iOS 18.1 enables hearing aid features on AirPods Pro 2
Apple’s new Hearing Assistance features that turn AirPods Pro 2 into a clinical hearing aid are now available in the latest beta of iOS 18.1.
Apple recently announced new hearing health features for AirPods Pro 2. The fifth beta of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 adds the new Hearing Assistance features, and MacRumors spent some hands-on time with them.
These features require the latest AirPods Pro 2. Previous AirPods Pro models, whether USB-C or Lightning, don’t support Hearing Assistance.
How AirPods Pro 2 hearing features work
AirPods Pro 2 will become an FDA-approved hearing aid for those with mild or moderate hearing loss. It seems like the announced Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features will arrive in iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 next month because they’re now available in the latest betas.
After taking a hearing test in the Health app, which utilizes a standard clinical approach called pure-tone audiometry, a profile tailored to your hearing is created (you can also import an audiogram from an audiologist). A five-minute test is enough to determine whether you have hearing loss. Apple notes, “Hearing loss is common and can get worse as you age.”
Apple’s computational audio algorithm uses this hearing profile to enhance certain sounds in real time. Your personalized hearing profile is stored privately and securely in the Health app, syncing across your devices so you always get the audio experience tailored to your hearing.
With a hearing profile created, Hearing Protection will reduce louder, more intermittent noise at 48,000 times per second when using Transparency Mode. A custom multiband high dynamic range algorithm ensures that sounds at concerts and live events remain natural and vibrant.
Another feature, Media Assist, boosts certain parts of speech or instruments within a soundtrack to improve the clarity of your music, videos and calls. To test the Hearing Assistance features ahead of time, you must install the iOS 18.1 beta on your iPhone and set your AirPods Pro 2 to receive beta firmware.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2024/09/24/apple-ios-18-1-airpods-pro-2-hearing-aid/
Leave a Reply