How to Use Earbuds as Hearing Aids

With approximately 27% of older adults aged 60–69 and 55% of those aged 70–79 suffering some level of hearing loss according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), many seniors can benefit from addressing their hearing health. If you’re finding that you need more clarity in noisy environments, consider connecting your wireless earbuds to hearing health apps. That way, you can enjoy an effective OTC hearing aid for a fraction of the cost.

Whether Samsung or Apple, these earbud features are made possible using modern Bluetooth technology. Below, we outline how to enable hearing aid features on your earbuds for better day-to-day hearing.

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Using Earbuds As OTC Hearing Aids: Available Devices

The two primary types of wireless earbuds you can use as basic hearing aids include Apple’s AirPods Pro and some Samsung devices. These devices are easy to find on sites like Amazon or in-person stores like Walmart or Target.

Apple AirPods Pro

In recent years, Apple has added FDA-cleared hearing aid functionality to the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 earbuds. This makes it easy to connect these devices to your iPhone or iPad for features like:

• Hearing Aid Mode: Amplifies surrounding sounds to help seniors with mild to moderate hearing loss.
• Hearing Test: Examines your hearing to determine the best sound settings for your level of hearing loss.
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Filters out unwanted background noise to improve clarity while streaming audio (phone calls, music, etc.).
• Conversation Boost: Hones in on the voice of the person directly in front of you, making it easier to listen to conversations.
• Transparency Mode: The opposite of ANC, this mode carefully lets in environmental sounds while streaming audio, improving situational awareness.
• Personalized Volume Control: Adjusts amplification levels based on your environment and preferences.
• Live Listen: Uses your iPhone as a remote microphone to stream audio directly to your AirPods.

Galaxy Buds Pro

While no specific Samsung earbud has an FDA-cleared hearing aid mode, several apps for the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Galaxy Buds3 Pro can help seniors with hearing loss. You can also visit your Android phone’s Accessibility settings for key features like:

• Ambient Sound Mode: Similar to Transparency Mode on AirPods, this setting makes it easier to hear ambient sounds while your earbuds are in.
• Extra-High Ambient Volume: Further amplifies sound beyond the standard volume slider for seniors with hearing loss.
• Left/Right Balance Control: Allows seniors with uneven hearing loss to adjust Ambient Sound in one earbud at a time.
• Adapt Sound: Lets you find the settings based on your age range or create your own personalized sound profile for your level of hearing loss.
• Active Noise Cancellation(ANC): Effective background noise reduction to improve clarity while streaming audio or video.

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How To Use AirPod Hearing Aid Features

As long as you can create a successful Bluetooth connection, putting your AirPods Pro 2 or 3 into Hearing Aid Mode is a simple and easy process. You’ll also need to make sure your devices are fully updated, as Hearing Aid Mode requires iOS 18.1 or later. To update, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.

Once you confirm that you have the latest software, follow these steps:

1. Connect Your AirPods

If it’s your first time connecting AirPods Pro to an iPhone or another Apple device, you’ll need to set up the Bluetooth connection. You can do so by:

1. Navigate to Settings > Bluetooth and turn capabilities on.
2. Put your earbuds in pairing mode.
3. Select the earbuds when they appear as an available device to connect to.
4. Follow any on-screen prompts to start Bluetooth streaming.

2. Confirm Your Level of Hearing Loss

Go to the Settings app on your Apple device and tap your AirPods at the top of the list, then select Take a Hearing Test. Taking this 5-minute test with your earbuds in allows you to evaluate each ear individually. You’ll simply tap the screen each time you hear a beep. Results are saved automatically to Apple Health.

Instead, if you’ve already taken an audiologist’s hearing test, you can upload the audiogram directly. Go to Update Hearing Results > Add Hearing Test Result. Then, either use your camera to scan the printout or enter the values manually.

3. Customize Your Sound

Once you set up your hearing profile, you can tap Adjustments or the ear icon in your Control Center under Hearing Assistance to fine-tune settings. Edit the volume level, left/right ear balance, tone (bass to treble), and ambient noise. You can also enable specialized settings like Conversation Boost, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and more.

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How To Use Samsung Earbud Hearing Assistance

Connecting your Bluetooth-enabled Samsung earbuds to hearing aid features is equally simple. Just make sure your device is fully updated and follow these specific steps:

1. Download Necessary Apps

While the Samsung Hearing Enhancement feature includes basic hearing aid functionality and is already built into smartphones, we also recommend going to the Google Play Store for additional apps. In particular, you should download both the Samsung Sound Assistant and Galaxy Wearable apps.

