
The result was: “Your test indicates little to no hearing loss.”
I’m able to check back on the test results at any time in the iPhone‘s Health app – and if they were bad, I could’ve taken them straight to a doctor.
The other good news is that the Apple AirPods Pro 2 can now also function as a “clinical-grade hearing aid” – and even off hearing protection.
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So you could wear them at a loud concert to dull some of those loud noises.
“Hearing health is a cornerstone of overall wellbeing,” said Rick Neitzel, University of Michigan School of Public Health’s professor of Environmental Health Sciences.
Professor Neitzel, who worked with Apple on its hearing research, added: “Protecting and preserving our hearing enhances our quality of life both in the short-term and long-term.
“I’m thrilled Apple is introducing important tools to support people’s hearing health.
I’VE TRIED IT – YOU SHOULD TOO
The Sun’s tech expert Sean Keach had a go with it…and you should too!
Apple unveiled its grand plans for hearing health at its WWDC event back in June.
And I had a chance to try out a demo version of the feature behind closed doors at Apple Park in California.
It didn’t give me proper hearing results, but I got to go through the test process to see how it worked.
I was amazed then – and I still am now that I’ve tried the real thing.
The health benefits that this will bring are hard to overstate.
Most people just don’t get regular hearing tests.
So the fact that you can easily get one at home – and for free – whenever you like is truly incredible.
This is going to be literally life-changing for people who wouldn’t have got a hearing test otherwise, and didn’t know they had hearing loss.
And the fact that you can then use the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid – which may help deal with issues of stigma – is even better.
Then if that wasn’t enough, the AirPods will also work to protect your hearing by reducing loud sounds.
This is technology at its best: making real differences to your help with products you already own for no extra cost.
The AirPods are moving from a fun and useful gadget to something that might genuinely change the course of your life. Bravo.
“These tools will help people protect their ears from noise pollution, be aware of changes in their hearing over time, and have important conversations with their healthcare providers when they need additional support.”
HOW TO DO AIRPODS HEARING TEST YOURSELF
Taking the test is easy enough – so you should definitely consider it.
First, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve got a device that can upgrade to the new iOS 18.1 update.
Millions of models are eligible, but very old iPhones will miss out.
iOS 18 devices – can your iPhone get it?
Here are the devices that can get the new iOS 18 update
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
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Check if you’ve got it by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Then you’ll also need a pair of second-generation Apple AirPods Pro earbuds.
Other earbuds models – and even the pricey AirPods Max – won’t support the feature.
That’s because the AirPods Pro have the right type of sealing and noise cancellation to allow the test to work.
Once you’re ready, pop the AirPods in then going into your Settings app.
Now tap on the AirPods section in Settings, scroll down, and choose the Take a Hearing Test option.
You’ll be guided through the process, and you’ll also get a chance to hear what the test will sound like.
Follow the instructions, make sure you’re somewhere quiet, and go ahead with the test.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
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Then you’ll be given hearing loss results at the very end, with some extra info about what it means for you.
If you’re worried about your hearing, you should speak to a doctor.
NHS: THE SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS
Here are official signs of hearing loss from the UK’s National Health Service…
- difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places
- asking people to repeat themselves
- listening to music or watching TV with the volume higher than other people need
- difficulty hearing on the phone
- finding it hard to keep up with a conversation
- feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening
