Hearing test not available in Australia after iOS update this morning

Yep, same here. Bought specifically for hearing aid feature as I don’t use buds as they don’t stay in my ears so was a desperate purchase, now just a pretty ornament for me without the hearing feature. Talk about grumpy! False advertising when they have advertisements in Australia saying buy them for this feature !

kit laughlin wrote:

Thanks for that. A number of members here have filled in the official "Apple Feedback" form; it's a waiting game now. If the member here who contacted the TGA before could check to see if they have received a request for review from Apple, that would be grand.

I expect that will be unlikely to produce a response. The TGA won't confirm or deny the submission of a request, and Apple also refrains from commenting. The first you will know about it is when the approval is given.

The good news was delivered this morning by 9News. The government has finally given the green light for the hearing aid’s functionality. Better late than never!

https://amp.9news.com.au/article/e49d400f-94f0-4722-8ef8-953a4dfb0c1d

This seems still to be the case! TGA exceeded expectations and approved the functionality on 23 December 2024. I have just installed IOS 18.2.1 which many hoped would include the necessary software but nope! We wait for Apple to get around to making the upgrade available in Australia. I ask Apple “what’s the problem? Surely the upgrade is an easy add-in. It’s 2 weeks since TGA approval. Apple can’t hide behind that as an excuse for further delay any more!”

The TGA approved these features back in December and they still do not work a month later. Apple support would only tell me there would be a software update ( sometime in 2025)

I bought my Airpod Pro 2s back in October specifically because of all the Apple Hype and ads saying they could b e used as hearing as as did may others here.

I have now submitted a complaint to the ACC and suggest if enough others follow suit Apple may do the right thing

Thanks Cave.

Ever the optimist and to give Apple the "benefit of the doubt" I've held off taking a complaint "external" so to speak, but if the hearing aid functionality is not included in the IOS 18.3, I'll be joining you in complaining to the ACNC and the TGA. Sometime in 2025 is astonishingly vague given that the software is already functioning in many other countries.

No Problem, I don't know the inner workings on what is done after approval, but thought it would be helpful to know that previously with the ECG feature on the watch, it was 2 months after approval. The good news is the feature should be coming to you soon and would consider anything before the 2 month mark to be a win.

I buy latest in ear pads in Australia with hearing which universal internet promotes as very good then get home and try to get working which is all over the net only to find eventually that it’s disappointingly not available here even thou approval is granted

[Edited by Moderator]

It works .. if you take an overseas trip ! 

just been to NZ for a week, didn’t use the AirPods while I was there but noticed the “take a hearing test” option had appeared when I started using them on the plane home. Too noisy to do the test on the plane but have since done the test (similar profile to audiologist test) and the AirPods are now functioning as a hearing aid. Seem very similar to my Oticon’s but need more testing, having a closed ear bud is a bit different in that you hear yourself a bit more than the Oticons as they don’t seal the ear as well.

Running iOS 18.3.1 and have rebooted the phone to ensure there in no lingering location artefact. A friend has had a similar situation after travel. 

Fingers crossed they stay operational

Yes, this update is taking way too long. TGA approval 2 months ago and at least 2 updates to iOS 18 since. Surely it’s just a toggle of a switch in software? What gets me is I can add an audiogram, I can select it in the APP2 settings, activate transparency mode with the custom settings which does boost ambient sounds quite a bit only to have that mode shut off without any input from me. Some bugs no doubt to fix…

Hopefully, given it was approved in the UK around the same time as Australia its ridiculous that it hasn't been turned on in Aust. Especially given its clear that its oly a matter of switching it on in IOS in the Aust. region.

Hi kit laughlin

Re: "Hearing test not available in Australia after iOS update this morning"

Yes, I see Australia is not listed in Apple's article: AirPods Pro 2 - Hearing Health Feature Availability - Apple

Wondering whether or not marketing and Health Authorities in Australia are still looking into authorization.

___________________________________________________________

Apple's September 9, 2024 Press Release about new health features

says:

"The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to receive marketing authorization from global health authorities soon, and will be available this fall in more than 100 countries and regions, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan.3"

and

3 "The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to be available fall 2024. The Hearing Aid feature is pending marketing authorization from the FDA and other global health authorities. The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features will be supported on AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware paired with a compatible iPhone or iPad with iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 and later, and is intended for people 18 years or older. The Hearing Aid feature is intended for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss".

USA Fall 2024:  Starts on Sunday, September 22 and ends on Saturday, December 21

As community members, like yourself, we have no way of checking whether or not the hearing-test availability is complete, or whether other countries may be included in time.

All the best :-)

Alancito wrote:

AQUAJIM ~ Apple are unlikely to do anything unless you tell them. We're all just users in these user-to-user communities. Use these links:

Actually the delay was due to waiting for approval from Australia and they were way late to the game, with over 100 countries already approving it last September. This has also been seen with the previous health initiatives from Apple

• The ECG feature of the Apple Watch was launched in December 2018, but not approved by the TGA until March 2021 and Apple was able to make it available to users then 2 months later. That was about a 2 and a half year delay.
• The Sleep Apnea feature of the Apple Watch has been approved in over 150 countries since last September when it was launched, but still has NOT been approved by the TGA.

I think you see the pattern there and writing to Apple is not the solution for the TGA to approve those features, but you may have more luck pressuring them yourself. Now that the Hearing Test feature has been approved by the TGA, you should expect the feature to arrive soon. Based on past TGA approval of the ECG feature, it was 2 months after approval. Nothing wrong with the Government wanting to fully test a health feature before allowing it in their country, but as far as blaming anyone for a delay, you may not be looking in the right place.