The hearing aid industry has been abuzz with the release of Apple’s iOS 18, which includes new hearing aid features for their Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. Introducing an in-app hearing test and basic amplification abilities, Apple’s latest foray into hearing care has marked a major shift in how people view hearing care. 

We celebrate the impressive strides these innovations are making to normalize hearing care and encourage more people to prioritize their hearing health. By integrating features such as Conversation Boost and Transparency Mode into a popular consumer device, Apple has helped reduce the stigma traditionally associated with hearing aids. 

But what are the differences between the latest and greatest from Apple versus prescription hearing aid technology? 

Understanding the Apple AirPods Pro 2 

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 have made a name not only as high-quality earbuds but also for offering features that may appear similar to hearing aids. The AirPods Pro 2 include various sound-enhancing features that cater to casual listening and minor sound amplification: 

1. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): This feature reduces environmental noise, helping users focus on their audio content without distractions. 

2. Transparency Mode: Designed for better situational awareness, Transparency Mode allows you to hear the outside world combined with your audio. This can be useful in situations where subtle enhancements are needed. 

3. Conversation Boost: This feature slightly amplifies and clarifies the sound of people talking in front of you, making it somewhat easier to follow conversations. 

However, Apple’s in-app hearing test left us wanting. It’s a fairly basic pure-tone audiometry test, which tests for hearing loss at a rudimentary level. 

Apple AirPods Pro 2 are comparable to over-the-counter hearing aids, serving as a practical solution for certain individuals but not all. They offer features that aim to enhance sound clarity for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. However, they fall short in addressing more complex hearing needs. 

Additionally, conditions like tinnitus, cognitive decline, or earwax blockages can significantly affect hearing, but Apple’s hearing test is not designed to identify or differentiate these underlying issues. As a result, the amplification features of AirPods Pro 2 may not be effective in addressing these concerns, which often require specialized medical evaluation and treatment. 

While AirPods Pro 2 hearing features are a step towards making hearing assistance more accessible, they should be viewed as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement for medical-grade hearing devices, particularly in complex cases. 

It’s important to recognize the difference between these retail devices and specifically prescribed hearing aids from professionals for addressing your hearing health needs. 

What Hearing Aids Offer at Hearing Doctors 

Prescription hearing aids, available through professional audiology services like Hearing Doctors, are medical devices specifically engineered to address hearing loss, as well as concerns of tinnitus or auditory processing disorders. 

A comprehensive hearing test from an audiologist will test for far more than pure-tone audiometry, as well as help you understand tinnitus symptoms or how cognitive decline could be affecting your hearing. 

1. Customized Hearing Solutions: Unlike general audio devices, hearing aids are tailored to match your specific type and degree of hearing loss, providing amplification where it is most needed. 

2. Advanced Sound Processing: Hearing aids provide sophisticated features such as automatic sound environment adjustments, feedback cancellation, and directional microphones for complex hearing environments. Your hearing health expert will utilize sophisticated technology such as real-ear measurement (REM) to fine-tune your hearing aid, ensuring precision in sound amplification across different frequencies. 

3. Comprehensive Hearing Care: We offer comprehensive care, including diagnostic testing, tinnitus management, and balance services, all tailored to integrate your hearing health into your overall wellness. 

4. Ongoing Support and Adjustments: Prescription devices come with professional aftercare, ensuring the hearing aid continues to meet the evolving needs of the user. Prescription hearing aids come at a premium price point. However, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive approach to your hearing health, hearing technology offered alongside the expertise and care of professional audiologists could be the best choice for your needs. 

Key Differences 

• Purpose & Utilization: While AirPods Pro 2 are primarily consumer electronics for music and media with added hearing features; hearing aids are medical grade instruments specifically aimed at improving hearing for individuals with diagnosed hearing loss. 

• Customization: Hearing aids are customized based on specific audiograms and offer tailored amplification; AirPods Pro 2 offer general sound enhancement and background noise suppression, with little room for further customization. 

• Professional Support: Hearing aids come with professional fitting and regular adjustments, while your AirPods Pro 2 are fitted and programmed by you at home — leaving room for user error. 

• Regulation and Classification: Hearing aids are regulated medical devices, ensuring they meet standards for treating hearing loss. While Apple AirPods Pro 2 are FDA approved to work as hearing technology for individuals with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, they only work for certain situations, not all. 

Which Are Right for You? 

When it comes to choosing between Apple AirPods Pro 2 and prescription hearing aids, it's essential to consider your primary needs.  

For quality music and partial sound amplification, Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer useful features. However, for comprehensive and personalized hearing loss solutions, prescription hearing aids are the clear choice, backed by medical expertise and dedicated care.  

If you took the Apple hearing test at home and are contemplating your newfound hearing loss, we encourage you to visit us for a comprehensive hearing test to better understand your hearing health needs. 

Please feel free to schedule an appointment through our website or call Hearing Doctors at the location nearest you in the Washington DC Metro.