Hearing aids with Bluetooth functionality.  Hearing Aids have come in all shapes and sizes for many years.  However, they have come a long way since the massive ear trumpets of old.  In fact, they are fairly unrecognisable, even within my own hearing aid wearing lifetime of just over 30 years.  Notable improvements have been the transition of NHS analogue hearing aids to digital hearing aids, around the early 90’s.  Leaps and bound progress in the miniaturising of electronics has made a huge difference. Enabling Receiver in Canal technology and Invisible in Canal and Concealed in Canal hearing aids.

When I was first fitted with hearing aids the electronics were still relatively too big to fit into a shell for a small to average sized ladies’ ear.  At this time, my audiologist advised me against them.  On the basis that in order to make them work for relatively smaller ear canals the manufacturers would just ‘throw out some of the components.  Even if it compromised the sound quality’.  Fortunately that is no longer the case.  Meaning super tiny, discrete hearing aids are available today, with no compromise on acoustic benefit.  However, the biggest single advance in hearing aid technology, of recent times, has been the introduction of Bluetooth functionality.  Are hearing aids with bluetooth functionality all they’re cracked up to be?  In short yes and…. no….for the following reasons:

Depending on the type and age (more on that later!) of your other devices you should be able to connect them directly without cables, to seamlessly stream your favourite music to the new bluetooth enabled hearing aids.  Some of the more sophisticated models even incorporate the ability to adjust the graphic equaliser, with greater and lesser complexity and detail.  On the rare occasions I make it to the gym I used to hate having to take my conventional hearing aids out to listen to music through ear buds.  Meaning I had to wander around deaf.  The advent of bluetooth hearing aids means I don’t have to make the change between devices.  I can enjoy both the benefit of the confidence of hearing and also the motivation of a bouncy beat!  I had the good fortune to review the Phonak Audeo Lumity Life hearing aids recently.  The first fully waterproof hearing aids.

Although I love the music listening ability of Bluetooth hearing aids, they really come into their own for me with audiobooks and podcasts.  For this reason, there’s a very small possibility that I have been known to pop a good book on whilst cooking (if only to drown out the kids fighting over who should have control of the TV!) or whilst out for a walk.

Most of the hearing aids with bluetooth functionality will connect to multiple devices including smart/digital televisions and radios.  Depending on the device and manufacturer some will only stream the audio to your device.  Some stream in addition.  It could mean no more disagreements, everyone can listen at their own level of comfort!

One part of everyday life that can be particularly difficult as a hearing aid wearer is using the telephone.  Fortunately, something most people can completely take for granted.  Without a doubt for many reasons it can be tricky and a cause of some anxiety for hearing aid wearers.  Incorporating causes such as the difference in audio quality amongst devices.  Or even the other caller using a headset further reducing sound clarity.  Coupled with the inability to see the person on the other end allowing you to supplement any hearing with lip reading.

Struggling on the phone was the key motivating factor for me making the change from my trusty Phonak Audeo Belong(B)90’s to the Oticon OPNS1’s, several years ago.  I use the phone a lot for work so the streaming capability of the bluetooth aids has been transformational.  I’m not alone, many people find themselves avoiding making contact with people due to hearing loss anxiety (more on that later).  An acceleration in my deafness (coupled with the arrival of smaller more reliable technology) and as mentioned, a related reduced ability to fulfil the telephone use element of my job motivated me to explore bluetooth hearing aids.  We now know how strong the link between hearing loss, social isolation and the onset of dementia can be.  The ease and confidence to be able to communicate easily on the phone with bluetooth functionality can both help keep us in touch and protect us from these risks.

The Covid pandemic meant that we all had to try and find other means of keeping in touch with people for both home and work.  Video calling and conferencing were a massive part of this.  Bluetooth hearing aids work as custom listening devices.  Consequently, you can listen clearly to the call as well as being in tune with what’s going on around you.  Helpful but not always a blessing?

Most of us have got very used to and dependent on our mobile phones for so much in life.  Not least the use of GPS and navigation services.  Most smartphones and some car Satnav’s will stream the audio instructions direct to your bluetooth hearing aid.  Vastly reducing the stakes of who gets the map reading hot potato.  Joking aside, a hugely helpful benefit of bluetooth hearing aids.

Another great benefit of bluetooth hearing aids is the option to be able to do lots of the programming remotely.  Reducing the need for as many ‘in-person’ appointments.  Great both if you’d rather avoid seasonal sore throats, colds and coughs but also if you’re short on time.  There’s still a no substitute for a ‘proper’ ear health check and formal audiogram by a registered audiologist.  However, bluetooth enabled hearing aids mean that most other programming and ‘tweaks’ can be done when and where is most convenient for you.

