What's that? You can now use AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids in Australia?
After getting TGA approval late last year, today Apple has officially launched its hearing test and hearing aid features for AirPods Pro 2 owners.
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) approved Apple's clinical-grade hearing test for its AirPods Pro 2 earbuds just before Christmas last year, but since then, all has been quiet (geddit?) on the update front.
Until today. If you own a pair of AirPods Pro 2 in Australia, you can now use them to run a scientifically-validated hearing test, which will then let you use the earbuds to enhance your hearing.
“Hearing loss can impact more than a person’s hearing. It can impact their communication at work, their social life, and their overall wellbeing. The new hearing features in AirPods Pro are an exciting advancement — they give people a way to check their hearing and set up hearing assistance at home using familiar devices.”
– Nicky Chong-White: Principal Engineer, National Acoustic Laboratories
The hearing test takes about five minutes to conduct using a pair of AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad. It uses the gold standard clinical approach called pure-tone audiometry, and once completed you'll have access to an easy-to-understand summary of the results, which can be shared with a healthcare provider if you need to.
Then once your personalised hearing profile from the Hearing Test is completed, the AirPods Pro 2 effectively become a clinical-grade hearing aid. After setup, the earbuds make dynamic adjustments so users have the sounds around them filled in and boosted in real time to minimise the impact of hearing loss.
And to close out the benefits of the update, the AirPods 2 will also minimise loud sounds to protect your hearing.
I love this from Apple. It's a free update, and as I crest the hill of being closer to 50 than 40, I'm definitely noticing my hearing not being as sharp as it used to be.
The only real issue I have with the whole thing is that it's only available on the AirPods Pro 2 currently. I love my first generation AirPods Pro, which are still going strong, and have been impressed by the AirPods 4 with ANC as well, but neither of those models will get this update.
Not even the AirPods Max can offer this feature, despite its premium price tag. I assume the AirPods Pro 3 will offer it, but who knows when that will happen.
Still, if you're starting to find yourself a bit hard of hearing, the AirPods Pro 2 may be a solid investment.
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