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November 2, 2024
Written by
Blake Cadwell
Reviewed by
Amy Sarow, AuD, CCC-A
Dr. Amy Sarow is a practicing clinical audiologist and serves as Audiology Lead for Soundly. Her expertise and experience span topics including tinnitus, cochlear implants, hearing aid technology, and hearing testing. She holds a doctoral degree in audiology from the University of Iowa. During her residency at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Sarow was inspired by the three-tiered, patient-centered approach, incorporating clinical work, teaching and research.
With OS 18.1, you can now turn your AirPods Pro into a pair of OTC hearing aids. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.
- Overview
- Basics
- Step-by-step
- Sound Notes
👋 Looking for an OTChearing for all-day wear? We recommend Sennheiser All Day Clear or Sony CRE-C20.
Key Takeaways:
- AirPods won’t fully replace hearing aids, but for those with mild loss or who need a boost situationally, Apple's new feature is fantastic and easy to use
- To unlock Apple's onboard OTChearing aid you will first need to update your iPhone or iPad to OS 18.1 (or later)
- Not all AirPods are compatible with the new feature. You will need AirPods Pro 2 (linked here)
- Use your iPhone (running OS 18.1 or newer) to take a personalized hearing test. The results are then applied to your AirPods Pro 2, allowing you to use them as a hearing aid. Full process below.
Let's Start With Some Background
Apple sells north of 100M pairs of AirPods every year. Early Apple fans will remember the good old days of free low-tech corded headphones that came with every iPhone. In 2016 Apple unveiled AirPods, which quickly became a technology staple in coffee shops, airplanes, and Zoom calls.
Apple first introduced hearing-enhancement features with transparency mode on the AirPods Pro in 2019, refining the feature further with the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022.
Yet, until now, they hadn’t quite crossed the line into true hearing aid functionality. The FDA's decision to make hearing aids available over the counter in October 2022 was a key catalyst.
Rather than create a dedicated hearing aid device like Sony or Sennheiser, Apple has embedded this functionality into its existing hardware through the first FDA-cleared over-the-counter software.
As a hearing aid user, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the chance to test this new feature, and now the time has finally come. In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through the setup, share my initial impressions of sound quality, and explore where AirPods fit into the growing OTC hearing aid market."
Getting Set Up
To follow the tutorial steps below you will need a pair of AirPods Pro 2 devices (find them here).
You’ll need to update your iPhone or iPad to OS 18.1 or later. Follow these steps to update:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update.
Your device will display the current OS version. If an update is available, tap Update to install.
Step-By-Step Guide
With your setup out of the way, it's time to turn your AirPods pro into a pair of OTChearing aids.
Step 1: Connect Your AirPods if Needed
If this is your first time using your AirPods Pro 2, follow the setup instructions to pair them to your iPhone or iPad.
Step 2: Open Your Settings App
Tap on your AirPods (they should appear at the top of the list), then select Take a Hearing Test.
.jpeg "How To Use AirPods As Hearing Aids (With Screenshots) (11)")
Step 3. Proceed Through The Onboard Test
The test will first analyze your surroundings to ensure minimal background noise. Next, it will play a tone to check that your AirPods are snug in your ears.
Once everything is set, Apple's onboard test takes about five minutes, assessing each ear individually. Simply listen for the beeps in each ear and tap the screen each time you hear a sound. Your phone will automatically switch to Do Not Disturb during the test—a nice touch!
Once the test is complete Apple will upload the results to Apple Health where you can see a history of all the tests you have taken.
Step 3 (Alt): Upload Your Professional Audiogram
If you have a hearing test from an audiologist, either in print or as a PDF, you can upload those results directly into Apple Health. Apple uses your device’s camera to scan the printout and convert it into a compatible hearing test for use with AirPods.
To update your hearing results:
- Tap Update Hearing Results.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Add Hearing Test Result.
- Choose Scan with Camera (recommended), or manually enter your hearing test values if preferred.
.jpeg "How To Use AirPods As Hearing Aids (With Screenshots) (15)")
Step 4: Customize Your Sound
Your AirPods Pro 2 hearing aids are now customized to your hearing. To fine-tune your sound settings further, tap on Adjustments. Here, you can:
- Increase hearing aid volume
- Adjust the balance between the right and left ears
- Modify the tone from darker (more bass) to brighter (more treble)
- Reduce ambient noise levels
Additional features include Conversation Boost (which activates directional microphones for clearer speech) and Swipe Controls (enabling volume adjustments with a simple swipe on the device).
.jpeg "How To Use AirPods As Hearing Aids (With Screenshots) (16)")
You can also access these settings by tapping the ear icon in your Control Center and selecting Hearing Assistance. In this section, you can manage how your personalized audio applies to different media. Media Assist enables your hearing settings for streamed music, calls, and video by default, but you can toggle this off if needed.
.jpeg "How To Use AirPods As Hearing Aids (With Screenshots) (17)")
Prefer to watch?
Is Apple's Built-In Hearing Aid a True Substitute for Traditional Hearing Aids?
Maybe, but likely not for everyone. AirPods Pro come with some clear limitations as full-fledged hearing aids.
- The first is form factor and comfort. While I can wear my AirPods for a few hours while working or running, they don’t match the all-day comfort of standard hearing aids, which are lighter and designed to be unobtrusive.
- The second consideration is social dynamics. On a recent trip, I used my AirPods in transparency mode and noticed people often glanced at my ears, wondering if I was speaking to them or on a call. This could be even more challenging with friends, colleagues, or family.
- Lastly, there’s battery life. AirPods Pro 2 offer between 4-6 hours on a single charge—almost enough for a cross-country flight but not quite sufficient for all-day use. In comparison, the Sony CRE-C20 provides up to 28 hours on a single charge, a substantial difference for those who need extended wear time.
Even with these limitations, it’s exciting news that Apple—one of the world’s most beloved companies—is diving into hearing tech.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m impressed! If you or a loved one has mild hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 with Apple’s new built-in hearing aid feature could be a great way to try out amplification for the first time.
While they likely won’t replace proper hearing aids in the long run, at $249—and packed with additional value—AirPods Pro are a smart, accessible starting point.
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