Apple has launched a new feature for AirPods Pro users in India that allows them to conduct hearing tests from the comfort of their homes. This latest update is part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to enhance the health capabilities of its devices. With this feature, users can identify potential hearing loss early, as well as receive assistance in certain situations.

The Hearing Test feature is compatible with AirPods Pro 2 and subsequent models that operate on the latest firmware and are paired with an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18. According to Apple, the process takes approximately five minutes and does not require a visit to a healthcare provider.

This feature utilises pure-tone audiometry, a recognised clinical approach for assessing hearing ability across various frequencies. Users are required to wear their AirPods Pro and respond to tones presented in each ear, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of their hearing health.

Insights and Data Storage for Hearing Assessments

Upon completion of the hearing test, Apple generates a detailed summary for the user that includes hearing levels for both ears, hearing-loss classification, personalised recommendations, and an audiogram chart illustrating hearing ability across frequencies. The results are securely stored in the Health app, where they may also be shared with healthcare professionals for further assessment, if needed.

Apple’s initiative aims to empower users to recognise early signs of hearing impairment, which can develop gradually and often remain unnoticed for extended periods. According to Sumbul Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health and Fitness, technology should enable individuals to manage their health more effectively, starting with tools that can detect unnoticed conditions.

In addition to the hearing tests, the update allows AirPods Pro to serve as hearing assistance devices for individuals experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. By utilising the personalised hearing profile established from the test results, the AirPods can amplify sounds and conversations in real-time, enhancing clarity during everyday interactions.

Long-Term Commitment to Hearing Health Technologies

This feature development draws on insights from the Apple Hearing Study, representing nearly a decade of work on technologies related to hearing health. Dr Rajiv Kumar, a clinician researcher at Apple, stated that previous attempts using connected headphones faced obstacles such as inconsistent hardware quality and noisy environments. However, advancements in AirPods hardware have substantially improved noise isolation, moving Apple closer to delivering clinically reliable outcomes.

Furthermore, this hearing update is part of Apple’s wider vision to transform its devices into preventive health tools rather than mere consumer gadgets. Alongside these advancements in hearing features, Apple has also introduced sleep apnoea notifications for Apple Watch users in India, highlighting the company’s broader health-centric agenda.

Sleep apnoea is a condition marked by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, often without the individual being aware. Apple’s latest enhancement employs a metric known as Breathing Disturbances, utilising the accelerometer to detect wrist movements linked to disrupted breathing patterns throughout the night.

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