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Ask the Audiologist

Apple Airpods and Your Hearing

By Laura Schroeder, Au.D.
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

Apple made headlines last fall with the introduction of three new features in their AirPods Pro 2: Hearing Protection, Hearing Test, and Hearing Aids. Hearing Protection helps shield your hearing from sustained noise, but it only works if the AirPods fit snugly in your ears with a complete seal. It doesn’t protect against extremely loud sounds like concerts and motorcycles, or impact noises such as gunfire. The Hearing Test is aimed at those who suspect mild to moderate hearing loss. It measures the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies by tapping your phone screen when you hear beeps. Results are saved in the Apple Health app. The Hearing Aid feature uses these results to adjust the AirPods’ volume to amplify sounds around you.

There are benefits to these features: the AirPods Pro 2 are priced at about $249, a reasonable cost, especially if you plan to use the Hearing Aid function. They are easy to purchase locally or online, and many may prefer the discreet, stigma-free design of earbuds compared to traditional hearing aids. However, there are some downsides. The AirPods work best with Apple devices, and some features are limited when paired with Android phones. Fitting the earbuds comfortably can be challenging, and the Hearing Test only measures one aspect of hearing. It doesn’t assess speech understanding or rule out medical issues like earwax or infections. Battery life is another concern: AirPods Pro 2 last up to 6 hours, compared to 18+ hours for traditional rechargeable hearing aids. Additionally, AirPods are rated IP54 for water resistance, while most hearing aids are IP68-rated, meaning they are dustproof and nearly waterproof. Finally, AirPods Pro 2 don’t come with a service plan, so it may be difficult to find someone to help you learn how to use them or troubleshoot them if something goes wrong.

Overall, while Apple’s features are a positive step toward integrating hearing health into everyday technology, they may not be suitable for everyone. For comprehensive hearing care, it’s still best to consult a local audiologist.

Laura Schroeder is an audiologist at Audiology Consultants, P.C. For more information, visit audiologyconsultants.com. Stores are located in Davenport, IA, Muscatine, IA, Moline, IL, and Geneseo, IL.