Your AirPods can test your hearing, and they’re surprisingly accurate

Most people use their AirPods to enjoy music on the go, take calls, or join meetings. Unfortunately, many users don’t know that some AirPods also offer a seriously capable tool that can test your hearing. While Apple doesn’t advertise this feature much, it’s one of the best and most underrated accessibility tools I’ve ever come across. If you’ve ever noticed that one of your ears hears better than the other or are concerned about your hearing, your AirPods can give you a clear snapshot in a few minutes.

How AirPods can test your hearing

Check if you’ve got compatible AirPods

Last year, Apple introduced the Hearing Test feature in the U.S. and other select countries with the iOS 18.1 update. It was then expanded to additional countries with iOS 18.2.

Apple Hearing Test is a five-minute test that gives you insights into your hearing and helps you identify if you have any hearing loss. You can take this test right on your iPhone, which will play different frequencies of sound through your AirPods. Some tones are soft and low, while others are loud and high-pitched. You have to respond by indicating the sounds you can and can’t hear. All you have to do is tap on the screen every time you hear a tone pulse. Your iPhone will then translate your results into an audiogram, similar to what audiologists use for a clinical hearing test.

It’s worth knowing that not all AirPods models offer this feature. The Apple Hearing Test is only compatible with AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 running the latest firmware. Your AirPods are automatically updated when they are charging and in the Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with a stable internet connection. If you aren’t sure, you can also update your AirPods manually. Unlike Apple Intelligence, you don’t need a newer iPhone; it just requires an iPhone or iPad with iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.2 (or newer versions).

How to take a hearing test with your AirPods

Get ready and run the test

Before you get started, there are a few things you need to keep in mind so you have a successful test:

1. Your AirPods should fit properly in your ears. If they aren’t, you can try a different ear tip that offers a more secure fit.
2. For accurate test results, it’s a good idea to clean your AirPods.
3. Make sure your AirPods have sufficient charge.
4. Since the test plays a series of tones and sometimes at very low volumes, you must take the test in a quiet environment.
5. Your test results might not be accurate if you’ve been in a loud environment like a concert or party, or had a cold or ear infection in the last 24 hours.

Once your prerequisites are sorted, you’re ready to take the test. There are two ways to start the hearing test on your iPhone. First and the quickest one is to head to Settings -> your AirPods -> Take a Hearing Test. Alternatively, you can head to the Health app, select the Browse tab from the bottom, select the Hearing category, and tap Take Hearing Test.

1. Put your AirPods Pro in your ears.
2. On the Test Your Hearing screen, hit the Get Started button.
3. Answer a few preliminary questions, like your age, if you have a cold or allergy, and your recent noise exposure. Once done, tap Next.
4. Again, tap Next to start the test. If there’s a lot of background noise, you’ll see a message asking you to find a quiet place for the test.
5. Next up, you’ll be asked to wear your AirPods in the correct ear and adjust the position. Then, AirPods will check the fit and measure background noise.
6. When everything is good, you’ll be walked through a few other instructions.
7. When prompted, hit the Start Test button.
8. First, it will play tones in your left ear. Make sure to tap the screen when you hear a sound.
9. Once the left ear is completed, it will test your right ear.

It took me around 10 minutes to finish the test.

Understanding your results

How to read your test results

When the test completes, you’ll see results that show your overall hearing loss in dB HL (decibel hearing level), along with easy-to-understand hearing classification, and what you need to do next. You will see a single value number for each ear. It’s worth knowing that the higher the number, the louder the sound has to be for you to hear it properly. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Up to 25 dB HL: You have little to no hearing loss.
• 26 to 40 dB HL: Mild hearing loss, where you can hear a normal voice in a close range.
• 40 to 40 dB HL: Moderate hearing loss, where you can hear raised voices.
• 61 to 80 dB HL: Severe hearing loss, where you can understand words that are very loud or being shouted in your ears.

In my case, I got little to no hearing loss. Well, I’m not surprised. Like most people, I sometimes struggle with hearing words when I’m at a crowded restaurant, a party, or any other loud environment. Otherwise, I’m the first one to get up whenever someone calls my name, even if it is across the room.

If your test results indicate mild to moderate hearing loss, you can use AirPods Pro as a Hearing Aid; they are FDA-approved. Your iPhone will use your hearing test results to fine-tune your AirPods so you can easily hear sounds and voices around you. You can find this option under Settings -> Accessibility -> Hearing Devices.

Also, you can use the Media Assist feature to optimize music, videos, and calls as per your hearing profile. Just go to Settings -> AirPods Pro -> Hearing Health -> Media Assist and turn it On. You can choose to use your hearing test results or make manual adjustments with the Custom Setup option. You can also view and share your hearing test results in the Health app.

In case you have perceived severe hearing loss, you must seek medical help.

How accurate are AirPods hearing tests

Are these reliable?

You must be wondering if AirPods’ hearing test results are accurate. Well, this question also struck my mind a couple of times. So, I did a little research to satisfy my curiosity.

According to several surveys, research, and expert opinions, Apple’s hearing test is impressive and accurate. If you’re worried about your hearing, it’s a great tool to rule out any potential issues. The test is quick and convenient, and can produce results that closely track clinical audiograms. Overall, it’s a high-quality monitoring tool, but it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for a full medical assessment by a professional.

Put your hearing insights into action

Apple’s Hearing Test isn’t just a clever trick; it’s a genuinely useful feature that can help you unlock the full benefits of your AirPods. Once you’ve taken the test, iOS will automatically fine-tune audio across calls, music, and videos, so everything feels clearer and balanced. No matter if you’re worried about your hearing or not, it’s a good idea to take the Apple Hearing Test to form a baseline.

Your AirPods also offer other features, such as Live Listen, Adaptive Transparency, and Conversational Boost, to give you that extra control in everyday environments. Also, it’s worth checking the basics, like keeping a reasonable listening volume. Even better, turn on Apple Headphone notifications to receive important prompts and keep yourself aware of your listening habits.