You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Hearing test is not working properly

I have tried taking the new hearing test on iOS 18.1 several times now and I keep getting an error message saying Unable to Classify because there is too much background noise. I have run the test in several locations that are free of sound but I keep getting the error message. I'm very disappointed as I just purchased some AirPods Pro 2 so that I could use the hearing aid function. Is anyone else having this problem?

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Oct 30, 2024 8:59 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 1, 2024 3:16 AM

Same here. Tried multiple times. Super quiet room. All windows closed.


Very frustrating.

11 replies

Nov 1, 2024 6:07 AM in response to BillLaurune

I finally got the left ear to complete after 6 tries. It may be that if the plugs are too tight it picks up heartbeat.


But then I started the right ear, got the dismal "Unable to classify" message. The stupid software didn't save the left ear to let me try again on the right ear.


I write software for a living, and I would never do something this dumb.

Nov 1, 2024 7:30 AM in response to BillLaurune

I did finally get left and right tests to complete, and set up the hearing aid, which does improve my hearing -- I can hear the higher frequencies in keystrokes and such.


I think the trick is to have the pods no more snug than necessary to pass that check. Tighter seems not to be better.


But it would be less aggravating if they saved the left ear results on success.

Nov 1, 2024 3:21 PM in response to KelvinSF

I tried is a basement room in the dark with nothing running and lights off with a decibel average just under 20 db. I'm sure that is me breathing. I brought my wife, who has great hearing, and she couldn't hear anything. I tried 4 times and got the same response you got.


I have been using Bose Ultra for my listening to music and love them. When I heard about the Apple AirPod Pro 2 getting "clinical grade support for mild to moderate hearing loss", I had to try them. I recently had a hearing test with an audiologist and was told I had moderate hearing loss but didn't need to spend thousands on hearing aids.


I ordered the Pro 2 figuring they would work, Apple doesn't usually stumble. I bought them directly from Apple so they have 14 days to fix them or I can return them and wait to see if they can get them to work.

Nov 1, 2024 3:37 PM in response to rodd

I don't think it's actually external noise but our own heartbeats. I used the plugs I normally use, which are a little tight for sports use, and I can hear my heart. I pulled them out a bit to be a tad loose, and the test eventually worked. And they do seem to work as hearing aids. Don't clear your throat or scratch your face. There may also be timing issues; when I got it to work, I tapped the screen just after the 3 pings, not during them, but that could be coincidence.


The software is unnecessarily difficult and I think the message is misleading. So it took me an hour to work it out, but that was faster than seeing an audiologist.


If you got a hearing test, the audiologist may be able to give you the audiograph file to load.


YMMV


Hearing test is not working properly

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.