AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test fails with "Unable to classify due to background noise" error.

I had the same problem,

hearing test failed multiple times.

I used a pair of earmuffs hearing protection.

I put them on over the AirPods

this kept the external noise out.

The hearing test passed the first time I tried this.

easy solution,

Randy

Do not buy the airpod pro 2 with the intention of hearing assistance. Like many other users, I have taken the hearing test now 11 times (with apple confirmed fit and environmental silence level) with the same answer: "unable to classify". Apple support is wholly unable to help and just a waste of time. Thoroughly disgusted and wish I had not wasted my money.

My wife and I have identical iphone 14’s. My airpod pro 2 are made China and hers are made in Vietnam. My iphone and airpods complete the hearing test every time, no errors. I tried her phone and airpods, and the test failed 2 out of 3 times that I took it. All firmware on all devices match. Could there be a difference between China and Vietnam builds?

I bought AirPod Pro 2’s because I was so stoked over the Hearing feature they announced

However, I could not get the Hearing Test to complete

I repeatedly got the dreaded ‘Unable to Classify’ message no matter how careful I was to take the test in a noiseless environment

I was about to throw in the towel after many attempts when something popped into my head

In the past I had run into issues when recording guitar into my DAW

I kept getting noise on the tracks and I couldn’t figure out why

It turned out that the source of the humming sound was the dimmer switch for my room lighting

A dimmer switch can cause RFI on the electrical wiring which can result in noise on electrical devices such as radios and amplifiers etc.

Remembering this, I turned off the dimmer switch and took the test again (in the dark)

It worked, my test completed on the first pass

Try killing any dimmer switches you have anywhere in your living quarters

and see if this works for you

It’s possible the AirPods were being affected by the dimmer RFI noise, and that was the issue all along

Good luck

I can say without reservation, the AirPods are fantastic for moderate hearing loss

Highly recommended :)

Like many of you, I had this same problem. Here’s how I solved it:

I took the test early in the morning, in my parked car, in the garage with the car and garage doors shut (engine off, of course). After getting in the car, I then put on a pair of shooting ear protection over the AirPods (large over-the-ear headphones would probably also work) — you have to be careful not to bump the stem on the AirPod when putting them on or you’ll get an “AirPod not properly seated” message after the preliminary test.

Then get yourself as comfortable as possible, with your phone and right hand resting on something, and your index finger poised just above the screen. Try not to move *at all* during the test (except your finger).

Doing it that way got me results on the first try.

This is very disappointing as I too got these thinking I could use hearing assist. I have latest firmware 7b21 and still get unable to classify in soundproof room. Granted my left ear doesn’t work so well but right ear does. I complete test then I get unable to classify due to background noise, there is none! Have tried at least 5 or 6 times..

Just tried that and no luck. I think you just got lucky that time.

I honestly don’t think it’s noise at all. I’ve done it in dead silence as I said I even put shooting hearing over the top in a dead silent house and it still fails after it finishes on the second ear every time. If it detects noise it will fail immediately. It doesn’t wait until it finishes.

Ok I had a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones and tried them in full noise cancellation mode - I got the left ear classified then same old error on the right ear- when I tried again I get the same issue back at the left ear - oh apple can you hear me now??

OK, this is an update to my earlier post. I tried 3 more times trying my iPhone 13, in a silent room (23-27db) and wearing my firing range ear muffs. Each attempt failed just like previous attempts. I then tried to take the test using my iPad Pro, ear muffs and the same room. The second attempt using the iPad was successful and why it was successful the last time I haven't a clue. The system will now allow me to use the hearing aid function and I do find it useful as this test (along with a previous test performed by an audiologist) showed my hearing in my left ear is weak. Anyway, good luck with your attempts. Surely apple will improve the software.

Edit. After many failed attempts, my wife decided to try the test in another room with minimal active electronics. The test succeeded with results in the 24 db loss in both ears. I think the issue was performing the test near her Mac /monitor/ iPads etc. all that RFI was prob causing interference.

Went to Apple support. Chatted with a representative. They said I needed to have the AirPods tested by a technician. Went to Genius bar. The technician ran a sound test on my AirPods. He could not complete the test because one of the noise cancellation features was not available to turn off. Airpods still under warranty. Waiting for replacements that should be in this week.

I had the same problem. Multiple “unable to classify because of background noise” fails on left ear. Saw a previous post about using over the ear headphones and remembered I had some ear protectors that I wear when I mow the lawn. Put them on over my AirPods and went all the way through both ear tests first try. So, for another $10 or so at Home Depot/Lowes, this might work for you too.

My AirPods as hearing aids seem to work better for hearing the TV than my expensive hearing aids do. The charge won’t last as long but then I don’t spend that much time watching TV so it’s not a big deal.

Ok, so, I bought the AirPods specifically for the hearing aid function and spent all day yesterday trying to get the hearing test to work. Half way through the day I found out you have to upgrade the iOS. Still couldn’t get past the first ear! Totally silent area, so it’s not background noise.

Today I drive to the Apple Store and paid about $900 for a new iPad and keyboard. Loaded it all up and no hearing test available. Finally, after upgrading the iOS I got the test. And it WORKED! And now I can hear everything around me. Glad I’m retired and can spend 2 full days on this! Let’s go Apple, please fix the bug in iPhone!