Apple has shared details about its revolutionary end-to-end hearing health experience, launch for Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 in September. This initiative aims to support users in effectively managing their hearing health.

Advanced Audio Lab

Apple’s audio lab, located in Cupertino, California, plays a crucial role in the development of acoustic technologies. It features specialized listening rooms and anechoic chambers that help engineers conduct user studies and test new features while isolating external sounds.

The lab focuses on the design, measurement, tuning and validation of all products with audio capabilities, enabling cross-team collaboration to improve the hearing health features of AirPods Pro 2.

Key features of the hearing health experience

The end-to-end hearing health experience is available today as a free software update. It includes:

• Hearing Protection: Minimizes exposure to loud environmental noise.
• Hearing Test: Allows users to track their hearing at home.
• Hearing aid functionality: Supports people with mild to moderate hearing loss using AirPods Pro as a clinical-grade hearing aid.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. Dr. Shelly Chadha emphasizes the need for technology to raise awareness and provide intervention options for those affected.

Customized hearing solutions

Apple’s Dr. Sumbul Desai says everyone’s hearing is unique, which is why the company has developed an adaptive hearing health experience. The goal was to create intuitive features that feel like an extension of the user’s senses. This innovation aims to democratize access to hearing health solutions for a diverse population.

Discoveries of acoustic engineering

Engineers used the Audio Lab’s specialized spaces to create these innovative features. The long-wave anechoic chamber, isolated from external noise and vibration, measures how sound interacts with the human body using custom speakers and microphone arrays. This understanding is vital to creating a realistic audio experience.

Kuba Mazur, Apple’s principal engineer for hearing health, explains that the lab simulates various sound environments to ensure an accurate audio representation.

Fantasia Lab, equipped with 50 loudspeakers, recreates real-world sound scenes for fine-tuning the characteristic of the hearing aid. Participants are tested in controlled settings to validate the effectiveness of these features.

Clinical testing and design focus

The Audio Lab also houses three clinical-grade audiometric booths for thorough testing. The engineering team collaborates with audiologists to perform numerous audiometric tests before introducing the Hearing Test feature for clinical validation.

Design plays an essential role in the user experience. Heather Daniel of Apple’s Design Studio notes the importance of simplicity, especially for first-time users. The team set out to simplify the process of hearing testing, making it more accessible than traditional methods.

Collaborative innovation

Building this advanced hearing health experience required extensive teamwork across departments, including hardware and software engineering, health, accessibility and clinical operations. The collaborative effort ensured the delivery of a high quality product.

A commitment to health

The new hearing health experience on AirPods Pro 2 reflects Apple’s dedication to supporting users on their health journeys. According to Mazur, the features allow people to protect their hearing and gain valuable information about their hearing health, positioning AirPods as a vital tool for personal wellness.