Hearing loss tests can even be done from your own home
BBC Morning Live’s Doctor Xand van Tulleken has revealed AirPods could double up as hearing aids. Speaking to co-hosts Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones., he noted that on certain models and certain phones, in-ear earphones – like AirPods – can be turned into hearing devices.
Apple themselves write: “AirPods Pro 2 provides a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature for perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and a Media Assist feature, which enhances the clarity of music, video and calls.”
Dr Xand said: “It gives you more options to deal with potential hearing loss” – noting that “it’s very convenient” for many age ranges, especially if they want something discreet. He points out other benefits, adding: “You can do it at home and your headphones have no stigma attached” to them, as many people don’t like the idea of a hearing aid due to the way they look or our of fear of being judged.
In fact, he says you can get them over the counter (OTC). These type of hearing aids are hearing devices that can be purchased without a prescription from a healthcare provider.
When it comes to things to consider before getting OTC hearing aids, the doctor stresses: “First of all, they are only for a mild to moderate hearing loss.
“Secondly, going to see an audiologist gives you much more complete process in terms of steering through” a challenging moment in your life. In addition to this, they’re often more affordable and less complex than prescription hearing aids.
He further notes that during this time, many people see themselves go from someone who has no issues to someone who thinks that their body is not working. And it’s one of the many reasons people don’t like to admit they may have a hearing issue, but it is crucial you get it checked out.
How can I test my hearing?
If you think you have an issue with your hearing, there are ways you can find out from your very own sofa. Citing the free RNID’s (Royal National Institute for the Deaf) online hearing test, Dr Xand reveals: “Their free online checker is good. There is a website you’ll go to to do a hearing loss test, which is just a screening test.”
During this test, you’ll hear a noise as someone reads numbers to you. As part of the test, you have to listen for the numbers. “It can be difficult to do with this though”, Dr Xand admits, saying he has tried the test himself.
“The test gets harder and I found this quite frustrating”, he said but called it “a useful screening test.” Urging people to try it, he highlights: “It’s worth considering if you’re struggling to hear people.”
He also showed options people have such as skin coloured hearing aids and ones that are “almost invisible”. As well as showing the viewers at home that hearing aids are not always bulky and unsightly, he reveals why you could be losing your hearing.
What causes hearing loss?
“There are many causes of hearing loss,” says Dr Xand. He says it can be due to:
- getting older
- wax build-up
- foreign objects
- infection
- eardrum problems
- bone problems in your ear
- neurological problems
- autoimmune conditions
Because of this and due to the variety of causes, he says this alone is a “good reason to engage with your GP, go see an audiologist [hearing doctor] and properly walk through the stages.”
To take the RNID’s free online hearing test, click here. For a full step-by-step guide on how to use hearing aid functions on an Apple device, click here. If you have a Samsung Galaxy device, click here.
