Apple is giving a major upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2, turning them into much more than just a set of premium earbuds. Coming soon, these AirPods will feature a “clinical grade” hearing aid mode aimed at people with mild to moderate hearing loss. While the feature still needs FDA clearance and approval from other regulatory bodies, Apple is optimistic that these approvals are right around the corner.

Here’s how it works: When activated, the new over-the-counter hearing aid capability will enhance specific sounds in real-time, like conversations and other ambient noises. Additionally, the update will include a new clinically validated hearing test. This test, which is quick and easy, can help you spot early signs of hearing loss. You’ll need both the AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 to take the test, which should take less than five minutes.

The test itself is interactive. You’ll listen to various sounds at different frequencies and follow prompts on your screen to tap your iPhone accordingly. After completing the test, you’ll receive an audiogram and a numerical score for each ear, which you can check out in the iPhone Health app. Based on these results, a custom hearing profile will be created and automatically applied to your audio experiences, whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, or making calls.

Apple is also introducing a passive hearing protection mode, which automatically reduces noise in loud environments, such as at concerts. This feature is always on, which is a good thing since Apple notes that a third of people are regularly exposed to environments that could potentially harm their hearing.

This exciting update for the AirPods Pro 2 is set to roll out as a free software update this fall, reaching over 100 countries and regions, including the US, Japan, and Germany. So, get ready to make the most of your AirPods in ways you never expected!