- AirPods 2 will soon test your hearing and create a custom profile.
- They will also work as personally customized hearing aids.
- The biggest problem is battery life, and non-replaceable batteries.
AirPods 2 will soon be able to test your hearing and correct it, all without leaving the house or talking to a doctor or audiologist.
Apple has been adding hearing-enhancement features to AirPods for a while now, but the latest update, coming in the near future—sometime after the iOS 18 launch—turns them into fully-fledged hearing aids for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. We spoke to experts to find out why this is a big deal and where it falls short.
“For people who might be hesitant to use traditional hearing aids, the familiarity and convenience of AirPods could indeed make a difference. Many individuals with mild hearing loss might not consider hearing aids due to stigma or the perceived inconvenience. AirPods, being a common and socially accepted device, could bridge this gap, encouraging more people to address their hearing issues without feeling self-conscious,” Maria Knöbel, a general practitioner for Pier Group Health and Releaf, told Lifewire via email.
Hear, Hear
AirPods already have Conversation Boost, which lets the wearer better focus on the person in talking front of them. We also have conversation awareness mode, which switches noise canceling to transparency mode when it detects speech, so you don’t have to take your AirPods out to talk to people. And AirPods Pro also has a neat feature where you use your iPhone’s Face ID camera to 3D scan your ear holes and create a custom sound profile for Spatial Audio.
Soon, though, your AirPods Pro 2 will be able to perform a clinical hearing test and create a pure-tone audiometry profile from the data. This alone is great, as it will tune the audio output to your hearing needs, making music and movies sound better. But users will also be able to engage a hearing aid mode, which will boost the parts of the sound around them in real time. You can also load in an audiogram from a professional audiologist test.
“Most audiologists these days use the hearing test that comes with the hearing aids anyway. The days of soundproof booths and audiometers are probably over for most,” fitness expert, app designer, and deaf iPhone user Graham Bower told Lifewire via DM. “In other words, this is nothing new for hearing aids. The only difference is, you’re allowed to do it yourself rather than being supervised by an audiologist.”
Downsides
There are several barriers to wearing hearing aids. One is that people might not know or want to admit to themselves that they have hearing loss. Being able to conduct a test yourself in a few minutes could make a big difference.
Another barrier is the stigma attached to hearing aids, whereas AirPods are super cool.
“[T]he popularity of AirPods could help diminish the stigma associated with wearing hearing aids. As more people use these devices for various purposes, including hearing enhancement, it normalizes the idea of using technology to aid hearing. This shift in perception can make it easier for individuals to seek help for their hearing loss without feeling embarrassed or singled out,” Knöbel said.
As younger generations age alongside the tech they take for granted, these issues may disappear as younger people have different expectations about what tech can do for them. And Apple’s entry into the over-the-counter hearing aid game may also boost the industry as a whole, which will end up being good for everyone. But still, AirPods will not replace hearing aids for those with severe or profound hearing loss.
“As a serious hearing aid replacement, its biggest problem is battery life,” says Bower. “Regular hearing aid can last a day on a single charge. AirPods last a few hours, which makes them effectively useless if you are dependent on them (which people with mild to moderate [hearing loss]are not),” Knöbel agrees.
“AirPods, despite their sophisticated technology, are mainly consumer electronics and lack the customization and adaptability required for comprehensive hearing support. They are excellent for casual users and those with mild hearing loss, but they do not offer the same level of precision and personalization that dedicated hearing aids provide,” she says.
Evenso, the idea that many people can greatly benefit from the gear they already own is fantastic, and while these aren’t proper hearing aids, that’s fine. After all, plenty of people don’t need an eye test or a complex prescription to buy drugstore reading glasses, and yet it can change their day-to-day lives. Overall, this looks like a big win.
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