An in-depth review of the recently announced AirPod upgrade from Apple that will allow users to transform their AirPods into Over-the-Counter hearing aids. Here, we highlight the clear disadvantages of using AirPods as hearing aids, while encouraging readers to invest in a dedicated pair of hearing aids from an actual hearing care provider.

According to Apple, a new software upgrade—to be released in Fall 2024—allows you to perform a hearing test with your Apple AirPod Pro 2 Wireless Headphones, which will transform your AirPods into what Apple is calling “clinical grade” Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids.

The news is certainly exciting—since many people already own an iPhone and AirPods. However, a closer examination of the product shows that using your AirPods as hearing aids might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

In this quick review of the Apple AirPods product, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Can I Really Use My AirPods Instead of Hearing Aids?

Once the new features are released in Fall 2024, Apple claims that you will indeed be able to use your AirPods as real hearing aids. Hearing assistance features have actually been available for some time on the AirPods. What’s new is the clinically validated hearing test, the automatic adjustments according to your hearing profile, and the ability to function as a real pair of Over-the-Counter hearing aids.

Here’s what Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said about Apple’s recent AirPod hearing aid upgrades:

Today’s marketing authorization of an over-the-counter hearing aid software on a widely used consumer audio product is another step that advances the availability, accessibility and acceptability of hearing support for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.”

The upgrade allows anyone with AirPod Pro 2 wireless headphones—and an iPhone running the latest iOS 18 operating system—to activate the hearing test and hearing aid features.

How Much Do AirPods Cost as Hearing Aids?

There’s no additional cost to use the AirPod OTC hearing aid feature, but you will need to purchase an iPhone running iOS 18 and a set of AirPods Pro 2. The cheapest iPhones cost about $430–$600, and AirPod Pro 2 headphones cost about $250. At these price levels, the product could represent an affordable alternative to spending thousands of dollars for traditional hearing aids from a hearing clinic.

Plus, many Americans already have an iPhone and AirPods in their possession—so the hearing aid feature will certainly bring hearing to a lot of patients who don’t already have it. This is important when you consider that approximately 70% of people with hearing loss are not receiving the assistance they need.

That being said, the AirPods hearing aid feature might not provide the quality of care that hearing aid users have come to expect. But before we talk about the user experience in-depth, let’s look closer at the features themselves.

3 Features of the Apple AirPods Hearing Aids

1. Hearing Test

Apple’s recent software upgrade means that your AirPods can provide a clinically validated hearing test. This involves listening to a series of sounds at different volume levels and tapping the screen of your phone when you hear a sound. The test provides a dBHL (decibel hearing level) score for both ears at different frequencies.

The hearing test is built on information gained from the Apple Hearing Study, which involved more than 160,000 participants and was validated against clinical audiology standards.

2. OTC Hearing Aid Functionality

Once you have the test results, your iPhone and AirPods will automatically adjust their audio output to match your unique hearing profile. At the same time, your AirPod microphones will start to detect outside noises and amplify important sounds like conversations.

Essentially, the AirPod Pro 2 devices can work like an over-the-counter hearing aid for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss.

3. Background Noise Reduction

The final feature offered in the new upgrade is the ability to reduce the sound of distracting background noises. This feature allows AirPods users to hear conversation sounds more clearly in noisy situations.

Why AirPods Are NOT a Suitable Replacement for Hearing Aids

According to Apple marketing literature, the new AirPod features provide “clinical grade” hearing loss treatment. However, it’s important to note that this statement is misleading. The popular audiology influencer, Dr. Cliff, AuD, made an important comment about this:

[Apple] can’t technically say—at least based on the verbiage inside the [FDA] rule—‘clinical grade hearing aid.’ They have to say Over-the-Counter hearing aid. That’s part of the requirement, so I don’t know why Apple is choosing to be misleading on that [...] They probably got an okay from the FDA, so the FDA doesn’t come down on them.”

Although Apple’s latest hearing aid features haven’t been released yet, the AirPods have been able to function as unofficial hearing aids for some time. According to Dr. Cliff, unless Apple makes radical upgrades in the quality of its hearing aid performance, he doesn’t expect the upgrades will provide a very good hearing aid experience.

