AirPods Pro 2 diagnostic test issue during hearing test set up

My iPhone 15+ is running 18.2 and is USA based. The issue is that I can't engage the hearing test as I get stuck in a loop where it just tells me to allow AirPods to run a diagnostic test. See image. I've left the AirPods closed in a quiet room for up to 15 minutes after it supposedly ran its diagnostic test with both the lid closed (as suggested) and lid left open as Reddit folks suggested. I also tried the following: restarted the iPhone, forgotten the AirPods device and re-paired it. I've also tried to approach the Hearing Test from the Health App. The AirPods were cleaned before I began the process too. NONE OF THIS WORKED to get me out of the loop. HELP!