All the details on how to set up this exciting new feature.
If you’re an AirPod user, then you’re already devoted to the handy, ultra-portable listening device. And even if you haven’t nabbed a pair, you’ve still heard all about the highs and lows of Bluetooth earpiece ownership. But Apple will keep you on your toes — just when we thought we were abreast of all AirPod specs, the company announced a new software update with an exciting new feature. The new software update to the iOS 18 operating system released on Monday allows some AirPods to be used as hearing aids. This comes after the FDA approved the over-the-counter hearing aid software in September. This is pretty game-changing news, given that about 30 million people in the U.S. alone have hearing loss in both ears.
Not sure how to begin turning your favorite earpiece into an ad-hoc hearing aid? We’ve got you covered.
How to use AirPods as hearing aids
Before you get started, remember that not all AirPods can be used as hearing aids; specifically, the AirPods Pro 2 models can be updated with the relevant software. The update also requires an iPhone or iPad to set up the update.
First, you’ll undergo some simple, built-in tests to determine whether or not you have hearing loss; then, the software installs the feature and helps you set up personalized amplification levels.
Be aware, however, that AirPods Pro 2 models have a battery life of up to six hours, which is substantially less than standard hearing aids, some of which are designed to last all day.
Benefits of using hearing aids
Even if you’ve noticed some hearing loss, you might wonder why you need an aid if you still retain adequate hearing. A 2023 report found that hearing aids can slow cognitive decline, specifically among older adults. The study, which followed around 1,000 senior adults, found that implementing hearing aids slowed cognitive decline by around 48 percent in adults who had mild to moderate hearing loss and who were at high risk of dementia.
David Knopman, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and co-author of the study, also told Katie Couric Media in 2023 that hearing aids can significantly improve one’s life even without the threat of cognitive decline: “Hearing loss is a disability that interferes with [a person’s] quality of life, and they ought to think about getting a hearing aid if it would benefit them in their daily lives, regardless of whether it has this additional long-term benefit of delaying cognitive decline.”
Where to buy Apple AirPods
If you’re interested in using the new feature but don’t have a pair of AirPods, it might be time to invest. Just be careful to select the AirPods Pro 2 models — other AirPod models don’t yet have a hearing aid feature. A pair of the AirPods Pro 2 typically retail for $249, but we’ve got our eyes (and ears) on this 20 percent off deal over at Amazon.