Here is what Dr. Cliff said about Apple AirPod hearing aid performance based on current information:

[HearAdvisor] put them through laboratory testing to find out how good they actually are… and from an initial tuned fit, the AirPods Pro 2 did horrible. I’m talking brutally horrible, and then even when they have been tuned [professionally], they still didn’t perform that good [...] the AirPods 2 were in the bottom 25%. They were not even close to as good as most of the Over-the-Counter hearing aids that existed out there on the market at the time of testing… As of right now, anyone who thinks that the AirPods Pro 2 are going to take over the hearing aid industry, you’re just misinformed… And you haven’t actually had patients come and talk to you about how bad these were to address your hearing loss even if they were within the fitting range of these devices. We have to start grasping reality here.”

We expect that Apple will provide some performance enhancements in the coming upgrades. However, given the subpar performance of AirPods in previous laboratory tests, we are not optimistic about how the devices will perform.

Why MDHearing Hearing Aids Are Better Than Apple AirPods

After a close examination of what AirPods provide as hearing aids, we are confident that patients are better served by choosing dedicated hearing aid devices from an OTC provider like MDHearing. Here are the most important reasons why MDHearing aids are substantially better at treating your hearing loss:

AirPods Have an Extremely Short Battery Life

AirPods Pro 2 have an estimated battery life of around 6 hours, making them a poor option for all-day use. Wearers will need to continually recharge their AirPods throughout the day, which means they won’t be able to participate in conversations during these times. Of all the downsides of using your AirPods as hearing aids, we feel the battery life issue is the biggest problem that users need to be aware of. 

By contrast, MDHearing aids offer a significantly longer battery life, lasting approximately 16 to 20 hours on a single charge (depending on the model). This extended battery life means that you can enjoy your hearing aids—and crystal clear conversations—throughout the day without taking any breaks for recharging. Just place the hearing aids in their charging case when you go to bed at night, and you’ll wake up in the morning to another day of excellent hearing.

AirPods Do Not Provide a Comfortable Fit: They Are Not Suitable for All-Day Wear

Comfort and secure hearing aid fittings are a key part of effective hearing care. At best, AirPods provide a one-size-fits-all approach. If you’ve ever used a pair of AirPods long-term, you know that they can feel painful after wearing them for too long. Also, the one-size-fits-all ear inserts can lead to the devices regularly falling out of your ears, getting lost on the ground, or even breaking! This creates an aggravating user experience that isn’t the best for long-term hearing aid use.

MDHearing solves this issue with customizable fitting options. For our behind-the-ear (BTE) models, we offer three different tubing lengths and multiple dome options for the widest range of ear sizes and shapes. Meanwhile, our in-the-ear (ITE) models come with three different dome sizes per ear. These options ensure a comfortable and secure fit for all-day use.

Apple AirPods Are Unsightly in Appearance: They Are Not Discreet or Professional

Appearance definitely matters when it comes to hearing aids! AirPods look like headphones, and they’re highly visible when you’re wearing them. This might not be suitable for all social or professional occasions. In fact, if you’re wearing AirPods during a conversation, it could give the impression that you’re not paying attention, or that you’re not fully engaged in the conversation. You’ll also face a lot of questions about why you’re wearing them, and you’ll continually need to explain yourself.

MDHearing aids are designed to be discreet and subtle. Our BTE (Behind-the-Ear) devices rest behind the ear and are difficult to detect, and our ITE (In-the-Ear) devices are even more discreet, fitting snugly inside the ear canal. This will allow you to speak with friends and participate in conversations without drawing unnecessary attention.

Apple Does Not Provide Any Dedicated Licensed Hearing Care Support or Professional Guidance

Support is a crucial aspect of hearing care. Apple provides limited support for using AirPods as hearing aids. For example, you won’t be able to consult with a licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist relating to your Apple Airpods. The best you’ll be able to achieve is visiting a local Apple Store—where you’ll only be able to speak with a sales person, who won’t have any experience or training in hearing health.

