I just took the new hearing test with AirPods Pro 2 — and it hurt my feelings
In case you missed it, the AirPods Pro 2, alongside a new hearing protection perk (a noise reduction feature that's great for concert goers), now supports a new hearing test experience.
Mashable was on the ground for the "Glowtime" Apple Event in Cupertino, so I had a chance to demo the new hearing test feature on the AirPods Pro 2. I knew my hearing wasn't up to snuff, but I didn't think it was this bad.
Hearing Test on AirPods Pro 2: How does it work?
Launching the hearing test was super easy. All I had to do was, of course, pop in the AirPods Pro 2 into my ears. Next, on an iPhone, I had to tap on "[Name] AirPods Pro 2" in the Settings app followed by the "Take a Hearing Test" option.
I provided some details such as my age and whether I had a cold or an infection. The preliminary questions also inquired about whether I was in a loud environment like a loud concert or a construction site within the last 24 hours.
I hit "Next," and suddenly, I felt the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature kick in. The hearing test requires a quiet room, but even so, the ANC helps to cancel out any white noise that may affect the test.
After going through a few more prompts, the test (based on pure-tone audiometry) launched and asked me to tap on the screen if I heard a tone. After about two minutes of tapping, I got my results — and it's not looking good for me.
My hearing test results: Moderate hearing loss
As it turns out. according to the AirPods Pro 2 hearing test, I have "moderate hearing loss."
I got the following for my results:
Left Ear - 41 dB HL (decibels hearing level)
Right Ear - 44 dB HL
In other words, it appears that I need sounds to be 41 decibels (left ear) and 44 decibels (right ear) louder than the normal hearing level to detect them.
According to a chart from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, here is a table that classifies hearing loss:
The results surprised me — and hurt my feelings a little bit. Sure I say the occasional "Huh" because I can't hear my friends properly, or I find myself straining to hear my neighbors' conversations while trying to eavesdrop on them, but I would have never pegged myself as someone with "moderate hearing loss."
Although the hearing test, according to Apple, is "scientifically validated," it prompted me to consider visiting an audiologist to verify these results. This, I'm sure, is a part of Apple's mission. (After all, as stated during the Apple event, 80% of U.S. adults haven't had a hearing test in five years.)
"Users [can share their] results with their healthcare providers for more informed conversations," Apple said in a press release.
On the bright side, whenever I pretend not to hear my fiancé because I just don’t feel like doing something, I can now flash these "moderate hearing loss" test results as the perfect excuse to get him off my case.
It's worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 also doubles as over-the-counter (OTC), clinical-grade hearing aids. Since I apparently have moderate hearing loss, I'm going to need 'em.
Both the hearing test and hearing aids feature are expected to roll out in the fall to over 100 countries, including the United States.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 start at $249 via the official Apple Store, but as of this writing, you can snag 'em for just $199 via Amazon.