Apple expands AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features to more countries

The AirPods Pro 2 can be used as hearing aids – Image Credit: Apple

While US users have been able to use AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features for six months now, four more countries can finally check them out starting Tuesday.

In September 2024, Apple introduced a slate of new, clinical-grade hearing aid and hearing aid features, currently exclusively available to the AirPods Pro 2. The features included a hearing health test, which takes five minutes to complete and adjusts audio output based on the user’s results.

The test also allows the AirPods Pro 2 to function as hearing aids which Apple calls “clinical grade” for moderate hearing loss.

The newest batch of countries includes Australia, Brazil, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia. A previous expansion brought hearing health features to the UK in October 2024 and France, Cyprus, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, and Spain the following December.

It’s worth noting that the rollout of the Hearing Aid features has been a bit asynchronous, as many countries require health organization certification before allowing the AirPods Pro 2 to function as hearing aids. Apple keeps a running list of which countries support which hearing features on its AirPods Pro Hearing Health Availability page.

AirPods Pro 2 uses the results generated from the Hearing Test to create personalized dynamic adjustments to boost sounds around the user in real time. The test can be taken from the AirPods Pro section in the Settings app on iPhone or iPad.

The hearing aid feature helps users feel connected with people and the local environment and helps them better engage in conversation. The profile is also applied when listening to music, phone calls, video, and games.

The Hearing Test results provide an easy-to-understand summary of how much hearing loss has occurred in each ear and an audiogram securely stored in the Health app. The audiogram can also be shared with a healthcare provider for further hearing assistance.

The hearing health functions also include Loud Sound Reduction to prevent exposure to loud environmental noise. Hearing Protection features are currently only supported in Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, the United States, the US Minor Outlying Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.