Is there any update from Apple regarding the USE in the UK of iPod pro 2 hearing aids?
The UK govt seems happy – so why has it not happened yet.
[Re-Titled By Moderator]
Apple Watch Series 7, watchOS 9
No such thing as iPod Pro 2. iPods are music players not hearing aids.
Do you perhaps mean AirPods? AirPods and iPods are very very different things.
Apple has not released any statement regarding why the AirPod hearing aid feature is not yet available in the UK.
Not sure how you determined the UK government is happy about it or has given their authorization for. Since it's considered a health related devices it needs to be approved by the health authority.
Keep an eye on Apple's Feature website for updates.
click here ➜ AirPods Pro 2 - Hearing Health Feature Availability - Apple
No such thing as iPod Pro 2. iPods are music players not hearing aids.
Do you perhaps mean AirPods? AirPods and iPods are very very different things.
Apple has not released any statement regarding why the AirPod hearing aid feature is not yet available in the UK.
Not sure how you determined the UK government is happy about it or has given their authorization for. Since it's considered a health related devices it needs to be approved by the health authority.
Keep an eye on Apple's Feature website for updates.
click here ➜ AirPods Pro 2 - Hearing Health Feature Availability - Apple
According to reports it should be available by now.
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/23/apple-airpods-pro-2-new-feature-coming-uk/
Following the changes, Apple in a statement to The Telegraph said it will bring the hearing aid features to AirPods Pro 2 users in the UK in the "coming weeks" – likely with the upcoming release of iOS 18.3.
So have you updated to iOS 18.3 yet?
To wrap it up I had the following reply from the UK Department of Health:
Dear Mr ……………,
Thank you for your correspondence of 7 February to Wes Streeting regarding Apple AirPods and their hearing aid feature. I have been asked to reply.
On 16 January the Department published guidance on hearing aids in the UK to clarify the regulatory position and set out case studies on the sale of hearing aids to support public access to innovative devices and new technology. The Government aims to make it easier and more convenient for individuals to manage their own health. More information is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/hearing-aids-in-the-uk/hearing-aids-in-the-uk-policy-statement.
On 24 February, Apple launched the hearing aid feature which is available on AirPods Pro 2 in the United Kingdom. This has medical device regulatory approval and is registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). For more information the MHRA contact details can be found at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency.
As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department will continue to support the potential of new technologies and innovation, to support the shifts in healthcare from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.
I am sorry I cannot be more directly helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Correspondence Officer
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health and Social Care
All of them do exactly that as the Hearing Aid feature has been available for a long time whether you choose to believe it or not. The feature only became official in February in the UK when it was approved by the MHRA. It worked well and I was using them unofficially from last September with my mild to moderate hearing loss. A few things have changed and the menus have been simplified and a couple of options have been removed but they did a great job.
Hi there
maybe this will help others to realize that uk officially has been added to the countries available for hearing aid on your AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 2 (usbc)
here’s the tricky part ,
althouth apple says that AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 2 usbc,will have the ability to use as hearing aid ,
only thing is that uk has realeased it only for The AirPods Pro 2 with usbc ,the AirPods Pro 2 with lighting will not get it ,meaning the uk spec ,even though in apples website it says that hearing aid is for both lightning and usbc ,
so warning to all those who have the lightning AirPods Pro 2
No, you are mistaken. Sorry
It is you who is mistaken.
Apple have just confirmed that the lightning and USB-C version of AirPod Pro 2s have the Hearing Aid Feature.
You need Firmware 7B21 and IOS 18.1 and even better 18.3.1 for them to work.
Two thirds the way down the page.
[Edited by Moderator]
Once you are in the included countries where hearing aid is available for the AirPods Pro 2,roaming on their network ,you just need to open up AirPods settings and vuala it’s already in the settings ,
so you just set it up in that country ,once you come back to your country it will still be there ,it won’t disappear
It will disappear if you do an IOS update if you don't have approval in your country. I know a few people who, for example, went from Canada to the US, did an update and went back to Canada with their AirPod Pro 2s working as hearing aids. They then updated to the next IOS in Canada and the hearing aid feature was gone.
