There’s no denying that technology is now firmly a part of our lives; we can’t escape it and more than likely, we need to use it to get by every day. Technology can be scary but we’re here to reassure you that you CAN use it and it WILL help in your day-to-day life…
Today, we are going to focus on how to pair your hearing aids to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The vast majority of today’s hearing aids are Bluetooth equipped meaning you can control your aids via an app. This Bluetooth functionality also means you will be able to stream sound directly to your hearing aids such as phone calls, podcasts and the radio.
Smartphone connectivity
Of all the devices we use at home, our smartphone is probably the most useful to pair with hearing aids. It allows us to be able to hear the conversation directly into the hearing aids. We can also have notifications set up for various apps. For example, a ping can sound directly into your ear when you receive a text or an email. We know that it isn’t always easy to get your head around technology so we’re going to tell you step by step how to get those aids connected!
How to pair your hearing aids to your smartphone
Your hearing healthcare professional will have paired your hearing aids to your preferred device during your hearing aid fitting appointment. However, things happen and the connection can become broken. If you have a new phone or a new tablet, then you will also need to re-pair the hearing aids. Once you have done this a few times, you will see how simple a process it is.
There will be a slight difference depending on if you have an iPhone or an Android phone but mostly the steps are the same. First things first, you need to ensure that you have the Bluetooth facility on your phone turned on. You can check it is turned on by accessing Settings on your phone and then selecting Bluetooth. This may be under Connectivity if it is not immediately obvious.
Once you’ve established the Bluetooth is on, it’s time to connect the hearing aids. If you have an iPhone, you will need to go to Settings – Accessibility – Hearing Devices. If you have an Android phone, you can click into Bluetooth or Connected Devices. Once you have followed this step, your hearing aids should be visible. If they aren’t, you will need to turn them off and on again; your hearing aids will need to have battery remaining / be charged up for this to work. Once your hearing aids are visible, you can select them and they will now be paired. It really is that simple.
There is always going to be the odd occasion where this doesn’t fix things and your Bluetooth connection is still broken. Do not worry if this happens, give your hearing healthcare provider a call and they will be able to offer some further advice.
Now, what to stream?
Now you are ready to select what you wish to listen to! Once you have connected to your smartphone, you will be able to stream your phone calls, music, audio from any videos you are watching on YouTube and even your notification sounds. To be able to stream from your TV directly to your hearing aids, you will need to purchase a TV streaming solution that works with your hearing aids.
If you discuss this with your hearing healthcare professional, they will be able to advise you on which would work for you.
