Apple is bringing something new to B.C. and it's not available across Canada yet
Apple is bringing a new feature for users with AirPods Pro devices in B.C., and it’s one that not everyone in Canada has access to yet.
The tech giant has announced that it will be launching the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 in select permitted provinces, and B.C. is part of that group.
Nearly one in five Canadians report hearing difficulties, according to Statistics Canada. Research has identified links between untreated hearing loss and a person’s overall well-being, in addition to an increased risk of social isolation and dementia.
The clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature is for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and is intended for people 18 years or older.
To customize the sound of your AirPods for your specific hearing needs, Hearing Aid can use either test results from taking the Hearing Test with AirPods Pro 2 or 3, or audiogram results from a hearing healthcare professional.
How to set up the Hearing Aid feature
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To set things up, the Apple website states to do the following;
- Tap Set Up Hearing Aid
- Tap Get Started
- Tap Next
- Then tap Turn On Hearing Aid
Depending on your test results, you might be prompted to turn on Media Assist instead of Hearing Aid.
Conversation Boost is also a helper with the Hearing Aid feature, which, when turned on, will focus your AirPods Pro on the person speaking to you and automatically detect if a conversation is happening in front of you. Its suggested use is for one-on-one conversations.
Other locations that are launching the Apple Hearing Aid feature are Alberta, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan.
Apple is working with each province to receive approval to distribute the over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature, with the goal of bringing this experience to users in all provinces as soon as possible, it stated in a news release.
The Hearing Aid feature has been available in the United States since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized it in September 2024.
Are you excited about the Apple launch of the Hearing Aid feature in B.C.? Let us know in the comments.