iOS 18.1 will integrate the new hearing functions of AirPods Pro 2

Apple took advantage of the iPhone 16 presentation event to present the health news of the AirPods Pro 2 already available for a few months. These new features focus on the offer a complete hearing health experience with three different functions: active hearing protection, FDA certified hearing test and medical grade hearing aid. All these functions They will be available only on AirPods Pro 2 and Apple has already confirmed that will be introduced in iOS 18.1, as we saw in the latest developer beta.

AirPods Pro 2 and hearing: what’s new in iOS 18.1

AirPods Pro 2 via software update They will have three new functions aimed at improving hearing health users. Apple decided to bet on these features and received FDA certification as the first headset with a medical hearing aid function. All this pack news It is not available in the initial release of iOS 18. However, Apple has confirmed that they will be coming in iOS 18.1 thanks to beta 5 for developers.

These three functions are as follows:

• Active hearing protection: The AirPods Pro 2 thanks to this function will reduce the impact of louder sounds on our ears. Its objective is to reduce the frequencies of sounds heard around us thanks to the H2 chip that actively reduces louder and intermittent noises at a rate of 48,000 times per second. Thanks to the ear cushions of the headphones, this reduction is more pronounced.
• Audited hearing test: In case of hearing impairment, users can go to a specialized consultation where an audiogram is performed. This test consists of playing sounds that the user will say they hear or not and, finally, a graph is proposed that shows the degree of hearing in both ears. This test makes it possible to classify the hearing impairment and to advise the implantation of a hearing aid. Apple successfully audits a hearing test with AirPods Pro 2 by the FDA and is essential for the following function.
• Medical Grade Hearing Aid: Once the audiogram is done, iOS and iPadOS as well as AirPods Pro 2 will be able to adapt the hearing profile so that the headphones behave as if they were hearing aids.

With the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS released 15.1Apple will integrate all these features to improve hearing health that AirPods Pro 2 require.