AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid and Hearing Test Features Approved to Launch in Canada

[MacRumors]

Health Canada on Wednesday issued Apple licenses for the hearing aid and hearing test features available on the AirPods Pro 2. Apple is now permitted to launch these features in Canada, and that will likely happen in the coming months.

With the clinical-grade hearing aid feature, AirPods Pro 2 can amplify the sound around you. The feature is intended for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, according to Apple. There is no additional cost to use the feature in countries where it is available, as it is rolling out through free software updates.

Meanwhile, the five-minute hearing test allows adults to identify if they have hearing loss by measuring their ability to hear different frequencies of sound. Afterwards, the results will show a hearing loss classification and recommended next steps.

The hearing health features first launched in the U.S. and select other countries in late October. The just-released iOS 18.2 update for the iPhone expanded the hearing test feature to France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Czechia, and the UK, and both the hearing aid and hearing test features to the United Arab Emirates.

There is also a hearing protection feature on the AirPods Pro 2 that is already available in Canada.

All of the hearing health features on the AirPods Pro 2 require firmware version 7B19 or newer. Firmware updates are installed automatically on AirPods while they are charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi-Fi.

The hearing aid and hearing test features could launch in Canada with the release of iOS 18.3 in January, or with iOS 18.4 in April.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid and Hearing Test Features Approved to Launch in Canada

 

[Stuartglossop]

Hoping for a UK release soon

 

[Baseline]

Is there a link to the press release, or to the license approval? I can't find one anywhere.

Link is in the article.

 

[Apple$]

Nice! Wasn't expecting this so quickly from Health Canada.

 

[Howard2k]

Progress! Glad to hear it.

 

[brar.arsh]

Nice! Wasn't expecting this so quickly from Health Canada.

They just copy and paste from the US and UK most of the time with a little delay. It's about time!!

 

[BuddyTronic]

That’s weird because I did the hearing test already and I’m in Canada, but maybe it’s because I was in USA for a few weeks.

Or maybe I set it (Apple ID) up for country USA

Maybe USA should annex Alberta and Saskatchewan haha.

 

[ummario]

I haven't tested yet, since I'm at a noisy place at this moment. But Hearing test is also available in Portugal!

 

[DougieS]

Hoping for a UK release soon

It is available in the UK already as part of 18.2:

iOS 18.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.2

iOS 18.2 is the second major update to iOS 18, and it brings the first Apple Intelligence image generation features, ChatGPT integration with Siri,...

www.macrumors.com

AirPods Pro Hearing Test and Hearing Aid Expansion​

The AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test feature is now available in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and the UK.

 

[LV426]

It is available in the UK already as part of 18.2:

iOS 18.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.2

iOS 18.2 is the second major update to iOS 18, and it brings the first Apple Intelligence image generation features, ChatGPT integration with Siri,...

www.macrumors.com

A Hearing Test does not a Hearing Aid make.

There's more to it than having a test. It can't be enabled to use as a hearing aid until it has met the appropriate regulation.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

It's annoying that you can't try out the feature if you pass the hearing test.

 

[philip456]

What about the UK? Come on Apple, get a move on.

 

[jonnysods]

I will do this test right away as soon as they release it!

 

[evpxy]

Won’t need firmware update. Can be rolled out before Xmas.

 

[wbeasley]

Australia dragging their heels again?
Took years to get Watch Heart stuff ;(

It's not like they actually do anything more than look at overseas results.
Ears are ears. nothing special about aussie ears...

This isnt a therapeutic device. It's an assistive tool that could be used to help and save mild hearing loss people from paying thousands of dollars on real hearing devices.

 

[svish]

Good to see an official launch. Waiting to see it become available in my country. The unofficial way to access it should be enough for now.

 

[didaho]

It's annoying that you can't try out the feature if you pass the hearing test.

easy enough to fail

 

[AndySummers]

🇨🇦 here. I keep checking my phone every once in a while but nothing yet. This article gave me hope, and that springs eternal.