Putting AirPods Hearing Aids to the Test

My wife kept telling me to turn the TV down.

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My friends were tiring of having to repeat themselves. I strained to hear during meetings. So, five years ago, I succumbed and went to a hearing specialist. A 15-minute test revealed I had mild to moderate hearing loss.

Thousands of dollars bought me state-of-the-art hearing aids that connected to my iPhone via Bluetooth and an app. The hearing aids proved inefficient and clumsy enough that I only wore them when I really needed them.

Then, Apple announced that my AirPods Pro 2 could be used as FDA-approved hearing aids for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. I tested them as soon as the software was released. First, I installed iOS 18.1, the initial Apple Intelligence update, on my phone. With my AirPods paired, an AirPods Pro option appeared near the top of the iPhone Settings app. Tapping it brought up a screen with customization choices, including a Take a Hearing Test link.