'Apple Hearing Study' Insights Shared Ahead of World Hearing Day

Apple today shared key insights from its Apple Hearing Study to encourage others to better understand and manage their hearing health. The data comes from thousands of participants across the United States.

apple hearing study featured
For example, Apple said 25 percent of participants experience a daily average environmental sound exposure like traffic, machinery, or public transportation that is higher than the WHO's recommended limit. In addition, Apple said nearly 50 percent of participants in the study now work, or have previously worked, in a loud workplace.

Other insights shared by Apple:

  • Average weekly headphone exposure for one in 10 participants is higher than the WHO's recommended limit.
  • About 10 percent of participants have been diagnosed with hearing loss by a professional. Of these, 75 percent do not use assistive support such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant.
  • 20 percent of participants have hearing loss when compared to WHO standards, and 10 percent have hearing loss that is consistent with noise exposure.
  • Nearly 50 percent of participants haven't had their hearing tested by a professional in at least 10 years.
  • 25 percent of participants experience ringing in their ears a few times a week or more, which could be a sign of hearing damage.

Apple explains how its products can help protect a person's hearing. With the Noise app on the Apple Watch, for example, users can enable notifications that alert when environmental noise levels might affect their hearing health.

Apple is sharing these findings just ahead of World Hearing Day on March 3, which aims to address hearing loss and related issues. By 2050, the WHO estimates more than 700 million people globally will experience profound hearing loss, according to Apple.

The Apple Hearing Study, available through Apple's Research app, is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and data is being shared with the WHO's Make Listening Safe initiative.

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Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams Avatar
55 months ago
Did Siri participate in the study?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jimmy James Avatar
55 months ago
Apple’s work in health related topics meshes well with their privacy stance. There is some real innovation and meaningful quality of life improvements possible here. I know a guy who didn’t need to wear a daily holster monitor for cardiac monitoring because his doctor was ok with using Apple Watch data. That’s huge!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Localcelebrity Avatar
55 months ago
I'm enrolled in the Heart & Movement Study, and I genuinely enjoy knowing that my data is going towards good research and not being data mined. I honestly wish there were more studies available.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vicviper789 Avatar
55 months ago
It would be cool if they added resistance to the digital crown - I have accidentally sent the volume on my airpods to full when the crown rubs against my sleeves/gloves.

It would be cool if the direction of the volume sliders on the iPhone widget screen were different from the way you swipe. I have accidentally sent the volume on my airpods to full by trying to swipe to the home screen but 'grabbing' the volume bar instead...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
55 months ago
The is a very good partnership with WHO. Pure innovation Apple.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wmadan Avatar
55 months ago

My condolences to you from a fellow sufferer.
And mine, too, from a fellow sufferer with tinnitus caused by nerve deafness in my left ear.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)