In iOS 18.1 the long awaited Air Pods Pro 2 Hearing Test and Hearing Aids feature is (as of 18.1 release date) not available in Canada. When will it be available and is there any specific was as users we can make this happen?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 13 mini, iOS 18
It’s not as if allowing the iOS upgrade in Canada will have any effect on the audiologists own sales because if you couldn’t afford $5000 for a set of prescription Hearing Aids before the iPod Pro iOS 18.1 upgrade you are still not going to go to an audiologist. So let’s see the Canadian gov do the right thing and allow us all to use iPods for hearing tests and improve our hearing ability at the same time.
You won't lose any hearing assistance but only from what I have read, you won’t be able to change any of the Airpod settings, which of course, is the whole point.
I now have mine setup on a 2018 iPad and my iPhone and both are running 17.7.1.
I arrived in California from Alberta 4 days ago. When Apple released 18.1.1 - I updated my iPhone (16 promax) and now I have the hearing aid option available - initial thoughts - excellent - did. 18.1.1 update in Canada in a similar fashion?
Yes. I arrived home in Alberta last week and the hearing aids are working perfectly. I was in California when 18.1.1 came out - I updated there and lo and behold the hearing aid capability was added. I am guessing that IF I update to the next software release in Canada I will lose the hearing aid capability?
Hi, I have the AirPods now and you offered to help me set them up for as hearing aids. I am still using the IOS 17. Looking forward for your instructions.
You will need to download the free Mimi app to do do a hearing test OR you can download your audiogram by taking a photo of it.
Assuming you have set them up using Bluetooth after you have taken a hearing test. The AirPods need to be in your ears.
To take an Ear Tip Fit test on your iPhone, go to Settings/Bluetooth and tap the info icon for the
AirPods Pro. At the very bottom choose Ear Tip Fit Test, then tap Continue and Play. Both ears should show the seal is ok before you carry on.
Go to Settings/Accessibility/Audio Visual and click on Headphone Accommodations. You may need to click on Custom Audio Set up but you should see Audiogram and it will ask you which one to use. If you used the Mimi app the test will appear with today's date. Select it. In the next menu you can hear a sample of music and toggle between music with your Audiogram applied and without it so you know your Audiogram is working.
Go to the bottom and click on Transparency Mode and also switch Conversation boost on.
With the Airpods connected to your phone or iPad, your Airpods will appear close to the top of the Settings menu. Click on it. Switch Conversation Awareness on. Switch Loud Sound Reduction on.
That's about it but there are loads of settings you can play around with. In the last menu I mentioned you can simply set them to Adaptive Mode which will automatically set Noise Cancellation volume according to your surroundings. Otherwise you tinker with the Background Volume and Hearing Aid Volume manually independently of each other.
Hope this helps. Copy it quick!
It appear what you described is the custom transparency mode which in
reality pretty close to an OTC hearing aid. The hearing aid upgrade in
18.1 includes hearing test and updated algorithm to received approval as
OTC hearing aid device, probably with better hear aid performance and
functions. Are you saying that by upgrade to 18.1, the custom
transparency will be blocked?
It's not something I have tried as I am still using IOS 17.7.1.
I have read that you cannot use your Audiogram in Transparency Mode after you update to IOS 18.1 in countries where the Hearing Aid feature has not been approved. It's certainly upset a lot of people who have been using them for a while. The feature was first available in September 2022 when the AirPod Pro 2s were launched. It was orginally launched in the AirPod Pros back in 2020.
What I don't know is if the Custom Transparency Mode is still available after upgrading to 18.1 in countries where the Hearing Aid Feature has been approved. It might be worth asking somebody who is using them in the US.
The one thing I do know is that Apple have simplified the menus dramatically in the update. Lot's of settings seem to have disappeared including Loud Sound Reduction that I really like in 17.7.1. According to the Apple availability chart the Hearing Protection feature is only available in the US and Canada.
Are Loud Sound Reduction and Hearing Protection the same? I don't know.
Unfortunately it’s now up to the various provinces to approve. If you read that email I got from my mp it said in part:
“Health Canada regulates hearing aids as “medical devices”, so the federal agency (Health Canada) would have to approve Over-the-Counter models for sale in Canada. Once they have been approved, it is up to the provinces to decide whether such hearing aids could be sold over the counter. For example, In British Columbia, provincial law says only a licenced audiologist can prescribe a hearing aid and prohibits providing anyone a hearing aid without a prescription.”
