Apple's AirPods Pro 2 will soon work as a hearing aid

Apple unveiled the features during an event in September, and they will be publicly available through a free software update next week. Users can take a clinically validated hearing test with the AirPods Pro 2, and the buds will serve as an over-the-counter hearing aid if applicable.

The headphones will also be equipped with new hearing protection capabilities, such as loud sound reduction, that are switched on by default. 

More than 1.5 billion people are living with hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization.

Tapping into this market could help Apple juice sales for the $249 AirPods Pro 2, which the company first launched two years ago. 

If you already own the headphones, the hearing health features are worth exploring.

They take just a few minutes to set up, and they're easy to use from the comfort of your home.

The AirPods Pro 2 are also a cost-effective option for those looking for assistive hearing technology. Other over-the-counter hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars without insurance, for instance.