To use AirPods Pro 2 as over-the-counter hearing aids, users must first take a hearing test to determine their hearing loss levels. The test is accessible on their iPhone in the AirPods settings or in the Health app under the Hearing tab.

Users can also take Apple’s hearing test on a compatible iPad. Additionally, users can enter the results of an existing hearing test performed by an audio healthcare professional. If you’re testing on your iPhone or iPad, your AirPods Pro 2 should be connected to the device and firmly placed in your ears.

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Once users complete the hearing test, they will receive their average hearing loss in each ear. If users experience at least 26 dB of loss in either ear, their AirPods Pro 2 will suggest hearing aid mode. Users can still activate hearing aid mode if results show hearing loss below 26 dB.

Apple’s hearing test requires users to put AirPods Pro 2 in their ears and sit in a quiet environment. Once the test begins, AirPods automatically turn on noise cancellation to allow users to hear prompts, and iPhone enters Do Not Disturb to limit distractions.

Users will then hear a series of high and low beeps and will be prompted to tap the screen when they hear a beep. Each ear is tested during the hearing test and the results are saved in the Health app once the test is complete.

The only Apple headphones compatible with hearing aid mode are the AirPods Pro 2. Hearing aid mode is accessible on all iPad running iPadOS 18.1, iPhone running iOS 18.1, and Mac running MacOS Sequoia and later. Make sure your device is updated to the latest software version, as these features are not available in previous software iterations. The AirPods themselves will be updated once you update your iPad, iPhone, or Mac.

Unfortunately, AirPods Pro 2 in hearing aid mode only works with Apple devices. However, iPads as old as the iPad Air 3 and iPhones as old as the iPhone 11 are compatible with Apple’s hearing aid mode.

Android users who don’t want to upgrade to iOS for their daily driver phone can get an older iPhone or iPad and use it as a secondary device for the time being. Before you can access Apple’s hearing health features on these older devices, make sure they are updated to the latest software version.

Due to their age, you can find these devices at lower prices and refurbished models regularly receive discounts.

According to Apple, hearing aid mode is intended for adults 18 and older. Additionally, all over-the-counter hearing aids, including AirPods Pro 2, are best suited for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, McManus says that using AirPods as hearing aids is not a permanent solution to hearing loss, but is a great place to start.

“I hope the AirPods update will encourage more people to explore hearing aid use,” she says. “While they are suitable for situational or occasional use, the battery life will not allow them to be used as a permanent solution.”

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Maliszewska agrees: People feel more comfortable and relaxed doing hearing tests at home, and the fact that AirPods double as hearing aids is an important first step in combating hearing loss.

“It’s a good first step, like having someone take this test in the comfort of their home and being told they have hearing loss,” she says. “This will hopefully encourage them to make an appointment for further and more detailed testing.”

There’s no harm in testing your ears with your AirPods Pro 2 and iPhone, even if you don’t think you have any noticeable hearing loss. Many people unintentionally damage their hearing every day by listening to music too loudly or attending concerts or sporting events without hearing protection. The home hearing test can tell you about your hearing health and help you determine if it is time to seek medical advice.

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According to McManus, maintaining hearing health is just as important as maintaining physical and mental health, and a decline in hearing health can lead to a decline in mental health.

“Most people don’t understand the importance of hearing health, but studies show that untreated hearing loss is linked to other health problems, like dementia,” she says. “It’s becoming clear that hearing health plays a role in overall health.”

You can access information about your hearing health in the Health app on your compatible Apple device, under the Hearing tab. Here you can see the noise levels of the headphones and the environment. Headphone noise levels are most accurate when users have Apple or Beats headphones connected to a compatible device, and sound levels from other headphones are estimated based on your device’s volume settings.

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Ambient noise levels measure the intensity of sounds in your environment. This feature is most commonly used with the iPhone and Apple Watch since they are the most portable. Your Apple Watch will alert you if your environment reaches potentially damaging noise levels.