Apple has released a significant software update for the AirPods Pro 2 which unlocks new features including turning the popular earphones into a clinical grade hearing aid.
With this update, it is now possible for customers to use the AirPods Pro 2 to take a scientifically validated hearing test, protect themselves from loud noises and to use it as a hearing aid.
The World Health Organisation says approximately 1.5 billion people around the world are living with some degree of hearing loss.
And the effects could impact a person’s general wellbeing and lead to an increased risk of social isolation and dementia.
HEARING TEST
Users aged 18 or older can give themselves a hearing test that’s based on the gold standard clinical approach called pure tone audiometry.
During the hearing test, the user will hear a range of tones played across frequencies from 25 Hz to 8000 Hz at varying intensities.
Users are encouraged to find a quiet environment to take the test to improve the accuracy of the results.
In a clinic, a hearing test would be conducted in a soundproof booth to reduce background noise.
The results obtained through the hearing tests performed with the AirPods Pro 2 have been given clinical validation by the Food and Drug administration FDA and other global medical device authorities.
To take your hearing test with the AirPods Pro 2 make sure they’re paired to an iPhone or iPad running the latest software.
Users can take the hearing test from the Health app.
You will be asked to find a quieter place if prompted and do things like turning off air conditioning and fans to reduce ambient noise.
When the hearing test begins uses are required to tap the screen when they hear a tone.
At the end of the test, you’ll be able to see your complete results as well as any recommendations.
The results will be presented on a graph as well as being given a numerical value.
25 dBHL (decibels of hearing level) or lower indicate little to no hearing loss.
26-40 dBHL is a sign of mild hearing loss while 41-60 dBHL indicates moderate hearing loss.
And 61-80 dBHL is a sign of severe hearing loss.
CLINICAL GRADE HEARING AID
The new hearing aid feature with the apple AirPods Pro 2 earphones is designed to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
The hearing aid function was tested against professional audiology list tuning and received supported authorization from the FDA and other global medical device authorities.
Apple tested the performance of the hearing aid feature against the traditional professional fit of hearing aid settings and there was no degradation of the speech signal relative to background noise with amplification.
Customers can adjust the hearing aid feature settings In control centre or in the AirPods Pro 2 settings.
LOUD SOUND REDUCTION
Another new feature with this latest AirPods Pro 2 software update is Loud Sound Reduction which is designed to minimise exposure to loud environmental noise while still maintaining the dynamic range of what they’re listening to.
The silicon ear tips already provide a level of passive noise reduction but the H2 chip also comes into play to reduce louder noises 48,000 times per second.
