Apple has rolled out the AirPods Pro 2 hearing test in France, accompanied by the “Loud Sound Reduction” feature which reduces muffled and intermittent noises. On the other hand, the “hearing aid” mode, which uses the test results to adjust hearing, is not yet available in France and Europe. Several users have shared their discovery on X, particularly in France, in Spain or even in Japan.
One more feature for Europeans
In September 2024, at the same time as the presentation of the iPhone 16, Apple unveiled three technologies to improve the hearing health of its customers:
- Hearing test : From the settings, you can perform a test that presents you with sounds at low volume, asking you to touch the screen each time it is detected. Apple claims this test is as accurate as those performed by professionals.
- Loud Sound Reduction : This feature, enabled by default, protects against sudden loud noises, such as in the subway or during noisy events, even without listening to music.
- Hearing aid : It dynamically adjusts ambient sounds based on your hearing profile, a feature not currently available in France.
After being deployed in a hundred countries in October, the hearing test and noise reduction are available in France from November 21, without having to go through a trick to test your hearing. iOS 18.2 Beta 4 users can access it now, with a general update planned for early December. Some users under iOS 18.1 already say they have access to these features. It is also since iOS 18.1 that Americans have been entitled to it.
If you have AirPods Pro 2, check your hearing via the Settings app (“AirPods” section) or the Health app. Although the hearing test is reliable according to Apple, the absence of hearing aid mode forces users with significant hearing loss to wait for health authorization, probably until 2025.
How to perform the hearing test?
- Preparation :
- Make sure your AirPods are fully charged (at least 20%) and that you are in a quiet environment.
- Place your AirPods in your ears and connect them to your iPhone or iPad.
- Access to the test:
- Go to Settings > AirPods or use the Health app to start the test.
- Hearing health options can be found under the noise control settings.
- Take a hearing test and follow the instructions:
- Check: If necessary, put your AirPods back in their case, close it, and tap OK. Rerun the test after checking.
- Quiet environment: If the app suggests a quieter location, reduce outside noises like air conditioning or wait for a quieter time.
- AirPods fit: If the test recommends changing the size of the tips, do so.
- Cleaning: Follow cleaning instructions if required.
- During the test:
- Touch the screen as soon as you hear a sound. Each sound is played three times, but only one response is needed per sound.
- If you adjust your AirPods or there is noise, the test may pause and will resume automatically.
- End of test:
- At the end, you will see the results and recommendations for your hearing.
To find out more, see Apple documentation page in French.
