Apple’s latest AirPods Pro 2 wireless earphones have been making headlines for their new hearing-aid capability and other hearing health features. But how useful are these additions, which Apple claims to be “the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience”? To find out, we asked a grandmother in her eighties who regularly uses hearing aids – my own grandmother – to test the feature for a week.
My grandmother is no stranger to technology, having started using a smartphone designed for elderly users in her late seventies. She switched to an iPhone SE two years ago at the request of family members who wanted her to have access to the Apple Watch’s fall detection function. She is now familiar with the iPhone’s user interface and for this review, she used an iPhone 16 review unit.
Thanks to her familiarity with Apple products, my grandmother was able to navigate the AirPods Pro 2 without much difficulty. However, for some older users, it may take some time to get used to a new operating system, even if it is used on the same smartphone. My late grandfather, for example, was an Android user and often struggled with navigating an iPhone.
My grandmother has always had good hearing, but it has declined as she has gotten older. She was recently diagnosed with mild hearing loss and started using hearing aids this year on the recommendation of her doctor. She rarely uses earphones, and this was her first time using the AirPods series.
The Hearing Health experience, which was added to the AirPods Pro 2 in October 2024, includes a Hearing Test and a Hearing Aid feature. The Hearing Test performs a hearing test and informs the user of any signs of hearing loss, while the Hearing Aid feature supports the user’s hearing like a traditional hearing aid, based on the results of the test. Both functions require a smartphone compatible with the latest iOS.
To access the Hearing Test, my grandmother went to Settings > AirPods Pro > Take Apple’s Hearing Test. The test requires the user to be in a quiet environment and ensure that the AirPods Pro 2 fit properly in their ears. However, my grandmother found that the earpieces that came with the AirPods Pro 2 were a little too big for her ears and required some adjustment. Despite being heavier than her hearing aids, she said that the AirPods Pro 2 were not uncomfortable once they were in place.
The process of taking the Hearing Test is similar to other hearing tests my grandmother has taken in the past. It involves following simple onscreen instructions and tapping the screen whenever a sound is heard. In her case, the results were almost identical to those from a hearing test administered by a hearing aid specialist. However, it is important to note that some people’s results may not match those from a specialist’s test, and in those cases, they can choose to consult an expert.
Overall, my grandmother found the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid feature to be useful additions to the AirPods Pro 2. She appreciated the convenience of being able to access these features on her smartphone and found the results to be accurate. However, she also noted that these features should not replace regular visits to a hearing specialist for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan.
