Apple shares new AirPods findings from hearing study

The Apple Hearing Study, conducted in collaboration with the University of Michigan, is releasing new findings this week that highlight the importance of Apple’s hearing health features for AirPods.

As a reminder, the Apple Hearing Study includes more than 160,000 consenting participants across the United States, making it one of the largest hearing research studies ever conducted.

Here are some takeaways from the new findings:

• Among nearly 85,000 participants who technically tested within the WHO “normal” hearing range (≤25 dB), 16% still rated their hearing as fair or poor.
  • “Further illustrating the discrepancy between measured and perceived hearing ability among individuals classified as having normal hearing, many participants classified as having normal hearing reported difficulty concentrating when listening to and understanding others with background speakers,” the study adds.
• Hearing loss may also be linked to physical health: In a separate analysis of 57,183 people, poorer hearing was linked to slower walking speed, particularly among adults aged 60 and older.

The study concludes:

We found that the hearing measure we assessed, the pure-tone average over four frequencies, was associated with self-reported hearing ability and daily hearing difficulties in people classified as having normal hearing. Allowing individuals to monitor their hearing using 4PTA, which they can do using Apple’s Hearing Test feature, gives them the ability to track their hearing as it changes over time, even when it is classified as clinically normal, and take steps to protect and support their hearing throughout their life.

We also found that increased hearing loss was strongly linked to lower walking speed, a key indicator of mobility and physical health. Addressing and treating hearing loss with strategies such as hearing aid function can help promote physical health throughout life. It’s important to note that none of these discoveries would have been possible without the help of Apple Hearing Study participants.

You can learn more about this hearing health study on the University of Michigan website.

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