Apple launches AirPods Pro hearing aid feature in select Canadian provinces

Apple has introduced a clinical-grade hearing aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 in several Canadian provinces. The feature is currently available in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan. Availability is limited to these regions because the feature can only be deployed in provinces where over-the-counter hearing aids are permitted.

To utilize the functionality, users aged 18 and older must complete a five-minute hearing test via the Health app or AirPods settings. The test uses a series of tones and animations to create a personalized profile. Users with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can then set up the hearing aid feature, which offers up to 10 hours of use. The system also includes Conversation Boost, which focuses on the person speaking to the user during one-on-one interactions.

Users can customize settings using either the results from the internal Apple hearing test or audiogram results provided by a healthcare professional. Apple stated it is working with various provinces to gain approval to expand the feature to all Canadian provinces as soon as possible.