How To Take A Hearing Test In iOS 18.1 With AirPods Pro 2
by Anthony Karcz · ForbesWith iOS 18.1, Apple lets you turn your AirPods Pro 2 into assistive hearing devices. But how do you know if you even need hearing aids to begin with? You take a hearing test!
Even if you already know that you need hearing aids, Apple wants to ensure that their solution can assist you. That's why they've built a hearing test into the entire process of turning your Airpods Pro 2 into assistive hearing devices.
Before we get started, you'll need a couple of things.
- iPhone or iPad running the latest software version
- AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware
- A quiet room
- 10 minutes
Gathering Your Gear
Unlike satellite messaging in iOS 18, you don't need a newer device, just an iPhone or iPad that can run iOS or iPadOS 18.1 (or later). That device must be paired to a pair of AirPods Pro 2 running the latest firmware. You can't update the firmware manually for the AirPods Pro but it should happen automatically once you've connected them to your updated iDevice.
Once you've got your hardware sorted, you'll just need to find a quiet place to take the test. This is crucial. As good as the AirPods Pro 2 are, they don't drown out every bit of noise and you're going to be listening hard for longer than you expect. The test takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
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Where to Begin?
There are two ways to start the hearing test. The quickest way is to go to the Settings app, tap your AirPods Pro 2, and select Take a Hearing Test. You can also launch a hearing test from the Health app by finding the Hearing category and clicking Add Test.
Interestingly, even if you know you need hearing assistance, you can't just turn the feature on in the settings for your AirPods, Apple makes you take a hearing test first. If you have the hearing test results, you can upload those as well (this option is only available before you take the test for the first time, however).
Set the Stage
Before you get started, you'll have to answer a few qualifying questions, including if you have a cold or have been exposed to loud noises recently. Apple won't let you proceed if you aren't eligible (i.e. under 18) or it thinks your hearing is situationally impaired due to illness or temporary eardrum damage.
Once you have the AirPods Pro 2 in your ears, the app runs through a fit check to ensure that there's minimal sound leakage. If that passes muster, then it checks your environmental noise. If it's too loud, it won't let you proceed until you find a quieter spot (again, the quieter the better).
Take the Hearing Test
You'll get a few instructions, then it's time to take the test! The app plays a series of tones in the left ear first, with you tapping the screen each time you hear something. At first it's just the same tone that gets progressively quieter until the app finds the volume at which you can no longer hear the tone. That's when the real test begins.
Once it finds the bottom limit of your hearing, volume-wise, the app starts to play the tone at different frequencies, some low, some high, testing to see if there are certain frequencies you can't hear. This can be a little disconcerting and if you have a condition like tinnitus it can be especially frustrating as there may be times when you're not sure if you're hearing a tone or just the ringing in your ears. Which, to be fair, is part of what the test is measuring as well.
After testing the left ear, the app test the hearing in your right. Then you'll get the results.
What's Next?
In my case, I was surprised to find that I have little to no hearing loss. I shouldn't have been surprised, my hearing loss is more situational, as have trouble hearing in crowded rooms and restaurants. If I'm at home, I'll be the first one up and hunting for something making an errant sound, even if it's across the house.
The problem, then, is that there's no way to just use the AirPods Pro 2 in those situations because, according to the app, you don't need hearing assistance. It'd be nice if you could enable it even if you pass the hearing test.
If you do have mild to moderate hearing loss, then you can use your AirPods Pro 2 as clinical-grade hearing aids, since they've passed FDA clearance. iOS will use the data from your hearing test to tune your AirPods accordingly. If you have severe hearing loss, you'll need to seek other solutions.
The Health app has the graph for your hearing test, showing you the volume and frequencies that you're able to hear. Even if you're not worried about your hearing, it's a good idea to take the test to establish a baseline. Then you can track your hearing over time.