Apple allows you to conduct a hearing loss test using iPhone and AirPods Pro 2.. Here's how
Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common medical conditions affecting adults as they age. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 1 in 8 people in the United States age 12 and older has hearing loss in both ears.
If you feel you have hearing loss and want to check it out, Apple’s new test for iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 users will help. Apple has introduced a range of new hearing health features with the iOS 18.1 update, including: Hearing Test.
This test takes about 5 minutes to complete, and here are all the details on how to perform a hearing test:
What you need to take Apple's new hearing test:
To take Apple's new hearing test, you'll need AirPods Pro 2. This test won't work with first-generation AirPods Pro, regular AirPods, or AirPods Max. You'll also need an iPhone and a very quiet place where you can take the test without any background noise for about 5 minutes.
As part of the test, your iPhone checks that the AirPods Pro eartips are snug enough in your ears and also assesses your surroundings. If there's any outside noise, the test will pause.
How to perform a hearing test:
Place your AirPods Pro 2 in your ears and make sure they're secure, hold your iPhone, and follow these steps:
1- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2- Click on the name of your AirPods Pro.
3- In the Hearing Health section, click Take a Hearing Test.
4- The test starts with a series of preparatory questions, such as: your age, to verify that you are over 18 years old, and there are questions to verify whether or not you have been exposed to a noisy environment during the last 24 hours. Also in the preparatory stage, the phone will play a music clip to verify that you are placing the earphones tightly in your ears so that the sound does not leak around them.
5- After completing this stage, the basic test will begin, and it will initially be in the left ear.
6- The iPhone plays three sections of a single tone, the tones vary in volume and frequency and last for several minutes. At the top of the screen, you can see a small circle indicating the progress of the hearing test for that ear.
After you have completed the test for both your right and left ears, the results are displayed as dBHL values to indicate the degree of hearing loss in decibels. You can also view an audiogram showing all the frequencies and levels of the tones you listened to.
Results are stored in the Health app, where you can view more data, such as tests you've taken over time to track your hearing health. There's also an Export PDF option you can use if you need to send the results to a doctor.
Is Apple's hearing loss test accurate?
Apple's health-related features are useful but not equivalent to medical tests, meaning they are not a substitute for clinical tests performed by doctors.
For example, the ECG app on Apple Watch measures your heart rate to assess your heart health, but it’s not as accurate as a physical exam. That means Apple’s health features give you an overview of some of your health and some of the issues you might have, and you should check them out with your doctor.
As for the hearing test, it was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US shortly after it was announced, which is why Apple calls it a clinical -grade test .
After you take a hearing test on your iPhone, if the results show signs of hearing loss, you have a number of options:
- Enable Media Assist for use with AirPods Pro 2, which adjusts audio levels and clarity based on test results.
- Set up the hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro 2.
But if you are concerned about the results, make an appointment with a specialist to check your hearing health.