Bluetooth functionality within hearing aids has allowed and accelerated the creation of apps to control many functions of modern hearing aids.  From answering calls to adjusting the volume and even changing the hearing aid programme.  NHS hearing aids and private hearing aids  can all be connected to apps.  Most of the manufacturers have apps for both Apple and android devices.  Allowing you to make discrete alterations to programmes, as necessary, as you move from place to place and your listening environment alters.

Having spent more of my life than I’d like to admit searching for my keys and purse the bonus of bluetooth technology aiding a ‘Find My’ function for my hearing aids is a definite tick point from me!  Phonak hearing aids launched the Infinio (coming here soon) model into their hearing aid range in September 2024.  The first time that their hearing aids included a ‘find my’ service.  No more looking under the bed, down the back of the sofa or under the car seat again – sound familiar?

The increased ease of communication of hearing aids with Bluetooth functionality comes with some potential downsides.  For example, the need for all your other devices to have the same level of technology.  Meaning to really reap all the benefits, your other tech will have to be up to date enough to communicate with your hearing aids.  Conversely this may require you to buy new televisions, phones, radios etc.  Speaking of connectivity, traditionally that has been the biggest other glitch point with the Bluetooth enabled hearing aids.  They used to be quite difficult to pair and the connection easily broken.  Leading to frustration and irritation.  However, that has also come on leaps and bounds in recent times and with a good set up shouldn’t present too many problems now.  Similarly once disconnected they would be tricky to reconnect, with sometimes only one side connecting or even the connection alternating.  Again, this has mostly been ironed out now.  Both the Apple (MFI) and Android (ASHA) platforms are very sophisticated and reliable now.  Some of these problems are also navigable with the use of the more traditional streaming accessories.

Bluetooth in hearing aids is becoming so well established that a second generation of improvements is being announced in the new releases.  Initially it was the incorporation of the low energy technology.  Now it is the ability to strengthen the signal.  This means that you can move further away from your devices whilst you are streaming.  Without the dreaded breaking up crackle.  Again, the most notable improvement announced in the new Phonak Infinio.

Bluetooth enabled hearing aids can definitely help you watch TV.  If you have relatively new hearing aids and a pretty up to date television then you should be able to stream directly.  Most of the setups have the capacity to stream the audio direct to your hearing aids, as well as directing it to the traditional TV speakers.  With both streams having controllable volume.  This will mean that you will be able to watch TV with others in perfect harmony.  Basically with everyone being able to listen at their chosen volume.  If either of your television or hearing aids are slightly older, then all is not lost.  You will most likely still be able to stream to your aids, you’ll just need to use one of the accessories.

The age of your hearing aids will definitely have a big bearing on battery life when streaming with Bluetooth.  Traditionally streaming via Bluetooth to your hearing aids would have meant a large increase in battery usage.  However, the new generation, low energy Bluetooth, is hugely helpful with this and greatly reduces the battery requirement.  Thus prolonging the battery life between replacement or charges and reducing the dreaded chimes of impending battery death doom.

Yes, bluetooth can help enormously with hearing speech.  Particularly in noisy environments.  Some of the very up to date hearing aids incorporate receivers for seamless connecting to remote microphones.  Meaning you can give a person a discrete microphone and the audio will be streamed directly to your aids.  Bypassing all the rest of the hubbub.  The older Bluetooth aids will mostly be able to connect to a remote microphone too but will require extra receivers or another accessory.

Generally speaking there are two ways to connect your hearing aids to your phone.  Either through the Bluetooth app or via accessibility.  Hopefully your audiologist will set it all up for you and also explain how to do it for yourself.   It can, though, still be a bit of a minefield.  Consequently, we’ll be uploading a number of ‘how to’s and help’ videos soon.  Please do call us in the meantime!

Yes, for sure!  Hearing aids with Bluetooth functionality are far from the be all and end all.  Many, many hearing aids don’t have bluetooth functionality.  In fact my favourite pair don’t.  Many people feel it is an unnecessary complication.

Bluetooth hearing aids can’t and won’t cure tinnitus.  Sadly despite lots of research it remains a mystery and incurable.  However, it can certainly be beneficial in the easing of the negative impact tinnitus can have on your life.  Some hearing aids come with the ability to play masking sounds to help distract you from, rather than cure, your tinnitus.  You could stream your own choice of audio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.  Thereby creating your own preferred tinnitus blocker sound.  Also, some people find Bluetooth hearing aids so helpful in other areas of life that they reduce their stress and anxiety levels.  For example they can really help calm the worry of using the phone.  As it stands the reduction and control of various lifestyle factors is the only known way to try and reduce your tinnitus.  For example, avoiding stimulants and keeping stress to a minimum.  As a result, it is arguable that possibly the help Bluetooth can be in other areas may have a knock on effect on the level of your tinnitus.  However, that could be considered reasonably tenuous and pretty blue sky thinking.  Nothing wrong with a bit of positivity and optimism though!?

HERE’S HOW!