I just updated my iPhone to iOS 18.1 and cannot see the hearing aid/hearing test features. My AirPods are up to date 7B19
I'm in the UK if that makes any difference.
I've just noticed that the feature is not available in the UK. It's just about the only country where it's not available
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Apple SupportUK is as much use as a chocolate fireguard on this subject. I enquire and had to jump through several hoops e.g "Serial number please". Nothing wrong with the AirPods Pro 2 just asking why the UK is not included.
Did a bit of research and this is what came up from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Apple simply hasn't registered them in the UK! This is the MHRA response.
Thank you for your email.
As of 18 Nov 2024, Apple Inc has not registered the AirPods Pro 2 or Hearing Aid Feature as a medical device with the MHRA. Details on what Apple has registered with the MHRA are available to search on the Public Access Registrations Database (PARD) at the following link PARD
Registration of devices with the MHRA (the UK Competent Authority) does not represent any form of accreditation, certification, approval or endorsement by the MHRA.
In accordance with the above, medical device manufacturers must ensure that all information registered with the MHRA is accurate and up to date.
You may wish to contact Apple UK (see details below) to learn of plans to introduce the Hearing Aid Feature in the UK.
Telephone: 0800 107 6285
Contact – Official Apple Support (UK)
Get technical support for Apple’s Accessibility features
Connect with British Sign Language support
Kind regards,
Judith
MHRA Customer Experience Centre
Communications and engagement
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
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having a moderate hearing loss in the higher frequencies I have to say the impact of applying this is amazing
100% agree. Mine were originally purchased for the audio performance before knowing about the option to add the audiogram to media and further enhance listening pleasure. Mine are in my ears most of the time. The hearing aid feature will be the icing on the cake when we finally get it over here.
iPhone 6s.it won't even recognise the Airbuds. Bluetooth says "Connected".......and that's about it......no sign of them in "Settings", Mimi works Ok so Hearing test results is stored in "Health".....but that's about it........unless I'm doing something wrong..........If it only works with iOS 17........then I doubt if I'll find a phone that hasn't been updated to 18.......we'll have to wait on Apple......
The iPhone 6S goes back to 2014/2015 so it was never going to work... An iPhone 12 will definitely work.
Mackers67 wrote:
Looks like it’s getting close. Also reported in The Telegraph.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-light-for-groundbreaking-hearing-aids
This is great news. There is now no reason why the hearing aid feature will not be made available with the next update.
Have you connected your AirPods and then clicked on to their settings via the setting Menu? You should see an option for ‘Hearing Assistance’ with then further options to enable hearing aids via adding audiogram results or taking a hearing test.
Its definitely working for me :)
It's interesting reading this Apple article, published on Jan 14th, 2025, which gives instructions for setting up Conversation Boost when the feature no longer works. Has anyone else tried this recently?
Customise headphone audio levels on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)
I've also found this news story on Mac Rumors from a week ago, which cites an article in The Telegraph: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/23/apple-airpods-pro-2-new-feature-coming-uk/
I'm going to check if it's available on my Mum's iPhone when I next get the opportunity.
There's something very wrong..Apple says the Airbuds 2 pro are compatible right back to SE 1st.....6s is also included in List as compatible....I have a 6s......and it can't find the airbuds.....AirPods Pro 2 - Tech Specs – Apple Support (UK)
Redbett wrote:
Sorry for unrelated comment, but your posts are showing futuristic dates of 27 January 2025. What’s your secret and can you get the lotto results for me in Australia. I’ll share the booty with you
Uh...Today is February 3, 2025. That makes January 27, 2025 a week in the past. Or does time go backwards in Australia?
You need to read the document ‘Hearing aids in the UK - policy statement’ Published 16 January 2025 on the Gov UK website.
It sets out the DHSC position and interprets the supply of AirPod Pro and other such devices as not contravening current regulations.
The Health Minister has cleared away these barriers, allowing the use of such items and software.
Read this for full details and all will become clear. It’s a de facto deregulation of this part of the industry.
…and a good thing.
Yep. Opened up settings just now with my AirPods in and the hearing assistance menu option appeared on the settings page.
Took moments to set up as I already had audiograms; I can now hear clearly!! 😁
At last!!
What do you think of the performance. Compared stretta (NHS) hearing aids I am very impressed.
the only thing I’m not keen on at the moment is the sound of my own voice. As the AirPods completely block the ear canal, hearing yourself does sound strange
imagine it will become normal though, as I use them more
I dare say at some time, the software might be tweaked to sort that.
I noticed the same with this as well as with just Transparency and Adaptive mode previously.
Part of this may well be the fact that your voice is being amplified, true enough; perhaps the fact one is hearing better in total is also part of it!
Initially I’m impressed. Remains to be seen testing in anger when at work, I work in dentistry with lots of high frequency ambient sound That affects my tinnitus quite badly. Previously, the adaptive mode worked very well at draining out ambient sound whilst allowing me to hear colleagues and patients more clearly. It was really good at suppressing the noise of air syringes and my high-speed handpiece which is particularly piercing-no pun intended!
Can’t wait for work tomorrow!
Mine are working well. The ambient noise reduction is excellent as well. At last we are there with this function in the UK.
There is nothing on the latest IOS update about it and the website that shows the country availability mentions the UK yet.
I still continue to use mine using the transparency option in Headphone Accommodations running IOS 17.7.1.
Maybe Apple created an update especially for you and didn't give it to anybody else?
I think you need to be on at least iOS 18, perhaps 18.2 which I think was when the hearing test was included. I’m running 18.3.1. There was no update involved - it was apparently switched on their end.
I opened settings this morning and the Hearing Assistance menu item literally appeared on the list as I viewed it.
I saw this on The Verge today: https://www.theverge.com/news/618165/apple-throws-the-uk-a-bone
"British AirPods Pro 2 owners can now enable the Hearing Aid feature, available today in a free software update." Anyone had any luck with this yet?
Why are AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid features not available in the UK?