2. Pair Your Earbuds via Bluetooth

Connect your earbuds to your Android device via Bluetooth. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. To enable Bluetooth streaming, go to either Bluetooth Settings or press the button on the notification panel. A pop-up will appear with a list of connected and available devices.
2. Put your earbuds in pairing mode.
3. Find your earbuds among the list of available devices, then select them to connect.
4. Follow any on-screen prompts to start Bluetooth streaming.

3. Enable Hearing Enhancements

Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Enhancements on your Samsung phone. Here you can turn on features like Live Caption, Sound Notifications, and Adapt Sound, which can all help you find the best hearing aid settings based on your level of hearing loss.

4. Enable Ambient Sound in the Galaxy Wearable App

Once you’ve confirmed that your earbuds are connected, open the Galaxy Wearable app. Tap EarbudSettings > Accessibility > Enhance Ambient Sound and turn on the toggle at the top of the page. You can adjust the ambient sound volume for each earbud individually, making it easier to address uneven hearing.

If you find that maxing out the Ambient Sound volume isn’t enough, navigate to the Extra-High Ambient Volume toggle within the Labs section of the Ambient Sound screen for further amplification.

5. Customize Your Equalizer with Sound Assistant

You can use the Samsung Sound Assistant app to fine-tune audio beyond what the Galaxy Wearable app offers. On the app, you can use Separate Volume Control to manage applications separately and enable Mono Audio to hear sound equally in both earbuds.

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Earbud Apps That Help Address Hearing Needs

We’ve mentioned a few useful apps that help you wear over-ear headphones and buds as hearing aids already, but there are additional options to explore as well. Of course, the apps available to you partially depend on your specific device, so we’ve highlighted options from the App Store and Google Play separately.

iOS Apps

• Live Listen: A built-in iOS feature that turns your iPhone into a remote microphone. That way, you can stream amplified sound directly to AirPods to remedy hearing issues.
• HearingOS: A downloadable app that uses modern AI technology to suppress noise and increase speech intelligibility. The smart algorithm works by carefully suppressing certain background noises.
• Petralex Hearing Aid: Also on iOS and Android, this app offers real-time sound processing and amplification with customizable sound profiles. Additionally, you can tweak the sound profile or enable automatic adjustments when useful, depending on the environment.
• Volume Boost: Once connected to your earbuds, you can tweak detailed settings for each ear individually. This makes it easier for seniors with partial or asymmetric hearing loss to find a comfortable balance.

Android Apps

• Sound Amplifier: This app uses your device’s built-in microphone to pick up the sounds around you. You can then filter, augment, and amplify the sounds as needed. For example, Conversation Mode allows you to focus on a speaker’s voice in noisy settings.
• Mimi Hearing Test: Available on iOS and Android, but because iPhones already have a built-in hearing test, we recommend it for Android users. This is one of the most accurate hearing tests on Google Play, providing a pure tone test and background noise test so you can update your hearing profile.
• Live Transcribe & Notification: Great for both amplification and text-based communication assistance, this app provides live transcriptions of spoken conversation and sound notifications. It supports over 70 languages with real-time captions.
• ReSound TinnitusRelief: Available on both iOS and Android, this app uses sounds and relaxation exercises to help manage tinnitus symptoms. Enjoy a personalized tinnitus therapy program with customized soundscapes and educational lessons.

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When To Consider Prescription Hearing Aids

Prescription hearing aids are custom-built to fit your ear canal perfectly and address your hearing loss. This makes them more expensive than most earbud solutions, which have some customizable features, but also more efficient for meeting your exact needs. Common examples include Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC), Behind-the-Ear (BTE), and In-the-Ear (ITE) devices.

If you find that Hearing Aid Mode on your earbuds isn’t providing enough amplification, struggles to filter background noise, or causes discomfort during extended wear, it may be time to consider a prescription. Simply reach out to your audiologist for a formal hearing test, and they can assist you from there.

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The Bottom Line: Wireless Earbuds Can Be a Convenient Hearing Aid Alternative for Some Users

Turning your wireless earbuds into functional hearing aids is a simple process for both Apple and Android devices. Using the latest models, including AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro, you can set up a Bluetooth connection with compatible smartphones and tablets. You can then use either the settings on those devices, additional apps, or a combination of the 2 to boost amplification, filter background noise, and stream audio directly to your earbuds.

Ultimately, earbuds are a great alternative to hearing aids for tech-savvy seniors with mild to moderate hearing loss. But, if you notice any shortfalls in the available features, it’s worth reaching out to your audiologist for a formal hearing test. That way, you can get the personalized hearing aid technology you need for the best outcomes.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Using Earbuds as Hearing Aids

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