How To Utilize AirPods Pro 2 for Hearing Assistance: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Use AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aids — Step-by-Step

This thing with AirPods Pro 2 turning into mini hearing aids has been kinda weird, but honestly, it can be a real game changer for folks with mild to moderate hearing issues. Sure, it’s not a full-blown medical device, but for everyday use, it does a decent job—and that’s saying something. If your AirPods are updated, and you’ve got the right iOS version, you can set them up to give some of those hearing help features a whirl. It’s all about creating a personalized listening experience without dropping thousands on real hearing aids. But first, a heads-up: make sure your AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 7B19 or above (check in Settings > General > About > AirPods).Then, your iPhone or iPad needs to be running iOS 18.1 or later. Because, of course, Apple has to make it a little complicated, right? Once you’ve got everything updated, it’s mostly about following steps to set up the hearing test, upload your audiogram if you have one, and finally turn on the right modes. The goal? Amplifying and customizing sound, especially in noisier environments. Let’s dive in.

How to Set Up AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aids

Take the Hearing Test on iPhone or iPad

– Wear your AirPods Pro 2, connect them to your device, and find a quiet spot.(Because background chatter or wind noise will mess with the test.) – Head over to Settings > [Your AirPods] and select Take a Hearing Test under Hearing Assistance.- Tap Get Started. The system will check if the ear tips fit properly and if the ambient noise is low enough. If it detects too much noise, it might ask you to retake the test in a quieter place — totally normal.- Proceed through the prompts by tapping Next and then Start Test.- During the test, you’ll hear a series of beeps at different frequencies and volumes in each ear, three times. Tap the screen each time you hear the sound—kind of weird, but that’s how it works. Expect about five minutes tops.- When finished, tap Show Results. The iPhone will analyze your hearing profile and suggest if you have any loss. Expect some variation—on one setup it might work flawlessly, on another, you might need a reboot or to retake it. That’s just how tech sometimes is.- To review the results, go to the Health app > Hearing > Hearing Test Results. Here you’ll see an audiogram and decibel scores, plus info like “Mild Loss.” – Want to share these with your doctor? Hit Export PDF from All Hearing Test Results. Sometimes, the app can be a little buggy with these uploads, so don’t be surprised if it takes a few tries to get it right.

Upload a Professional Audiogram

– If you’ve already got one from your audiologist, you can upload it directly into the Health app. Open the app, tap the search icon, and find Hearing > Hearing Test Results.- Tap the plus icon, then Scan with Camera.- Use your iPhone camera to scan the printed audiogram. Not sure why it works, but it seems Apple’s analysis catches most details.- Tap Done once it’s uploaded. It should now be part of your profile and ready for setup. Note: Making sure the scan is clear helps a lot. You don’t want a blurry graph messing up your profile.

Activate Hearing Aid Mode

– Connect your AirPods to your device, then go to Settings > [Your AirPods] > Hearing Assistance.- Tap Use a Prior Test Result and select your profile.- Answer some quick questions—like your age, whether you have health issues—and then hit Next.- Pick your hearing profile from the list, then tap Next.- Final step: tap Set Up Hearing Aid > Turn On Hearing Aid > Done. Now, your AirPods will amplify sounds based on your profile, especially in Transparency mode. These settings get stored on the AirPods themselves, so they work even if your iPhone isn’t right next to you—which is kinda cool.

Adjust and Tweak the Settings

Fine-Tune from iPhone Settings

– Head over to Settings > [Your AirPods] > Hearing Assistance > Adjustments.- Here you can play around with:

Amplification: Move the slider to boost or reduce sound amplification — helpful if one ear needs more help.
Balance: Shift the sound focus left or right.
Tone: Adjust the treble or bass. Kind of best to do this in quiet, so it’s not overwhelming.
Ambient Noise Reduction: Reduce background noise—makes conversations clearer.
Conversation Boost: Focus on voices in front if you’re in a noisy place.

Quick Adjusts via Control Center

– Swipe down on the right corner of your iPhone or iPad.- Tap the ear icon (if it’s not there, tap + in the upper right to add it).- Tap Hearing Assistance to jump into the settings.- Adjust sliders slowly — big changes can be a bit jarring.

How to Use Media Assist for Better Audio

Media Assist basically applies your hearing profile to the media you listen to—music, videos, calls. It’s a nice way to get clearer speech and richer audio without full amplification. Here’s how: – In Settings > [Your AirPods] > Hearing Assistance, toggle on Media Assist.- Make sure options like Adjust Music and Video and Adjust Calls and FaceTime are enabled.- Now, when you play a video or take a call, the sounds should be a bit clearer, especially helpful if you’re in a noisy place.

Activate Hearing Protection

Want to keep your ears safe? Turn on Hearing Protection in settings, and your AirPods will work to reduce environmental noise—especially useful when walking through loud areas. Go to Settings > [Your AirPods] > Hearing Protection and flip the toggle. The H2 chip makes sure environmental noise is cut down tens of decibels, with about 11–15 dB in Transparency mode and up to 29 dB in Adaptive. Nice little feature, but not foolproof; still, better than nothing.

Quick Tips for Better Hearing Support

– Keep those ear tips snug and clean—microphones like clean ears for clearer input.- Run the Ear Tip Fit Test regularly. It’s under Settings > [Your AirPods] > Ear Tip Fit Test.- Start using them gradually, especially if new to hearing aids. Your ears might need time to adapt.- Retake the hearing test once in a while; hearing can change.- Switch between modes — Transparency, Adaptive, Noise Cancellation — depending on what you need.- And, yeah, avoid sharing AirPods if you don’t want your personalized settings mixed up.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

While this tech is pretty impressive, don’t get carried away. Battery life isn’t amazing—about 5.5 to 6 hours max. The sound quality? Not exactly audiologist-grade. Some users find it less natural than real hearing aids. Also, the fit might get uncomfortable after long wear, and it’s only designed for mild to moderate hearing loss. Remember, it only covers up to 8 kHz (not the full clinical range), and the noise protection isn’t designed for blasts or sudden loud noises over 110 dB. Plus, it’s iOS-only, no Android support here.

When to Hit Up a Pro

If doubts about your hearing quality or persistent ringing, pain, or difficulty in noisy settings, it’s time for a pro. Apple’s solution is convenient but not a substitute for actual audiological tests and custom aids if your hearing loss is severe or complicated.

A Smarter Way to Hear, Maybe?

All in all, the AirPods Pro 2’s hearing health stuff is a decent shortcut for mild issues or quick support. It’s a neat innovation making hearing assistance more accessible, with an emphasis on convenience and smart tech. Not perfect, but better than nothing for day-to-day stuff. If you don’t have them or aren’t ready to drop cash, older AirPods support Live Listen, which uses your iPhone mic to amplify sounds. Turn it on via Control Center > Hearing > Live Listen — not quite the same, but handy when needed. Anyway, hope this gives a decent rundown. Got questions? Drop a comment. Happy to help troubleshoot or clarify!