Why are AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid features not available in the UK?

If you have an Apple device that is running 17.7.1 or older, an iPad works, you can use your Audiogram.

I never updated my iPhone to IOS 18.1 so it still allows me to use my audiogram and I will wait for MHRA approval in the UK before I update. I did a test on my wife's 2018 iPad that is on 17.7.1 yesterday and it works well but the iPad is a bit big to lug around if you want to change settings.

Having said all that, an old iPhone 12 off of eBay or Amazon will do the job as long as you switch updates off.

Do you know how bad your hearing is? If not download the Mimi hearing test app and check. If your hearing is severe, eve when the MHRA approves the Airpods the Apple Hearing test will lock you out. The Airpods are only good for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Even if your country does get approval, if your hearing test shows severe hearing loss the Airpods won’t work. They are only good for mild to moderate hearing loss.

The AirPod Pro 2s have been available as hearing aids since 2022 when they were first launched.

If you already have the AirPod Pro 2s AND your iPhone is on an old IOS like 17.7.1 or older they will already work as hearing aids without any restrictions.

If that is the case, you can go online to YouTube and there are loads of videos explaining how to do it, or reply to this message and I will explain how to do it. I have been using them for five weeks and I never rush to update to any new apps or updates as there are always glitches to iron out.

If you have an older iPad, (I have a 2018) running IOS 17.7.1 you can set them up without the latest restrictions and they work in any country. You just apply your Audiogram to the Airpods in Headphone Accommodations. If you don't have an audiogram, download the Mimi app and use it for your hearing test.

Even an old iPhone 12 running IOS 17.7.1 will do the job.

The NHS is not the body to approve of the test. It’s a device so the MHRA are responsible. They, like most UK regulatory bodies are slow and ‘behind the curve’.

Maybe we should all write to them to get some action. Probably all working from home…..

The AirPods have been available as hearing aids since 2022.

Again, that is incorrect.

That's not incorrect at all. Many people, myself included, have been using the custom transparency mode based on an audiogram we had to provide, and this worked as hearing aids. A functionality that is now broken with 18.1 as audiogram cannot be used for custom transparency mode anymore.

thanosgr9 wrote:

That's not incorrect at all. Many people, myself included, have been using the custom transparency mode based on an audiogram we had to provide, and this worked as hearing aids. A functionality that is now broken with 18.1 as audiogram cannot be used for custom transparency mode anymore.

It's not incorrect. I'm not denying you could do that or that it helped with some things. But it didn't do what a hearing aid does and wasn't approved as such.

Just saw this article in Wired on getting around Apple's geolocation in order to get acccess to the hearing aid functionality. I lack the skills, tools, and microwave to do it, but someone might find it useful. Edit - URL got removed, but go to Wired's homepage and you'll find it

No because I never update my iPhone or computer until the bugs are and glitches are ironed out. If I had recently updated my Mac Mini to the latest OS when Apple kept reminding me it would have cost me over £500 to update our restaurant ordering system.

I never updated my iPhone in the first place.

Two weeks at my GP to get a hearing test. And hearing aids weeks after. All the GP has to do is check your ears for infection or wax. If clear then the trick is to pick Spec Savers for your hearing test. Very quick. And they do fab free ones that even Bluetooth to your mobile phone for music! Also an app to alter them. Good luck.

Well I just bought a pair of AirPods Pro 2 from the local Apple Store in the UK. I spoke to the sales people at length about how I was impressed by their inclusion of hearing tests, hearing aid and protection functions. I liked that you wear them in noisy environment to protect your hearing. Clever stuff which closed the sale for me.

At no point did they suggest that none of these features are actually available to UK customers (because of regulations for test and aid, and actually protection is only available in N America). In effect, the product was missold to me. I am therefore disappointed and feel misled.

The AirPods Pro to a UK user are OK as they are, but could have been much better. Bit of a con really.

Apple SupportUK is as much use as a chocolate fireguard on this subject. I enquire and had to jump through several hoops e.g "Serial number please". Nothing wrong with the AirPods Pro 2 just asking why the UK is not included.

Did a bit of research and this is what came up from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 

Apple simply hasn't registered them in the UK! This is the MHRA response.

Thank you for your email.

As of 18 Nov 2024, Apple Inc has not registered the AirPods Pro 2 or Hearing Aid Feature as a medical device with the MHRA. Details on what Apple has registered with the MHRA are available to search on the Public Access Registrations Database (PARD) at the following link PARD

Registration of devices with the MHRA (the UK Competent Authority) does not represent any form of accreditation, certification, approval or endorsement by the MHRA.

In accordance with the above, medical device manufacturers must ensure that all information registered with the MHRA is accurate and up to date.

You may wish to contact Apple UK (see details below) to learn of plans to introduce the Hearing Aid Feature in the UK.

Tinnitus is, for many, a fundamental part and a symptom of hearing loss. Not the same agreed. The ability for airpods to assist and for (potential) users like me who have retrochohlear nuroma to adjust the audiogram will be fantastic. But until, or as it now sounds, if they are ever, licensed for use in the UK I will wait.

chopcat wrote:

Tinnitus is, for many, a fundamental part and a symptom of hearing loss. Not the same agreed. The ability for airpods to assist and for (potential) users like me who have retrochohlear nuroma to adjust the audiogram will be fantastic. But until, or as it now sounds, if they are ever, licensed for use in the UK I will wait.

The more options that people with hearing issues have, the better. It's only recently in the U.S. that it was legal to buy them "over the counter." Given that there is little coverage for hearing aids in the health care that most retired people have, expensive hearing aids are often out of the question.

I hope the AirPods as hearing aids becomes available in the UK soon!

Thanks for your helpful reply.

Unfortunately, as I'd already heard that the hearing test and aid features would not be available until the update to iOS 18.1, I didn't even consider the AirPods Pro until I'd picked up and installed the update. I had no idea that by doing so I'd actually remove all useful features as well as being denied access to the ones which had been advertised as dependent on that update. Double whammy!

If you are over 60 you can go to your GP and get a referral to Specsavers who will do a hearing test and dispense NHS hearing aids as well as the ones they sell. Go with the NHS ones - they are nearly as good and free.