Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 can do more than just help you enjoy music or take calls — they also double up as a hearing aid for those with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It’s a feature that has been quietly rolled out to more than 100 countries since getting a green light from the US FDA, and it’s slowly starting to catch the attention of users across the world. Along with that, there’s also something called Media Assist, which improves clarity while watching videos, listening to music, or even during phone calls. Together, these features bring the AirPods Pro 2 closer to clinical-grade hearing solutions, but with the comfort and convenience of a pair of earbuds you can use daily.

The new Hearing Aid mode uses the results of a hearing test you take on your iPhone or iPad, or an audiogram provided by a hearing care professional. Based on this, your AirPods will adjust the sound output to match your specific hearing needs. It’s available only on the AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware and works with devices running iOS 18 or later. Apple says the feature is designed for people aged 18 and older.

So far, Apple has rolled out this feature in over 100 major markets, like the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Germany and several others. However, if you’re in India, the option to turn on the hearing aid function is still missing. That’s because it hasn’t received the necessary medical device clearances from regulators here. This hasn’t stopped curious users from trying to find workarounds, though. According to an Economic Times report from late last year, a few Bengaluru-based engineers found a creative solution by tricking the AirPods into thinking they were in a supported region, and enabled the feature using a Faraday cage and spoofed Wi-Fi location data. Their efforts helped their family members, particularly the elderly, get access to better hearing tools in a much simpler form factor than traditional hearing aids.

For users in countries where the feature is supported, setting it up is straightforward. First, make sure your AirPods Pro 2 have the latest firmware. Then, with the AirPods connected to your iPhone or iPad, head to Settings > your AirPods > Hearing Assistance. From here, you can either take a hearing test or upload previous results from a hearing professional. The feature then fine-tunes your AirPods to suit your hearing profile. It might take a bit of time to adjust, but most users find it helpful after a few days of use.

As of now, there’s no official word on when the feature might become available in India. But with global accessibility improving and interest growing, it’s likely just a matter of time. For now, users in supported countries can enjoy a more personalised and accessible audio experience using a device they already own.

– Ends