According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48 million people in the United States have a hard time hearing their ears. Not only does this affect older people – the CDC also reports that five in 10 young people listen to music or other audio is too loud, and that in activities such as concerts and sports games, one in 10 young people emit dangerous loud noises in dangerous noises.
To keep an eye on our hearing health and to learn more about the steps we can take to protect it, our health editors decided to take Apple’s hearing tests. That’s what we learn and how we intend to do things differently.
What is Apple's hearing test?
In the fall of 2024, Apple announced its clinically validated hearing tests, its hearing aids and protective features. To turn the AirPods Pro 2 into a hearing aid, you must first perform a hearing test based on a pure tone hearing assay.
To take the Apple hearing test, you need AirPods Pro 2 Compatible with one iPhone or iPad. The test takes about 5 minutes to complete. First, connect the AirPods Pro 2 to your iPhone or iPad. Go to Settings, click on your AirPods, and in Hearing Health, click on Accept the Hearing Test.
Anna's experience: I had no problems when I first took the exam. However, the second time before I took the test, I was asked to adjust my airpods or use different ear tips. I kept moving them in my ears and eventually walked into the bathroom and closed the door to keep it quiet. Then, it worked.
I found the tests simple and straightforward, but it was hard for me to focus on the tones I heard. I ended up having to close my eyes and concentrate (so I wouldn't be distracted by my own blink). Even though my bathroom is the quietest place in the apartment, I can still hear some external noise, so if you do take the test, I recommend doing this in the quietest environment.
I also like to save the results in health apps so you can review them. There, you can also find information about ambient sound levels, headphone audio levels, noise and headphone notifications, and hearing.
Nasha’s experience: I also found the hearing test process easy to follow and with clear instructions to guide me through each step. One of the biggest challenges I had (similar to Anna) was finding a truly quiet environment. I tried to test it in the office and although it was a relatively calm space, the app repeatedly prompted me to move to a quieter place. I think this highlights a potential limitation, as many people may have a hard time finding places that meet application noise level requirements, especially in workplaces or busy homes.
Once I find the quiet moment, I can focus on the test itself. After a moment of testing, I realized that I needed to close my eyes and focus on the sound. The test involves listening to faint beeps at different frequencies, and although sometimes I'm sure I hear them, there are also moments of doubt. Is this a beep, or is my mind playing me? This experience emphasizes the perception of subjective listening.
Overall, Apple’s hearing tests are a useful tool for raising awareness of hearing health, but the need for a silence environment can be a barrier for some people. It is a good reminder that while it is helpful to show at home, they are not a substitute for professional listening assessments.
What We Learned
According to Apple, “The hearing test results (auditpicture) are the results of the listener test and the different frequencies of the sound measured in decibels (DBHL) show your listening ability. The higher the decibel, the louder the sound needs to be heard.”
The American Speech Listening Association notes: “DB or DB describes loudness. The term db HL describes your hearing loss in decibels.”
Through Apple's hearing test, the average listening experience in the left and left ears is based on the four frequencies that are most important for speech: 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz and 4KHz.
Anna's results: I've been worried about my hearing lately, so to my surprise, Apple's hearing tests showed I had “little hearing loss.” It specifically reveals that my left ear is 3 dbhl and my right ear is 5 dbhl. When I took the test the second time, my left ear was 2 dbhl and my right ear was 4 dbhl.
In other words, the hearing loss in the right ear is greater than my left ear. I always thought my left ear was worse hearing, especially since I tend to have more sinus problems on my left side, so it was fun.
It's so cool to be able to get this information on my phone without having to spend time (and money) doing it in an audiologist's office. Although the Hampton Hearing Center notes that most insurance plans will cover hearing tests if medically necessary, it depends. Nor would I classify my curiosity about hearing as a medical necessity.
Nasha's results: My hearing test results show that I have almost no hearing loss, which is reassuring. The results of the first test I took said that my left ear was 3 dbhl and my right ear was 5 dbhl (same as Anna!). I took the test the second time because I was in the office for the first time and the air conditioner was a little noisy. The second time, my effect was even better than the first time (this time, I was in a quiet room at home) – my left ear was -6 dbhl and my right ear was 3 dbhl.
Given that I live in New York, noise pollution is a constant factor – whether it’s from subways, construction sites, or noise in traffic – I’ve become increasingly aware of this lately. This test is a good reminder of how important it is to your hearing health.
A key takeaway for me is that while my hearing is in good condition, long-term exposure to high resolution levels may change that. I learned that every day the city sounds lead to gradual hearing damage. Since taking Apple's hearing test, I'm now carrying loop earplugs on the train or in noisy environments.
How we will take care of our hearing health
Once you have completed your hearing test, you can read articles on how to protect your hearing and why it is important. Overall, this is one of the great things about Apple's listening features – they remind you of the importance of hearing health and you should focus on protecting it.
Aware of the loud noise
If you're in loud noises, such as at a concert or in a restaurant with crazi music, make sure your ears take a break in the back. Or, wear earplugs. The same is true for listening to music through headphones. Now, whenever I listen to music, I ask myself: Does it need to be that big?
Take hearing loss seriously
Long-term exposure to loud sounds can lead to permanent hearing loss. If I am so worried about this that it is medically necessary, I will consult an audiologist. This is also important because I want to make sure no other medical conditions are working, too.
Pay attention to other things that may cause hearing loss
Loud noise isn't the only thing that can cause hearing loss. Infections, head trauma, hypertension, diabetes and dental problems are just some unexpected situations that lead to hearing loss.
