Apple has today extended its AirPods Pro Hearing Aid feature to users in the UK, providing a clinical-grade, over-the-counter hearing aid experience through a free software update. This update, available to AirPods Pro 2 users, includes a personalized hearing profile, generated from a simple five-minute hearing test. The feature offers dynamic, real-time adjustments to boost the surrounding sounds, tailoring the experience to each individual’s unique hearing needs.
Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s Vice President of Health, commented, “At Apple, we believe that technology can help people live healthier lives, and we’re delighted to bring the Hearing Aid feature to the UK. This offers our users a comprehensive hearing health experience with AirPods Pro 2.”
The update also introduces Loud Sound Reduction, a feature designed to protect users from harmful environmental noise while maintaining the sound quality of what they’re listening to. The hearing test, which is scientifically validated, allows users to assess their hearing on their own using AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad. The results provide a detailed summary, including a hearing loss number for each ear and an audiogram. This information is securely stored in the Health app and can be shared with healthcare providers to facilitate more informed conversations about potential hearing assistance.
The new hearing health features first launched in the US and select countries in October with the release of iOS 18.1. In December, iOS 18.2 expanded the hearing test feature to additional countries, including France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Czechia, and the UK. Both the hearing aid and hearing test features were also introduced in the United Arab Emirates.
