Hearing test not available in Australia after iOS update this morning

Updated to 18.1 this morning. I read the fine print—Australia is *not* in the list of countries where Hearing Test is available. Very disappointing. I was looking forward to using iPods Pro 2 for hearing assistance.

AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

Posted on Oct 28, 2024 1:59 PM

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Posted on Oct 30, 2024 11:25 PM

Just bought my airpods pro this morning for just this feature. Get home and find it’s not available in Australia. Guess how I feel about this issue. Not happy.


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Jan 27, 2025 3:37 PM in response to kit laughlin

I just installed iOS 18.3 this morning and am staggered to find that the Hearing Aid feature is still not available! What gives Apple? This was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Authority in mid December in Australia so I would have expected that sufficient time has passed for this feature to be baked into iOS 18.3, but no. What a disappointment, especially considering that I bought my AirPods Pro 2 (already have first edition) for this very reason. When it will arrive is anybody’s guess it seems.

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Jan 29, 2025 1:08 PM in response to kit laughlin

Good morning Ladies & Gents Kia Ora from New Zealand I am visiting NZ on holiday and guess what I have just uploaded the hearing test and uploaded the hearing aid program that makes the hearing with the iPod 2 pro work and it is wonderful. I cannot believe how good I can now hear things so apple get your arse in the gear and get this thing uploaded for Australia. we need it and I love it. JUST DO IT APPLE for all the people in Australia

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Nov 6, 2024 10:14 PM in response to kit laughlin

Thank you for your enquiry to the TGA.

 

Hearing aids that meet the definition of a medical device as set out in the Therapeutic goods legislation, require approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) prior to legal supply in Australia.

 

Generally the TGA does not disclose if an application has been submitted as this is potentially commercially sensitive information. You will need to contact Apple, the manufacturer of the device directly to obtain this information.

 

To date, the TGA can confirm that a clinical grade hearing aid manufactured by Apple has not been approved.


Kind regards

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Nov 13, 2024 5:14 AM in response to kit laughlin

I have been following this for sometime now and must say it is another form of Australian government protectionism. The only reason they have not let Apple implement this software upgrade presumably is to protect some local interest in regular hearing aids which cost upwards of $6000 in Australia. Hardly surprised that they won’t allow this simple upgrade to the Apple air buds which cost < $400!

I have bought a pair and fully expect Australia to agree to allow Apple to market the product

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Jan 24, 2025 8:18 PM in response to kit laughlin

Dear Apple of my eyes,


I bought a pair of AirPod 2 Pro for my dad in Australia when Apple announced that the AirPods 2 Pro will have the hearing test and aid with software update.

My dad has been suffering from hearing impediment for a number of years where it makes it extremely difficult to communicate with him.

So far most of the hearing aid devices we bought for him become useless shorty after usage for two reasons (yes, even the very expensive ones). First problem is the battery change or recharge and second the pipe transferring the sound get blocked by ear wax. They need constant maintenance and since my dad is old and can't maintain these devices they become useless.


The AirPods 2 Pro was approved as hearing aid by TGA (Therapeutics Goods Administration) in Australia on December last year. Could you please let me know when would this feature be available in Australia?


Thanks 🙏

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Nov 1, 2024 5:49 PM in response to Wowee22

Re: Why was Australia not included in the release?

We are all Apple users like yourself in the community, so no-one here knows for sure. Seems only some countries marketing and health authorities have given their approval, as the FDA has done in America.


Re: When Australian’s be given access.

As Apple users, like yourself, we have no way of knowing for sure.

Various health products can not be shipped to Australia from US because of Australia's regulations.


If needed: AirPods support website: (info / resources / support / contact etc.)

AirPods Support - Official Apple Support

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Dec 12, 2024 2:32 PM in response to kit laughlin

IOS 18.2 update has:

  • Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom
  • Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in the United Arab Emirates

But not Australia

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Nov 8, 2024 5:34 AM in response to Tim2488TH

You kidding me, they were so fast that, australia was one of the first places to have the vaccine available.



TGA is doing more harm than good to be honest. Just let more people take advantage of the new features, if it doesnt work, people will stop using it !!!! simple as that


The $5000 hearing Aid my father got, it's RUBBISH ! It so frustrating that we cant even have a normal conversation with him!!!

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Jan 6, 2025 4:05 PM in response to kit laughlin

I live in Australia and now have the hearing aid feature. I had to go to NZ to get it set up. Can I tell you just how amazing it is. I have mild hearing lost according to Apple. This device has changed my life. All the sounds are crisp and clear. My god. Wait till you try it. When I take them off the World goes quiet. Amazing product. Note that once I downloaded the NZ software it took about three hours for the product to automatically register. It now just pops up when I put the Airpod Pro 2 on. I tell you it’s worth the wait.

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Nov 11, 2024 6:42 PM in response to BennieDaBlade

I did exactly the same thing this morning. over an hour on the phone to Apple support only to find out myself on google it is not avaliable in Australia. I did not need to spend $400 on "just another set of ear buds".


They could not even give an ETA.


I subsquently put in a complaint on the TGA website after calling them and being advised "no eta". The more squeeking we make might strike oil. :-)

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Nov 16, 2024 3:18 PM in response to kit laughlin

While we wait for full hearing assistance tech to be made available in Australia, there's an article on the use of the 'Headphone Accommodations' feature which does seem to work (I just tried it) - a Feb 2023 article on techradar about how to use it search for How to use your Apple AirPods Pro as hearing aids

also an interesting v recent article on hackaday website

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Nov 20, 2024 2:05 PM in response to Raylud

I saw the multiple YouTube videos talking about this feature. I bought the pro2 and looked forward to setting up with this.

when I got them there was no feature in the 18.1.1 update. I rang Apple and they tried for an hour to figure out the problem. Finally we figured it out. The software is not available in Australia.

so like $400 later I am back to zero. Thanks for the heads up when I purchased these Apple. NOT

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Hearing test not available in Australia after iOS update this morning

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