As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
In 2024 Apple received FDA clearance for AirPods Pro 2 to act as over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. This is genuine medical-grade functionality — not just "amplification."
The hearing aid feature is specific to AirPods Pro 2. Original AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 do NOT have this capability. If you or a parent could benefit, AirPods Pro 2 are dramatically cheaper than dedicated hearing aids ($2,000-$8,000) while providing similar functionality for mild-to-moderate loss.
Shop AirPods Pro 2 →A precursor to the full hearing aid feature, available on AirPods Pro 2 since iOS 17. Conversation Boost amplifies the voice of the person in front of you while reducing background noise. Designed for noisy restaurant / cocktail party situations where you can't quite hear the person across the table.
Especially powerful in restaurants. Turn it on at dinner with people who tend to speak softly and you'll notice the difference immediately.
Live Listen makes your iPhone act as a remote microphone — placed across the room or pointed at a specific source — with sound streamed to your AirPods. Use cases:
AirPods Pro 2 can analyze environmental noise and automatically reduce sudden loud sounds — sirens, dog barks, machinery — without canceling everything. Different from full ANC. Genuinely useful for hearing protection in noisy environments.
Settings → AirPods Pro 2 → Loud Sound Reduction → ON
The Health app tracks how loud you listen to audio over time. Excessive headphone volume is the #1 cause of preventable hearing loss in young adults. Apple's tracking warns you if you're trending toward dangerous decibel levels.
Health app → Hearing → Headphone Audio Levels
You'll see a chart of average dB levels over time. If you spend hours listening above 80dB, hearing loss accumulates. The warning is real.
If you also have Apple Watch, it monitors environmental sound levels — concerts, restaurants, machinery — and combines with AirPods data. You'll see a complete picture of your daily auditory exposure.
Apple Watch + AirPods Pro 2 together gives the most complete personal hearing tracking outside a clinical setting. Watch tracks ambient noise; AirPods track personal listening levels.
Shop Apple Watch Series 10 →iOS includes built-in background sounds (rain, ocean, stream, white noise) you can play through AirPods for focus, sleep, or tinnitus relief. Free, built-in, no app needed.
Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Background Sounds → ON
Add to Control Center for quick access. Particularly useful for people with mild tinnitus — masking background helps the brain ignore the ringing.
Apple's built-in hearing test takes about 5 minutes and generates a personal audiogram. The results aren't a substitute for an audiologist but they're a useful baseline. Run it every 6-12 months to track changes.
Settings → Accessibility → AirPods → Hearing Test (requires AirPods Pro 2)
You'll wear the AirPods in a quiet room, and the test plays tones at various frequencies. Tap when you hear them.
If you bought AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch primarily for audio/notifications, these health features are genuine bonuses that justify their purchase price for many users:
If Apple Watch detects a hard fall and you're unresponsive for 60 seconds, it auto-calls emergency services and shares your location. Essential for older parents or people with balance issues.
Shop Apple Watch →FDA-cleared ECG detection of atrial fibrillation. Reports anomalies to Health app. Worth bringing AFib data to your doctor.
Shop Apple Watch Series 10 →For older users or those new to Apple ecosystem, we offer mail-in setup that includes hearing test, hearing aid configuration, and AirPods + Apple Watch pairing. Send the devices, get them back configured.