As we reported last month, Apple had rolled out its over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid feature to users in the UK—but Australians were left waiting, despite the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) quietly approving the feature in December 2024. Now, that wait is officially over.

With today’s update, Australians can finally access Apple’s full suite of hearing health tools, transforming the AirPods Pro 2 into far more than just premium earbuds. It’s worth noting, however, that users in parts of Southeast Asia are still without access, with no confirmed timeline yet for availability in those markets.

Nicky Chong-White, Principal Engineer at Australia’s National Acoustic Laboratories, said,

The new hearing features in AirPods Pro are an exciting advancement — they give people a way to check their hearing and set up hearing assistance at home using familiar devices.

This rollout includes a clinically validated Hearing Test that users can perform at home using their AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad. The test takes around five minutes based on the gold-standard clinical method of pure-tone audiometry. It generates a simple audiogram with hearing level scores for each ear, along with classifications and recommendations. Results are stored securely in the Health app and can be shared with healthcare providers, allowing for better-informed conversations—without ever stepping into a clinic.

Users with mild to moderate hearing loss can now enable a personalised Hearing Aid feature. The AirPods Pro 2 can dynamically enhance the surrounding sound environment in real time using either their test results or an audiogram supplied by a hearing professional. This isn’t just volume boosting—it’s intelligent audio processing that fills in missing sound frequencies to make conversations clearer and more natural. And because this hearing profile is applied across the entire device ecosystem, users will hear improvements in phone calls, music, streaming content, games, and more—no manual tweaking required.

To help users stay protected in noisy environments, Apple has also rolled out Loud Sound Reduction. This system uses the AirPods’ H2 chip to monitor incoming noise at an impressive 48,000 times per second, intelligently dialling down sudden spikes in environmental noise while preserving the clarity and vibrancy of the original sound. Apple has added a new multiband high dynamic range algorithm, which should help live concerts and busy public settings sound more natural, not overly processed or dulled.

All three features—the Hearing Test, Hearing Aid mode, and Loud Sound Reduction—have been clinically validated, and together, they mark a significant leap forward in how mainstream tech can support hearing health. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people globally live with some form of hearing loss, and many remain untreated due to high costs or social stigma. Apple’s approach, integrating hearing support into a product millions already use daily, could help normalise hearing care and improve early detection across age groups.

While Apple’s move may not sit comfortably with traditional hearing aid manufacturers, it’s a win for consumers—especially those who’ve slipped through the cracks of the current system. Now that it’s live in Australia, expect a wave of discussion from audiologists, regulators, and users alike.

Read our Apple AirPods Pro 2 Review