APPLE’S latest AirPods come with a built-in hearing test – and I decided to try them out.
The new tech feature went live last week in the UK and is now available to millions of people across the world.
Health reporter Isabel tried out Apple’s new hearing test[/caption]
AirPods Pro 2 now let you take a “clinical-grade” hearing test at home.[/caption]
Hearing tests are crucial for maintaining our hearing and overall health.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) says regular hearing tests can help lower your risk of dementia.
This is because hearing tests can catch hearing loss early.
In fact, people who struggle with their hearing are more than 40 per cent likelier to develop dementia than those with good hearing.
Untreated hearing issues can lead to social withdrawal and strain on the brain, speeding up cognitive decline.
Treating hearing loss keeps the brain engaged and healthy
But most of us still don’t bother.
In 2022, only six per cent of Brits without a hearing loss diagnosis had a hearing check.
This is in stark contrast to other health checks.
NHS figures suggest 53 per cent got a dental check-up, 46 per cent had an eye test, and 44 per cent checked their blood pressure.
So why are we ignoring our ears? Fear or stigma often get in the way.
Or, if you are anything like me, dare I say, it might just be pure laziness that stops you.
Apple is trying to make this easier for us to make it easier.
With a free phone upgrade, AirPods Pro 2 now let you take a “clinical-grade” hearing test at home.
I gave it a go – here’s how it went, and how you can try it too.
My results
I can’t remember the last time I had a hearing test – ironic, perhaps, for a health reporter who writes often about the importance of regular check-ups.
So, I approached this test with some trepidation, anxious about the potential toll those nights spent dangerously close to speakers at clubs and festivals might have destroyed my hearing.
Lately, I’d noticed it was becoming harder to hear my friends in noisy places like pubs, a concern I’d conveniently pushed to the back of my mind.
I feared that Apple’s Hearing Test would reveal significant hearing loss.
The instructions are simple enough: pop in your AirPods and tap the circle whenever you hear a tone.
But be warned – you need absolute silence to complete the test.
My first attempt, at my desk, was quickly abandoned when someone insensitively coughed.
Next, I tried a meeting room, thinking it would be quieter, but the subtle hum of the air conditioning – barely noticeable otherwise – made it impossible.
Finally, I completed the test at home, sitting alone on my sofa. It took about four or five minutes.
The sounds at the start are reassuringly loud, but as the test progresses, they get much quieter.
There were long stretches of what seemed to be complete silence, during which I grew increasingly tense.
Did I hear a tone? Or not? I found myself second-guessing constantly and sometimes tapped the circle just in case.
I was convinced that I was, or at least my eardrums were, failing tragically.
Thankfully – and to my relief – the results showed I had “little to no hearing loss”.
Isabel was shocked her results came back with minimal hearing loss[/caption]
The results are saved in the iPhone’s Health app, where I can review them anytime.
If they’d been worrying, I could have shared them with a doctor immediately.
One in three adults in the UK are deaf, and have hearing loss or tinnitus – and many of those live with it unknowingly.
So although the test wasn’t hugely useful for me, I’m sure for millions of Brits living this test could be life-changing.
Other updates
The new headphones also have come with built-in ‘clinical grade’ hearing aids that could help millions live longer.
The update, which isn’t yet available in the UK, is designed to help users with mild to moderate hearing loss.
The AirPods Pro will let you do an at-home hearing test that takes just five minutes.[/caption]
After the five-minute at-home hearing test on iOS 18 devices, AirPods will make “personalised adjustments” to tailor sound to each user’s needs.
“This helps them better engage in conversation, and keeps them connected to the people and environment around them,” Apple said.
This exciting new feature comes as recent research suggests that millions of Brits could live longer by using hearing aids.
US scientists found correcting hearing loss slashed the risk of an early death by 24 per cent.
The gizmos can protect the brain from depression and dementia, which are more likely if someone is lonely or strains to hear.
Charities estimate more than four million people in the UK could benefit from a hearing aid but do not wear one.
And to prevent further hearing loss, your AirPods Pro can dim loud sounds around you while still letting you hear.
This works by dampening ambient loud noises -while retaining sound quality – which could come in handy at live concerts.
“For decades, Apple has led the way in designing products for everyone and supporting users with a broad spectrum of hearing abilities,” Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, said in a statement.
“These features on AirPods Pro will make an impact on so many people by driving more awareness around hearing health and empowering individuals with new customizable tools to help them stay connected.”
Sleep easy
The company also announced new Apple Watch features to detect sleep apnoea, a disorder in which breathing momentarily stops during sleep, preventing the body from getting enough oxygen.
If left untreated, it can have important health consequences over time, including increased risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiac issues.
Your Apple Watch will soon begin to track your breathing while you sleep by using a new metric called Breathing Disturbances.
It’ll quickly reveal whether you’ve experienced hearing loss, and recommend some actions.[/caption]
If it spots a consistent trend of severe sleep apnoea, you’ll be notified.
And then you can go to your doctor to discuss it – and hopefully get treatment.
It’s coming to the new Apple Watch Series 10, as well as last year’s Series 9 and Ultra 3.
How to protect your hearing
Keeping your hearing in top shape is easier than you might think! Here are some handy tips from the NHS to help protect your ears:
- Turn down the volume: Keep the volume on your headphones or TV at a level where you can still hear conversations around you
- Use ear protection: In noisy environments, like concerts or construction sites, use earplugs to shield your hearing
- Take listening breaks: Give your ears regular breaks from loud sounds to help them recover
- Keep ears dry: Prevent infections by drying your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering
- Get regular check-ups: Have your hearing checked regularly to spot any issues early and keep your hearing healthy
- Avoids cotton buds: Your ears have a natural cleaning system that removes earwax. Using cotton buds can push earwax further into your ear canal, which can lead to blockages or infections. Pushing them in too far can damage your eardrium
Once hearing is lost, it can’t be regained. So it’s important to take care of it now.
