What can Bluetooth hearing aids do?
Bluetooth turns your hearing aids into a pair of wireless earphones that also help you hear the world around you. Depending on the model and your phone, you can:
- Take phone calls with the caller’s voice in both ears, which is often much clearer than holding a phone to one ear.
- Stream audio such as music, podcasts, audiobooks and video sound.
- Use an app to change volume, switch programmes and adjust settings for different places.
- Watch TV at your own volume through a TV streamer, while others in the room listen at theirs.
Some models also let you talk hands-free, using the hearing aid microphones to pick up your voice so you can leave the phone in your pocket. Not every model or phone supports this, so ask.
Do Bluetooth hearing aids work with iPhone?
Most current hearing aids from the major brands are designed to work with iPhone. Apple has built hearing aid support into its software, so once paired, you can stream calls and audio and control the aids from the phone’s accessibility settings as well as from the manufacturer’s app.
Keep your iPhone software up to date, and tell your audiologist which model you have. Older iPhones may not support every feature.
Do Bluetooth hearing aids work with Android?
Android is more varied, because so many companies make Android phones. Many hearing aids stream directly to a wide range of Android handsets, but support depends on the phone model, the Android version and the hearing aid brand. Some brands have historically worked with more Android phones than others.
If your phone cannot stream directly, some brands offer a small intermediary device that clips to clothing and passes sound to the hearing aids.
A word on phone updates: occasionally a new phone software release changes how Bluetooth behaves, and hearing aid makers then update their apps to match. If streaming suddenly stops working after an update, try unpairing and pairing again. If that does not help, contact us and we will look into it.
How do you stream TV to hearing aids?
Most televisions do not connect directly to hearing aids. Instead, manufacturers make a small TV streamer, sometimes called a TV adapter or TV connector, that plugs into the audio output of your television and sends sound to your aids.
- You hear dialogue clearly at a volume that suits you.
- Family can keep the TV volume at a level comfortable for them.
- You can usually adjust the balance between the TV sound and the room around you, so you can still hear someone speak.
TV streamers are brand-specific, so the one you need depends on the hearing aids you choose. If the TV is your main difficulty, mention it early so we can factor it into the recommendation.
Before you buy a TV streamer
Check how your television sends out sound. Most modern sets have a digital optical output, and many older ones have a headphone socket or analogue outputs. Knowing which your TV has, and whether a soundbar is already plugged in, helps us advise on the right accessory. A photo of the back of your TV on your phone is often enough.
Remember too that streaming is not the only answer to TV trouble. Turning on subtitles, reducing background noise in the room and sitting closer to the screen all help, with or without hearing aids.
What is Auracast?
Auracast is an emerging Bluetooth standard, built on newer Bluetooth technology often referred to as LE Audio. It is designed to let a single source, such as a television, a public venue or a station announcement system, broadcast audio that any compatible device nearby can tune into. In time, it may make it easier to hear in theatres, places of worship, airports and lecture halls.
Support is still developing across hearing aids, phones and venues. If future-proofing matters to you, ask your audiologist whether the model you are considering supports newer Bluetooth standards. We would not choose a hearing aid on Auracast alone today.
Things to know before you choose Bluetooth hearing aids
- Streaming uses battery. Long calls or hours of music drain the battery faster. Rechargeable aids handle this well if you charge every night; see our guide to the best rechargeable hearing aids.
- The smallest aids may have fewer wireless features. Deep in-canal models have little space for an aerial, so they may not stream at all.
- Apps vary. Some apps are simple; others have many options. Try the app during your trial and make sure it suits you.
- Your hearing still comes first. Streaming is a bonus. The hearing aid must suit your hearing loss before connectivity matters.
Which brands make Bluetooth hearing aids?
All seven brands we fit offer Bluetooth models: Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Starkey, ReSound, Widex and Unitron. Each handles phones, apps and accessories a little differently. ReSound, for example, has long made connectivity a focus, while others are known for broad phone compatibility or a wide choice of accessories. For a broader view of how to compare, read our guide to the best hearing aids in the UK.
Try Bluetooth hearing aids with your own phone
At Sutton Hearing Care in Streetly, your free hearing test takes up to 90 minutes. If hearing aids would help, we can pair trial aids with your phone so you can hear a call for yourself, and you can then use them at home for 14 days free of charge with your own phone and TV. Prices start at £1,595 a pair, as shown on our hearing aid prices page.