Question about Conversation Boost and the new Hearing Test results

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Question about Conversation Boost and the new Hearing Test results

Hi everyone,

I have a question about how the new hearing features interact with the older Accessibility settings.

I'm using AirPods Pro 3 on iOS 26.3.1.

I recently took the new built-in Hearing Test directly through my AirPods, which saved my results to the Health app. I tried turning on the Hearing Aid feature for a bit, but then I turned it completely off.

Instead, I went into the regular accessibility settings and manually turned on Conversation Boost (Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations > Transparency Mode > Conversation Boost).

My question is: when I turn on Conversation Boost this way (with the Hearing Aid feature disabled), does the iPhone automatically know to use my personal Hearing Test results to adjust the audio? Or does it just apply a generic, one-size-fits-all boost?

I'm trying to figure out what happens automatically in this scenario so I can get the best sound.

Thanks for any insights!

AirPods Pro 3

Posted on Mar 25, 2026 12:45 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 25, 2026 1:45 PM in response to dorha22

dorha22 wrote:

Or does it just apply a generic, one-size-fits-all boost?

I suspect that is what is happening.

I'm trying to figure out what happens automatically in this scenario so I can get the best sound.

Thanks for any insights!

Try both and see which one works best for you.

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Answer 2

Mar 25, 2026 3:16 PM in response to dorha22

There is sight-gag that goes along with your hearing test. It's the graph of your specific hearing loss, by frequency. Whatever hearing aids you use, starts by applying that graph, in reverse, as if you were sliding the sliders on a graphic equalizer.

By contrast, when you say "boost", that is more like just turning up the Volume knob. All frequencies get the same boost, needed or not. That's a Brute Force solution, and may be too loud for some frequencies, and possibly not loud enough for some frequencies. The 'Holy Grail' all these solutions are chasing is ability to more clearly discern speech, and just higher volume may not do that well enough.

There is even more complexity in some cases. That's why custom-fitted high-end hearing aids can sell for over US$2500. each, with high-touch services included.

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