This is very helpful only under headphone accommodation I am not offered the option of using an audiogram. I have done the Mimi test and associated the audiogram with the Health app but still don’t get that option.
iPhone 12 Pro Max 18.2
Airpods Pro 2
Canadian resident obviously
The Hearing Aid Feature is not supported in Canada yet. Neither is the UK where I live. If you have an iPad or iPhone running IOS 17.7.1 or older you can them working and access and add your audiogram and USE your audiogram as long as you set them up with is older than 18.1.
You can get access if you have an older Apple iPad or iPhone.
This will probably depend on if/when your province also approves their use. I know that in BC there are regulations that require a licensed tech to dispense “medical devices” such as hearing aids. I’ve emailed our BC minister of health to learn of the timeline for approval but no response yet.
Sorry, I’ve lost track of this discussion so maybe this has been posted already. But I contacted Health Canada Medical Devices Directorate and this is part of their reply -
“On December 11th, 2024, Health Canada issued two Medical Device Licences to Apple Inc., authorizing the sale of their Hearing Aid Feature…..”
It goes on to say that it is up to the provinces to determine accessibility to these devices. So what next?
Yes! Read the same. Health Canada Medical Devices Directorate replied to my inquiry and said they issued licences to Apple on Dec 11/24. And that now it is up to the provinces to decide accessibility. Will write to Alberta Health in the New Year
rodp wrote:
However, they go on to explain that it is now up to each individual province whether a prescription is required for them. This is an example of ridiculous bureaucracy. If it comes down to each province or territory, why would Health Canada need to be involved in the first place?
Canada is a confederation. Provinces have significantly more power than states do in the U.S. I believe Health Canada certifies for safety and efficacy.
Recently wrote to Ontario Health Ministy - this is what I just got back......
Thank you for writing to the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, about using Apple Airpods
as hearing aids. The Ministry of Health appreciates that you took the time to get more information.
In Ontario, audiologists and speech-language pathologists are governed under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991.
Under these acts, the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)
is responsible for ensuring its members are competent, skilled and
qualified to practise in Ontario. As part of its duties, CASLPO may make regulations and set standards of practice on a variety of subject matters.
We encourage you to contact CASLPO as they are best suited to answer your questions:
CASLPO
601-175 Bloor Street East, North Tower
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R8
Telephone: 416-975-5347
Toll free: 800-993-9459
Email: caslpo@caslpo.com
We hope this information is helpful. Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
Correspondence and Corporate Support | Correspondance et soutien ministériel
Ministry of Health | Ministère de la Santé
Going to repost this info from rasg detailing how you can use your iPods as “unofficial” hearing aids now as long as you use an older iOS version for set up. This worked well for me.
————————————————————
If you haven’t updated your iPhone to IOS 18.1 you can still use the Airpods as hearing Aids with an older IOS without the geographical lock and for me with mild to moderate hearing loss they work really well. I've been using them for five or six weeks. They won't help you that much if your hearing loss is severe or profound.
If you are not on IOS 18.1 you can set them up straight away. If you have an iPad or an older iPhone that is running an older IOS you could set them up on that. You will need to download the free Mimi app to do do a hearing test OR you can download your audiogram by taking a photo of it.
Assuming you have set them up using Bluetooth after you have taken a hearing test. Go to Settings/Accessibility/Audio Visual and click on Headphone Accommodations. Click on Audiogram and it will ask you which one to use. If you used the Mimi app the test will appear with todays date. Select it. In the next menu you can hear a sample of music and toggle between music with your Audiogram applied and without it so you know your Audiogram is working.
Go to the bottom and click on Transparency Mode and also switch Conversation boost on.
With the Airpods connected to your phone or iPad, your Airpods will appear close to the top of the Settings menu. Click on it. Switch Conversation Awareness on. Switch Loud Sound Reduction on. Go almost to the bottom and do an Ear Tip Fit Test to make sure you have a good seal in your ears.
That's about it but there are loads of settings you can play around with. In the last menu I mentioned you can simply set them to Adaptive Mode which will automatically set Noise Cancellation volume according to your surroundings. Otherwise you tinker with the Background Volume and Hearing Aid Volume manually independently of each other.
Hope this helps. Copy it quick!
I think you can purchase the Airpods Pro from Canada. What is important is to get the most recent firmware on the Airpods Pro.
I tried everything you described above. I upgrade to 18.1 on my phone in Canada. Thinking of getting a used phone and upgrading the IOS while in US or when it thinks it's in US.
AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aids not available in Canada
