According to CDC, 48 million people in the US have trouble listening to one or both their ears. This not only affects older adults – CDC also reports that five in 10 young people hear their music or other audio loud, and 4 in 10 young people are about loud loud noise during events such as concerts and sports games.
To pay more attention to our hearing health and learn more about what we can do to protect it, we Wellness editors decided to do the Apple hearing test. This is what we learned and how we intend to do things differently by moving forward.
What is Apple’s hearing test?
In the fall of 2024, Apple announced its valuable clinical hearing test with the hearing aid and the protection features. To turn your Airpods Pro 2 into the hearing aids, you must first take the audiometry -based audiometry -based hearing test.
To get Apple’s hearing test, you need Airpods Pro 2 And a compatible iPhone OR ipad. The test requires about 5 minutes to complete. First, connect your Airpods Pro 2 to your iPhone or iPad. Go to the settings, click on your airpods and under the hearing health, click Get a hearing test.
Anna’s experience: I had no problem the first time I did the test. However, the second time before I could take the test, I was asked to fix my Airpods or use different ear tips. I kept moving them around the ear and eventually I entered my bathroom and closed the door for complete calm. Then, it worked.
I found the simple and straightforward test, but it was difficult for me to focus only on the tones I heard. I ended up having to close my eyes to concentrate (and so I would not be distracted by the sound of my ignition). Although my bathroom is the quietest place in my apartment, I could still hear some outdoor noises, so if you do the test, I would recommend you to do so in the quietest possible environment.
I also like the results to be stored in the health app so that you can see them again. There, you can also find information about environmental sound levels, headphone audio levels, noise and headphone notifications and hearing items.
Nasha’s experience: I also found the easy -to -follow hearing test process, with clear instructions that guided me during each step. One of the biggest challenges I have encountered (similar to Anna) was to find a really quiet environment. I tried to test in my office, and despite being a relatively calm space, the app constantly encouraged me to move somewhere quieter. I think this underlines a possible restriction as many people can fight to find a place that meets the application level requirements, especially in jobs or busy families.
After finding a moment of calm, I could focus on the test itself. A few moments in the test, I realized that I had to close my eyes to focus on sounds. The test involves listening to faint beeps at different frequencies, and while there were times when I was sure I heard them, there were moments of doubt. Was this a beep, or just my mind playing tricks on me? This experience underlined what the perception of subjective hearing can be.
In general, Apple’s hearing test is a useful tool to raise awareness of hearing health, but the need for a silent environment can be an obstacle for some people. It is a good reminder that while home shows are useful, they are not a replacement for professional hearing evaluations.
What have we learned
According to Apple, “Hearing test results (audiograms) are the result of an audiometry test and show your hearing ability at different sound frequencies measured in decibel (DBHL). The higher the decibels, the stronger the sound you hear.”
The American Language Language Association in the Word Language says, “decibels, or DB, describe the noise. The term DB HL describes your hearing loss in decibels.”
With the Apple hearing test, the average hearing for both right and left ears is based on the four most important frequencies to speak: 500Hz, 1kHz, 2KHz and 4kHz.
Anna results: Recently, I have been concerned about my hearing, so I was pleasantly surprised that Apple’s hearing test showed that I have “little or no hearing loss”. Specifically found that my left ear is 3 dbhl while my right ear is 5 dbhl. When I made the test for the second time, my left ear was 2 dbhl and my right ear was 4 dbhl.
In other words, the degree of hearing loss in my right ear is greater than that in my left ear. I always thought my hearing was worse in my left ear, especially because I tend to have more sinus issues on my left side, so that was interesting.
It was good to be able to get this information on my phone instead of taking the time (and money) to do so in the office of an audiologist. Although Hampden’s hearing center states that most insurance plans will cover a hearing test if necessary medical, it depends. I would also not classify my curiosity about my hearing as a medical indispensable.
NASHA results: The results of the hearing test showed that I have little or no hearing loss, which was insured. The results of the first test I did said my left ear is 3 dbhl and my right ear is 5 dbhl (just like Anna!). I did the test for the second time because the first time I was in my office and there was a little noise from the air conditioner. The second time around, my results were even better than the first (this time, I got it in a quiet room in my home) -My left is -6 dbhl and my right ear is 3 dbhl.
Given that I live in New York, where noise pollution is a constant factor – whether from the metro, building places or traffic – it’s something I’m most aware of. This test was a good reminder of how important it is to be proactive about your hearing health.
One main intake for me is that while my hearing is currently in good condition, long -term exposure to high decibel levels can change it. I have learned that the daily sounds of the city can contribute to gradual hearing damage. Since getting Apple’s hearing test, I now carry with you my ear dresses at any time to wear on the train or when I am in noisy environments.
How will we take care of our hearing health by moving forward
Once you have finished taking your hearing test, you can read articles on how to protect your hearing and why it is important. In general, this is one of the biggest things about Apple’s hearing features – they remind you how important hearing health is and that you need to focus on protecting it.
Being aware of loud noises
If you are about loud noises, such as at a concert or at a fiery music restaurant, make sure you give your ears a break afterwards. Or, wear ear strips. The same is true of listening to music through your headphones. Now, whenever I listen to music, I wonder: Should this be aloud?
Take seriously hearing loss
Long -term exposure to loud sounds can lead to permanent hearing loss. If I am ever concerned about this to the point that I feel the necessary medical, I will consult an audiologist. This is also important because I would also like to make sure that no other medical condition is in the game.
Be aware of other things that can cause hearing loss
Loud noises are not the only things that can cause hearing loss. Infections, head trauma, high blood pressure, diabetes and tooth problems are just some of the sudden conditions that can lead to hearing loss.