AirPod Pro ~ Used for General Hearing?

[Beards]

I am hard of hearing and wear hearing aids in both ears.
However, for general music using in ear headphones I can manage.... and obviously music does sound much richer than listening to music with my hearing aids (very tinny, way way to much treble, hardly any bass).

What interests me with the AirPod Pro is the ability to use them for a form of general listening.
As such before a purchase I would love to hear if anyone has any advice on how useful the AirPod Pro would be when I cannot wear my hearing aids?

Thanks in advance.

 

[japanime]

Have you experimented with the options in Accessibility > AirPods > AirPods Pro > Audio Accessibility Settings > Headphone Accommodations?

When you toggle Headphone Accommodations on, you will find Transparency Mode at the bottom of the options screen. Tapping that will take to a yet another screen, where you can toggle Transparency Mode on and adjust Transparency Amplification, Balance, and Tone.

(There are also other options in Headphone Accommodations that you might find useful.)

 

[BrianBaughn]

You'll find detailed instructions of what japanime suggested if you just web search "Airpods Pro" "hearing aid".

 

[moo083]

My dad is hard of hearing but we could never get him to use his hearing aids. He just hated the process of changing the batteries (he said they were always dead). They were harder to put in his ear. They made him feel old. I mentioned that the AirPods Pro were coming out with a hearing feature and he was skeptical.

But when I set him up with it he was amazed at how well it worked. At this point he relies on them.

That said it has its issues sometimes the transparency mode turns off for some reason and the phone says it’s on so you have to disable/re-enable it.

But it would a tough sell for him to go back to the hearing aids again.

 

[Beards]

Thanks everyone…. My mind is made up, I’ve just ordered a pair. 👍

 

[japanime]

Thanks everyone…. My mind is made up, I’ve just ordered a pair. 👍

After you've received them, it would be great if you could let us know about your experiences with them. Hope they work out for you!

 

[Beards]

Most definitely 👍

 

[Beards]

Well….. I received my AirPod Pro earphones and can say in my case with hard of hearing they are totally useless….
I first tried them with music and to have them play at a decent sound requires maximum volume which according to’Ear’ in Control Panel is too Loud!!
I then tried them by boosting the sound for general communication listening…… Which resulted in barely any sound.
Clearly my ears are no good for the AirPods.
☹️

 

[japanime]

Well….. I received my AirPod Pro earphones and can say in my case with hard of hearing they are totally useless….
I first tried them with music and to have them play at a decent sound requires maximum volume which according to’Ear’ in Control Panel is too Loud!!
I then tried them by boosting the sound for general communication listening…… Which resulted in barely any sound.
Clearly my ears are no good for the AirPods.
☹️

Ah, really sorry about that. Did you experiment with the Transparency settings in Accessibility? (I presume you did, but figured it was worth asking just in case you had forgotten about that option.)

 

[Beards]

Ah, really sorry about that. Did you experiment with the Transparency settings in Accessibility? (I presume you did, but figured it was worth asking just in case you had forgotten about that option.)

Yes, thanks ….. Because I had a lot relying on these AirPods I went through all the settings that much I ended up confusing myself “had I done something wrong”.
Came back to them the following day all fresh with other ideas but no…. My ears simply cannot cope.
Thanks to all who gave me hope, it is honestly appreciated. 👍

 

[mfram]

APP in transparency is not a replacement for hearing aids. They aren’t meant to be. But combined with a hearing test app and using the Accessibility Headphones Accomodations you can potentially use them OK without hearing aids for Podcasts and Music. I have a significant hearing loss and wear aids. With the Accomodations turned on, I can wear my AirPods Max to take calls and listen to music without aids. That’s awesome.

 

[Beards]

APP in transparency is not a replacement for hearing aids. They aren’t meant to be. But combined with a hearing test app and using the Accessibility Headphones Accomodations you can potentially use them OK without hearing aids for Podcasts and Music. I have a significant hearing loss and wear aids. With the Accomodations turned on, I can wear my AirPods Max to take calls and listen to music without aids. That’s awesome.

Yes, I’m aware the Transarency feature is not a replacement for hearing aids… I never assumed the AirPods to be that act. I simply wondered if the Pro’s were good enough to be used as an accompaniment with my Hearing Aids?
As for Podcasts and Music; in my case I can not use Accessibility Headphones Accommodations successfully, the AirPod Pro volume is not high enough for my requirements… not a fault of the AirPod Pro’s, that is my hearing which is at fault…. when at Max Volume I am told by the ‘Ear’ in Control Panel the volume is too high, when in my reality I can barely hear the Podcasts/Music.

If I could finally explain; after spending 27 years in the Armed Forces, experiencing many extreme sounds. It all ended with one final explosion that terminated my career. My hearing being just one of the many tasks I fight daily. The AirPod Pro’s were merely a query if they could help!

 

[ouimetnick]

I have a severe hearing loss (both ears) I wear Phonak Niada Q90s (2012)

I’ve tried a 3rd party hearing test app since I can’t input my own audiogram.

They can pick up noise, but speech is still difficult. It’s easier to take an AirPod out and put a hearing aid in when having to talk to someone.

Im trying out the AirPods Max, and it’s nice to wear them over the hearing aids. The aids start to whistle (feedback) but somehow either transparency mode or noise canceling mode stops the whistle. I’ve been keeping them in noise canceling.

I only bought the AirPods Pro last year because regular AirPods won’t for my ears with out hurting or falling out.

As someone who is hard of hearing, the noise cancelation and transparency aren’t really necessary.

 

[Beards]

I have a severe hearing loss (both ears) I wear Phonak Niada Q90s (2012)

I’ve tried a 3rd party hearing test app since I can’t input my own audiogram.

They can pick up noise, but speech is still difficult. It’s easier to take an AirPod out and put a hearing aid in when having to talk to someone.

Im trying out the AirPods Max, and it’s nice to wear them over the hearing aids. The aids start to whistle (feedback) but somehow either transparency mode or noise canceling mode stops the whistle. I’ve been keeping them in noise canceling.

I only bought the AirPods Pro last year because regular AirPods won’t for my ears with out hurting or falling out.

As someone who is hard of hearing, the noise cancelation and transparency aren’t really necessary.

Yes, I have tried wearing my hearing aids with over ear headphones and as you say the feedback can be horrendous.
Interesting that you say the AirPod Max can kill off this feedback…. They are expensive but if they do truly work and sound decent I would be willing to make a purchase.

 

[ouimetnick]

Yes, I have tried wearing my hearing aids with over ear headphones and as you say the feedback can be horrendous.
Interesting that you say the AirPod Max can kill off this feedback…. They are expensive but if they do truly work and sound decent I would be willing to make a purchase.

I can only give you my experience. I have a moderate to severe hearing loss (worse in the right ear)

Depending on hearing aid braid, settings, ear mold, etc you could still experience feedback in all modes. 🤷‍♂️ If you have an Apple Store close by, I’d try them on.

The $500 “excellent” condition (small scuff) AirPods Max from Best Buy were returned because I can’t justify $500 on them especially when they will go on sale for less. I’d rather wait and get a brand new non scuff’ed unit for even less than $500

My ears did get sore, hot and sweaty after several hours, but I think that an issue to some extent or another on all over the ear headphone models.

Unrelated, but Apple’s accessiblity announcement a few days ago noted that we will be able to input an actual audiogram taken by hand into our iPhone/iPad devices for AirPods. Currently you have to use a 3rd party hearing “test” to generate one for you. Being able to enter a real audiogram should be much more accurate.

What hearing aids are you using?