AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aids Setup - Tips From a Retired Sound Engineer

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I received an email with some steps to better tune up the AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids. I asked permission to reshare here (lightly edited for formatting). I assume mileage may vary given everyone’s hearing is different. Let me know if it works for you!

AirPods Pro as Hearing Aids - Sound Modification Info

I’m a retired sound engineer / live sound mixer with some mild hearing loss. I wanted to try the new AirPods Pro as hearing aids, so I purchased a pair, took the hearing test on my iPhone running iOS 18.1, and… didn’t like the sound. They sounded overly bright and “crunchy” to me, so I did some experimenting modifying the sound and really like the results. I wanted to share this info.

Here’s what I did:

Step 1: Access Current Hearing Test Results

  1. With Bluetooth enabled, go to your current hearing test results:
    Settings → Apps → Health → Data Access and Devices → Settings → Hearing Test Results

  2. Write down the current settings listed for each ear. You’ll need this info as a starting point to create a new, custom hearing test result.

Step 2: Create a New Custom Hearing Test Result

  1. Go to:
    Settings → (your) AirPods Pro → Hearing Assistance → Media Assist (turn on) → Update Hearing Test Results → Add Hearing Test Result (scroll to bottom of page) → Add Manually → Enter Results Manually

  2. Select:
    Cross and Circle icons → Continue → Select frequencies: 250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 3kHz, 4kHz, 6kHz, 8kHz → Continue

  3. Add Values:
    Enter the values from your test results that you are currently using for the Left ear (blue cross) and Right ear (red circle) for each frequency up to 1kHz.

  4. Press Continue after entering the values for each frequency.

Step 3: Modify High-Frequency Values

Now you are going to enter different numbers from 2kHz to 8kHz. This is the range where speech clarity and intelligibility reside. Over-amplification in this range can make sounds like rattling car keys or rustling paper unnatural and irritating.

Using your test result numbers as a reference, try the following adjustments:

  • At 2kHz: Subtract 3 from your test result for both left & right ears.
  • At 3kHz: Subtract 6 from your test result for both left & right ears.
  • At 4kHz: Subtract 8 from your test result for both left & right ears.
  • At 6kHz and 8kHz: Subtract 10 from your test result for both left & right ears.

After entering the values for 8kHz, press Continue, then select Done if you’re sure you have entered all the values correctly.

Step 4: Compare the Original and Custom Settings

  1. After pressing Done, you’ll be on a page showing your hearing test results, including the custom one you just manually entered. At the top, it says “Choose a Hearing Test Result.”

  2. Don’t select the new hearing test results yet. With your AirPods Pro in your ears, play some music (from an external stereo system in your home or car) with vocals from the beginning of a song and listen for about 30 seconds.

  3. As the music is playing, select the new custom hearing test results from the “Choose a Hearing Test Result” page (it will show the date of the test result) to hear the difference between the original and the new settings.

Step 5: Enable the New Custom Setting

  1. Select the new hearing test result, then follow these prompts:
    • Select “Next”
    • Select “Set Up Hearing Aid”
    • Select “Get Started”
    • Select “Next”
    • Select “Turn On Hearing Aid”

You’ll now hear the new custom setting. Voila! Select Done.

Step 6: Decide on Your Preferred Setting

At this point, you can decide which setting you prefer. You can always return to the “Choose a Hearing Test Result” page and choose the original test result or any other test results you create.

9 Likes
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Thanks for this useful information.

I’ve always found the AirPods sound natural to me but occasionally they do sound a bit over bright. I will have a play tomorrow.

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Great stuff, thanks. Just did the Apple test and added an identical new Custom test, as per your excellent instructions. But, I can’t seem to find how to get back into the Custom test to adjust the frequencies! Is that option only available when I make the new, Custom result? lmk if you know how to do that. Thanks, Bill

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@AbramBaileyAuD thanks for posting this - I have added a “new” hearing test per your suggestion. I was pretty happy with the Airpods Pro 2’s setting based on my original test for both streaming and listening to “live” music (both really live music and music through speakers). First check suggests your adjustments may be a little better - but I will spend more time switching between the two settings to see which I prefer.

@bmyregaard yes add a new test manually per instructions above. Once done you can go into the Airpod update hearing results and “Choose a Hearing Test Result” (with Airpod Pro 2’s connected to you iPhone - I am impressed the update seems to be instantaneous)

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@AbramBaileyAuD After testing this a bit I think I prefer settings based on my Apple hearing test - but thanks for suggesting this.

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Hi (again:). I was wondering if you can go into a “Hearing Test Result” and alter the frequency amounts, after you’ve save a new one, or do you have to delete it and start over to alter the frequencies? Thanks, Bill!

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No follow the instructions @AbramBaileyAuD posted above and add a new test manually.

No need to delete (in fact you should not delete) your existing “Hearing Test Result”. Once you have done this you can go into the Airpods Pro 2’s settings and update hearing results and “Choose a Hearing Test Result” (with Airpod Pro 2’s connected to you iPhone). Then you can easily switch between the hearing results and decide which one you prefer.

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Disclaimer: we do not have that facility here, yet. But for when we do, and given that the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid facility is designed for “mild to moderate” hearing loss only, is it possible to defeat these constraints and program for severe to profound loss as well, using your method? TIA, KL