By contrast, MDHearing has a team of licensed U.S.-based hearing care specialists and audiologists who are available to guide you through the process of setting up and using your hearing aids. MDHearing’s professionals can also provide phone, video, or email-based telehealth advice and personalized hearing care recommendations based on the results of your hearing test.

Concerns About the Long-Term Health Effects of Wearing Apple AirPods

Some individuals have concerns about potential health risks associated with long-term use of Apple AirPods due to the strong radio waves they emit. While there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking AirPods to health issues, you may want to read the following article about this topic as it applies to Apple AirPods.

Which MDHearing Hearing Aid Do We Recommend Instead of AirPods?

Apple's AirPods are trying to offer basic over-the-counter hearing functionality—and in some ways they are achieving it as an emergency or temporary hearing solution, especially when you’re in a pinch. However, we recommend the VOLT MAX from MDHearing instead of AirPods. The VOLT MAX provides a more comprehensive and personalized hearing solution, including all-day battery life and a more discreet, professional appearance. 

Similar to the AirPods, the VOLT MAX allows you to perform a personalized hearing check through the MDHearing app. This hearing check, which asks you to listen and respond to a series of tones, creates a unique hearing profile. Then the VOLT MAX automatically adjusts to match your specific needs. 

Aside from the hearing check and automatic hearing aid adjustments, this is where the similarities end. As a dedicated hearing aid device—purpose built for the needs of those with hearing loss—the VOLT MAX goes far beyond AirPods in terms of functionality, live technical support, all-day comfort, all-day performance, and more.

Why Choose VOLT MAX Over AirPods for Hearing Care?

• Personalized Hearing Check and Settings: Conduct a hearing check via the app, and the VOLT MAX automatically customizes its settings based on your results.

• Professional Support from Real Audiologists and Hearing Aid Specialists: Unlike Apple, MDHearing offers unlimited U.S.-based support from licensed audiologists and professionally trained hearing aid specialists who can remotely fine-tune your hearing aids.

• Use a Professional Hearing Test for Custom Adjustments: Unlike Apple, users can send the results of a professional hearing test to MDHearing, and our trained hearing aid specialists will remotely adjust your hearing aid over the internet—according to the same standards that hearing clinics use. 

• All-Day Battery Life: Enjoy up to 15 hours of continuous use on a single charge, far surpassing the AirPods' limited battery life.

• Comfortable and Secure Fit: With customizable fittings, the VOLT MAX ensures all-day comfort and stays securely in place.

• Discreet Design: Unlike the distracting appearance of AirPods, the behind-the-ear design of the VOLT MAX is subtle and professional, allowing you to talk with friends, family, and colleagues without drawing attention or attracting unwanted questions.

• Advanced Hearing Technology: Adaptive directional microphones and feedback reduction provide clear hearing in various environments.

At the end of the day, the VOLT MAX offers personalized hearing care and telehealth services with advanced features. This combined with all-day battery life and a more comfortable fit is why we feel that the VOLT MAX is a superior choice over the basic OTC options in Apple's AirPods. 

Final Thoughts on Apple AirPods as Hearing Aids

While it’s clear that Apple AirPods will not provide a suitable level of hearing care for the average person, there may be some situations where your AirPods can be of use. For example, if your hearing aids break—and you need an emergency or temporary solution to participate in conversations—it could be nice to have a set of AirPods on hand. 

Also, if you have a pair of AirPods and you’ve never used a pair of hearing aids before, you might want to try them out when these features are released in Fall 2024. With your AirPods, you’ll be able to do a hearing test to see if you need hearing aids. You’ll also be able to try out the hearing aid function to see what the hearing aid experience is like—and how you might benefit from using a pair of actual hearing aids. 

We feel that the AirPods are a positive addition to the hearing care space because they can serve as an emergency, temporary solution, while introducing more Americans to the benefits and joys of treating their hearing loss. However, these devices are not a suitable alternative to purchasing an actual pair of hearing aids. 

Due to the fact that Apple AirPods are uncomfortable to wear, do not provide all-day battery life, are unsightly and distracting in appearance—and the lack of any real audiology support for customers—we hope you’ll choose real hearing aid from a dedicated hearing care provider like MDHearing!

Check out our full line of affordable, FDA-registered, OTC hearing aids.
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