How to Set Up Custom Audiograms and Headphone Accommodations on iPhone in iOS 18

Standard headphone sound tuning applies flat, universal frequency equalization across all listeners. However, human hearing profiles differ substantially due to ear canal geometry, age, and varying degrees of high-frequency or vocal-range hearing loss. With iOS 18, Apple expanded its Headphone Accommodations feature, allowing iPhone users to import clinical hearing test charts (audiograms) or run on-device listening tests to tune AirPods, Beats, and compatible headphones to their exact hearing profile.

What Is an Audiogram and How Does iOS Apply It?

An audiogram is a medical chart illustrating pure-tone hearing thresholds across standard audio frequencies (ranging from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz) for both ears independently. When imported into iOS, the audio processing engine calculates an inverse correction curve. It amplifies quiet frequencies where your hearing is less sensitive while softening harsh tones, delivering crystal-clear dialogue in movies, crisp podcast vocals, and balanced music playback.

Importing a Clinical Audiogram into the Apple Health App

If you have had a professional hearing test administered by an audiologist:

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone running iOS 18.
2. Tap the Browse tab in the bottom-right corner.
3. Select Hearing.
4. Tap Audiogram.
5. Tap Add Data in the top-right corner.
6. Manually enter the decibel hearing level (dB HL) values for each frequency across your left and right ears, or tap Import Document to scan a paper chart or PDF using the camera scanner.
7. Tap Add to save the profile.

Enabling Headphone Accommodations in iOS 18 Settings

Once your audiogram data exists in Apple Health, link it directly to your connected headphones:

1. Connect your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones to your iPhone.
2. Open Settings > Accessibility.
3. Scroll to the Hearing section and tap Audio & Visual.
4. Tap Headphone Accommodations at the top.
5. Toggle the switch to On.
6. Under Tune Audio For, select Custom Audio Setup.
7. iOS will detect your saved audiogram from the Health app. Tap Use Audiogram.

Running the On-Device Listening Assessment (Without a Medical Chart)

If you do not possess a formal audiologist audiogram, iOS provides an interactive pure-tone hearing assessment:

1. Under Custom Audio Setup, choose Don’t Use Audiogram.
2. Ensure you are seated in a completely quiet room with your headphones fitted snugly.
3. Listen to sample comparisons of spoken sentences and acoustic tones, answering whether you can hear the samples or which version sounds clearer.
4. Upon completion, iOS generates a personalised custom tuning curve tailored to your specific perceptual responses.

Applying Tuning to Phone Calls and Media Playback

You can fine-tune where custom accommodations apply:

• Phone: Enhances vocal clarity and intelligibility during cellular phone calls, FaceTime discussions, and third-party calling apps.
• Media: Applies the tailored equalization curve to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and streaming movies.
• Transparency Mode Tuning: For AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 with ANC, adjust Custom Transparency Mode to amplify quiet environmental sounds and reduce ambient room rumble.