Can I use AirPods instead of getting hearing aids? Here's what experts recommend

Such tests can help flag a problem for someone and prompt them to make an appointment with their doctor. However, experts cautioned they are not considered diagnostic and should not take the place of a full medical evaluation. — Pixabay

A reader in the US wrote in with a question on the Apple AirPods hearing aid function:

"Since the 80s, I've been going to rock concerts and cardio classes where they blare the music. Now I'm in my mid-50s and I've noticed my hearing has definitely deteriorated a bit – my kids complain that I'm constantly asking them to repeat themselves. I've seen a few articles online about how you can use AirPods Pro 2 to test your hearing, and that they can also be used as hearing aids. Would that be a safe and effective (and inexpensive) way to deal with this problem, or should I just go to my doctor?"

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 are one of many over-the-counter devices, apps and services that offer a hearing test or a hearing aid function for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Others include Mimi, an app for Apple and Android devices, and Shoebox, which offers an online hearing test.

They've become more popular after the FDA in 2022 permitted over-the-counter hearing aids, which meant Americans for the first time could obtain hearing aids without a prescription or a hearing test from a medical provider. Some OTC hearing aids come with at-home hearing tests.

Audiologists say such tools can be a good starting off point if you've noticed you have trouble hearing. Age-related hearing loss is common in older adults: An estimated 1 in 3 Americans 65 and older have some hearing loss, according to federal health data, and that proportion goes up with age. The most common type of age-related hearing is sensorial hearing loss, which is typically caused by a combination of aging, genetics and cumulative noise exposure like concerts, loud music at workout classes, power tools, motorcycles, construction or even riding BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).

At-home hearing tests are more accessible for many people who don't want to see a doctor, can't get to a doctor right away, or simply prefer the convenience. Cost can also be a factor: Many online and app-based tests are free, whereas hearing tests are not included in routine Medicare wellness visits for seniors unless a patient reports a specific problem and gets referred for a hearing test. Medicare also does not typically cover hearing aids.

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Such tests can help flag a problem for someone and prompt them to make an appointment with their doctor. However, experts cautioned they are not considered diagnostic and should not take the place of a full medical evaluation.

"A lot of those are good tools and stepping stones for people to get the help they need," said Sara Rittweger, supervising audiologist at Kaiser Permanente's audiology center in San Francisco. "If it's a way for people to have more opportunities to monitor their health, that might give them the opportunity to come to our office sooner if they are seeing any red flags on online hearing tests or screenings."

But they have some limitations.

"It tests if you're competent of hearing, but there are additional assessments done to fully understand the nature of the hearing loss and its implications," said Payal Anand, director of audiology at UCSF. "It can be a good screening tool but should be followed up with proper diagnosis and individualised care."

The results of an at-home test may not be accurate if the ear buds don't fit properly in your ear, if your ear is full of wax, or if you're in a loud environment when you take the test, "so it's important to not completely rely on those tests," Anand said.

There are also some medical conditions for which hearing loss is a symptom; an at-home test wouldn't be able to assess that.

Still, they can help people self-monitor hearing loss at home, under some circumstances.

For patients who've completed a hearing test at the office, Anand recommends using the AirPods 2 test at home to monitor themselves, since hearing loss can fluctuate on different days. A baseline reading with the AirPods test can then be compared over time to look for changes.

The AirPods hearing aid function, also called the amplification feature, is not new or the only device on the market, though it likely has the most brand recognition because Apple products are so ubiquitous.

"It's not a replacement for a medical-grade hearing aid, but it can provide some assistance to people in certain listening environments," said Anand. "Sometimes even people with normal hearing may struggle hearing certain voices and having to strain harder. In those situations, it can help provide a little bit of a boost."

For both hearing tests and hearing aids, experts urge people to seek formal medical care if they're not getting what they need.

"It's always a good place to start," Anand said. "But if the results aren't consistent with what you're experiencing, don't stop there. Go see a professional who can do a comprehensive evaluation. If you're concerned you're having difficulty hearing but your screening tool says you're fine, don't stop there."

With OTC devices becoming more available, Rittweger said she's seen many patients spend a lot of money trying many different types on their own before reaching out to an audiologist.

"Sometimes I do see people will spend money investing in lower tech products when they could have received a more prescription-based hearing aid through a licensed provider at a lower cost," she said. – San Francisco Chronicle/Tribune News Service