Apple has released its findings from the Apple Hearing Study report, conducted in collaboration with the University of Michigan; the study, which began in 2019, includes data from more than 160,000 participants in the United States and contributed to the development of Apple’s Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features introduced in 2024. Notably, this report highlights the relationship between hearing loss and the capability of cognitive and motor functions.
Apple: Hearing Loss Can Affect Concentration & Walking
The research examined hearing status using the four-frequency pure tone average (4PTA), a standard hearing measurement based on the softest sound levels individuals can detect at key speech frequencies. While hearing levels at or below 25dB are generally classified as normal under World Health Organization guidelines, the study found significant variation in how individuals within this range perceived their hearing ability.
Researchers analyzed data from 84,970 participants classified as having normal hearing and found that more than 16% still rated their hearing as fair or poor. More than 7% also reported substantial difficulty concentrating during conversations or hearing others in environments with background noise. The study found that even within clinically normal ranges, worsening 4PTA values were associated with increased self-reported hearing difficulties.
The more interesting bit of this report showed the relationship between hearing loss and mobility, using walking speed data collected through iPhone sensors. Data from 57,183 participants who had both hearing test results and at least 30 days of walking speed measurements showed that higher levels of hearing loss can actually cause a person to literally walk slower by as much as 13% – particularly among adults aged 60 and above.
According to the study, walking speed is considered an important indicator of overall physical health because it reflects coordination across multiple body systems, including the brain, muscles, vision and hearing. Researchers noted that hearing loss may affect awareness of environmental sounds such as footsteps and traffic, potentially influencing mobility and balance.
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