The UK's department of health and social care has approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, which has prompted Apple to announce

An Apple AirPods Pro 2 upgrade is the capability to use the earbuds as hearing aid. Changes in U.K. regulations mean Apple will upgrade the software imminently.

The H2 chip at the heart of these earbuds delivers twice the active noise cancellation power of the original AirPods Pro, making them significantly better at blocking out unwanted background noise. Whether you’re trying to focus in a busy office or find some peace during your commute, the difference is noticeable.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $199 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on list price. Apple discounts are something we never skip over at Mashable, especially deals on AirPods. A new pair doesn't have to break the bank,

Last fall, Apple released an AirPods Pro update that brought an impressive new set of hearing protection features to the AirPods Pro 2. However, due to the regulatory approval process, some countries, including the U.K., missed out on certain features, including the ability to use the AirPods Pro as a hearing aid.

To start the hearing test, make sure your AirPods are charged enough and you're in a quiet room. Once connected with a paired iPhone/iPad, head over to Settings > your AirPods. You can also start the Hearing Test from the Health app by tapping 'Take a Hearing Test' and following on-screen instructions.