Apple AirPods Pro 2,3 finally gets hearing health test feature in India; here's how to do it

In 2024, Apple released the hearing test feature for AirPods Pro 2 with iOS/iPadOS 18.1. But, it was limited to select countries in the West.

Now, almost 18 months after the launch, the company has finally received the approval from the domestic health regulatory agency to offer the hearing health test feature on AirPods Pro in India.

According to the latest World Health Organisation report, 1.5 billion people are living with hearing loss globally.

The critical aspect of hearing loss is that, unlike a fever or cold that appears suddenly, it is a gradual condition that worsens silently over time before the person becomes aware of it.

A medical-grade over-the-counter hearing aids are expensive and this is a major factor for most people to continue to live in isolation without any assistive support.

In India, a medical-grade hearing aid costs anywhere between Rs 37,000 and Rs 6.2 lakh. An AirPods Pro 2 (review) and AirPods Pro 3 (review) costs less than Rs 25,000.

Now, AirPods Pro 2 and the latest AirPods Pro 3 will be able to assist Indian users in performing hearing health tests right at home.

Apple hearing test feature.

Here's how to take a hearing health test on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPod Pro 3 via iPhone/iPad:

Prerequisit:

It should be noted that the firmware updates are delivered automatically while the AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of the companion iPhone iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. So, if you have the latest iOS 26.5/iPadOS 26.5 on any of your Apple iPhone/iPad, your AirPods Pro will be updated to the latest firmware (v8B40).

You can check the firmware version by going to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the Info button next to the name of your AirPods Pro. Scroll down to the About section to find the firmware version. It should be 8B40.

Let's begin.

Step 1: Before you begin, make sure you’re in a quiet room. The test takes about 5 minutes.

Step 2: Wear your AirPods Pro 2/3, and make sure they’re connected to your device.

Step 3: Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, tap Take a Hearing Test, and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Step 4: If asked, find a quieter space or adjust the position of your AirPods. If you’ve made several adjustments to the position of your AirPods in your ears, you may need to use different-sized ear tips before you can start the test.

The hearing test results will indicate the user's hearing loss classification and recommend the next steps on the iPhone.

Reference points to understand the hearing health test result:

-- Up to 25 dBHL (Decibels Hearing Level) indicates little to no hearing loss.

--26-40 dBHL indicates mild hearing loss, where you can hear words spoken in a normal voice from three feet away.

--41-60 dBHL indicates moderate hearing loss, where you can hear words spoken in a raised voice from three feet away.

--61-80 dBHL indicates severe hearing loss, where you can hear some words when they’re shouted into your ear.

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