Can Apple Airpod Pros 2 Really Work as Effectively as Hearing Aids?

You read my original post in 2024 right? Here's the link to it incase you missed it: Apple Airpod Pros 2 as hearing aids. In short, I said you 'technically' can't use the Apple Airpod Pro 2 as hearing aids, for a gambit of reasons listed in the piece.

However (*cautionary however) times, they are a changing, and if you are based in the USA well, the answer to the above questions is yes.

Yes, you can use your Apple Airpod Pros 2 with some basic hearing aid features (IF you are based in the USA) **current and applicable as at Jan 2025

You're all ears now right? You read it correctly, if you are in the USA you can now access hearing assistive features from your iPhone and Apple Airpod Pro 2s, and here is why.

In 2017, when Trump had his initial run at Presidency, he enacted the Over the Counter Hearing Aid (OTC HA) Act. Fast forward to 2024 and American's saw the fruits of this act grow out. This means that due to a recent software update in the USA, American consumers who own the Apple products (iPhone and Airpod Pro 2s) can access features that boost speech clarity (called conversational boost). You can see the features in Apple include: Amplification, balance and tone. I note Apple uses the language of hearing assistance on their webpage, for this is exactly what the accessibility features provide, hearing assistance.

If you did not know, Apple has a plethora of accessibility features in their product. You can check some out here: Apple hearing features.

GIF shows Apple Airpods being put into ears.

This is a great win for American's and soon to be 'others' (others meaning Australia, NZ et al rest of the world). People who have mild-moderate hearing loss (Apple's words) may benefit from this technology. You can also do an air conduction based hearing test to get your air conduction thresholds. This is not the same as a diagnostic audiological assessment, however it does serve a nifty purpose.

The purpose (of the hearing screening) is to understand and know where your hearing levels, acuity or profile is at. 

Firstly, it brings air conduction hearing screenings to those who have Apple products (not the masses as the masses own Android phones).

Secondly, it brings a new brand into the hearing and audiological awareness space, and if you know me or you've dug around and read up on me and my services, I take a pretty firm stance on proactive and preventative healthcare, and obviously this transcends to hearing health care.

Addressing your (hearing) health issue(s) sooner leads to better long-term outcomes.

Thirdly, it makes things more accessible and convenient. I believe education and knowledge are powerful and if more people are accessing these tools and services from a place like Apple, well I can only imagine how it will impact the people using it.

Infact, I've been having the conversation on 'other' hearing technologies for a few years now, I reflect from the last 5 years and some poignant questions on my discussions and recommendation for hearing aids from clients have been:

Are you sure I need hearing aids?

Can I last a little longer without hearing aids?

Is my hearing that bad I need hearing aids?

Do I need two hearing aids?

There are other options to Apple Airpod Pros 2 of course, and these include HP Pro OTC Hearing aids, Jabra Enhance Pro and a few less well known brands on the market.

My point is, Apple has the brand recognition and the consumer base to really change the conversation on hearing health and bring it to the forefront of people's mind. This is what I am seeing in clinic in the last week! Which I really enjoy. I enjoy hearing people's story, listening to their needs and then helping them find a suitable solution to improve their quality of life. I am an optimistic realist, and if Apple Airpod Pro 2 as hearing aids could work for your hearing needs, then why wouldn't we give them a go?

A few cautionary considerations:

Are you missing a medical condition when relying solely on Apple?

Are the Apple Airpod Pros providing enough amplification, taking into account your real ear measurements (REM)?

The air conduction screening is helpful, however it should not replace seeing a professional. Our job is to ensure we do a thorough job, and a diagnostic audiological assessment means we look at the whole ear and hearing healthy system to ensure nothing is missed and we listen to you and your needs.

Have you considered the following:

Do you have occluding cerumen (ear wax)?

Do you have an outer/middle or inner ear infection?

Do you have a difference / asymmetry between your ears (is one ear better then the other?

Do you have other symptoms (tinnitus, unsteadiness, dizziness, vertigo, aural fullness or blocked ears, discharge or smelly ears or all the above)?

This GIF does not reflect real life.

I like to think Apple is offering a nice appetizer or introduction into the world of Healthcare, especially hearing health and I like that they've done a thorough and considered job in developing the testing, the features and addressing a large need. Did you know that the World Health Organisation estimates an increase in hearing loss for those aged 12-35 years (Yikes, that's a lot, fact check me here: WHO and here WHO article 2 and ask your teenager or young adult in your life about their ability to listen to speech in noise).

Remember, acquiring noise induced hearing loss (which means getting a hearing loss as a result of activities, for example using your headphones for a long time at a loud volume, being constantly exposed to damaging noise, if you are a hairdresser, a dentist, a carpenter, a boilermaker, a carpenter etc) is preventable!!

In summary, to all my Aussie reading pals, we can expect a software update later this year from Apple which will allow Apple product owners the chance to access the hearing assistance features.

Before you go out and buy Apple products to help with your hearing issues, consider the following:

What type of hearing or hearing loss do you have?

Is there a medical intervention that may treat or change your hearing loss?

Do you want you want situational or all day wear when it comes to hearing assistance?

If you need more information, book an appointment to see me.

Take care of your hearing,

Kat Penno

Principal Audiologist and Chief Cerumen Remover!

#PerthAudiologist #PerthAudiology #earwaxremoval #microsuctionPerth #hearingaids #hearingloss #AppleAirpodPros #realearmeasurement