Oh, And by the way for the so well informed Philo123
None less than the UK Health Minister to my knowledge as reported in the Telegraph 17th January :–
Speaking about the change in regulation that allows AirPods Pro 2 to be used in this way, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting said, "Groundbreaking new hearing aid devices have the potential to help tens of thousands of people with hearing loss, helping them to live their life to the full. The action we’re taking will give businesses the green light to start selling these products to patients across the UK.“This is part of the work this government is undertaking in partnership with leading technology companies, to harness the revolution in medical technology, bring our analogue healthcare into the digital age, and make life more convenient for patients.”
The hearing aid feature has been available on the AirPod Pro 2s since 2022 when the Lightning version was released and the USB-C version was released in 2023 also has the same feature.
Hi, thank you for that. I am still using my IPhone X which is staggering along. Have been putting off upgrading till the feature is available. Sod’s Law has it the hours after buying a new phone the next generation appears. At 73 I prefer to limit the number of replacements till I shuffle off to what (and if) is on the other side. :)
Many thanks for your kind consideration
The next generation iPhone won't appear until September. I have a feeling that it will be March or April before we finally get the hearing aid feature.
Did you know you can set the AirPod Pro 2s up as hearing aids if you have a device that is running an IOS 18 or older through the:
Settings/Accessibility/Audio & Visual/Headphone Accommodations
It's been available since 2022 when the AirPods were first released.
Hi there ,
just wanted to add that I have the hearing aid option now ,
as I said on my previous comment that once you cross the border into another country which supports hearing test and hearing aid ,you just need to open AirPods settings and vuala the option is there ,and it won’t disappear after an iOS firmware update ,
the good thing is that my country borders with neighbouring country Spain ,and I live 5min away ,and so decided to walk and cross the border today to try it out and it works
Which means, of course, that your claim of them having the feature “since 2022” is incorrect. The AirPods Pro 2 released in 2022 did NOT have the hearing aid feature. Nether did the AirPods Pro 2 released in 2023. The feature was added with the firmware and iOS updates you mention only recently. You’re still wrong.
Oh dear.
Here are some old videos on YouTube showing you how to set your AirPod Pro 2s as hearing aids. One from 2021 for the original AirPod Pros. The big difference is that Apple didn’t have FDA approval as they have now but the feature was still available. They simply weren't allowed to market them as hearing aids.
The original AirPod Pros in 2019 had the same feature. Obviously not as good as the Pro 2s so the feature has actually been around since 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiWD9Rt2fJ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Dj1mLPBXE&t=8s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQcbUVL8sbU
[Edited by Moderator]
Which means, of course, that your claim of them having the feature “since 2022” is incorrect. The AirPods Pro 2 released in 2022 did NOT have the hearing aid feature. Nether did the AirPods Pro 2 released in 2023. The feature was added with the firmware and iOS updates you mention only recently. You’re still wrong.
Oh dear.
Here are some old videos on YouTube showing you how to set your AirPod Pro 2s as hearing aids. One from 2021 for the original AirPod Pros. The big difference is that Apple didn’t have FDA approval as they have now but the feature was still available. They simply weren't allowed to market them as hearing aids.
The original AirPod Pros in 2019 had the same feature. Obviously not as good as the Pro 2s so the feature has actually been around since 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiWD9Rt2fJ0
There's no need to be rude. You asked a question with mistakes in them, you received an answer rectifying your mistakes, and also answering your questions. In response to your question, just because the Apple approved the feature to be used in the UK does not necessarily mean that you are able to use it. Your government needs to do research on whether this feature will actually help your community, as stated in your other response "The action we're taking will give businesses the green light to start selling these products to patients across the UK". This means that your government still hasn't approve this feature for use yet, even though it is an available function in the UK.
Respect the community, and double check your question before you post. If you can't take someone correcting you, don't use this forum. Use google.
rasg wrote:
The hearing aid feature has been available on the AirPod Pro 2s since 2022 when the Lightning version was released and the USB-C version was released in 2023 also has the same feature.
No, you are mistaken. Sorry
Is there any update on the use of AirPod Pro 2 as hearing aids in UK?
