How Bluetooth Has Transformed Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids are far more than simple sound amplifiers — they are sophisticated wireless devices that connect to smartphones, tablets, televisions, and other audio sources via Bluetooth, placing an extraordinary level of control and personalisation in the hands of the wearer. For the estimated 6.7 million people in the UK who could benefit from hearing aids, according to the RNID, Bluetooth connectivity has fundamentally changed what these devices can do and how seamlessly they integrate into daily life.
The ability to stream audio directly to your hearing aids means that phone calls, music, podcasts, audiobooks, video calls, and even satellite navigation instructions are delivered at your personalised amplification settings — automatically adjusted for your specific pattern of hearing loss. This is something conventional earphones and headphones simply cannot do. For many people, particularly those who struggle with phone conversations, this single feature is transformative.
Beyond streaming, Bluetooth connectivity enables companion smartphone apps that turn your phone into a sophisticated remote control. You can adjust volume, switch listening programmes, fine-tune bass and treble, activate noise reduction, and even receive remote adjustments from your audiologist — all without touching the hearing aids themselves. Understanding how these technologies work, which protocols your devices support, and how to get the best from the available apps can make a significant difference to your listening experience.
Understanding Bluetooth Protocols: MFi, ASHA, and Classic Bluetooth
Not all Bluetooth hearing aids connect in the same way, and understanding the differences between the main protocols will help you choose the right devices and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
Made for iPhone (MFi) was the first widely adopted hearing aid streaming protocol, developed by Apple in collaboration with hearing aid manufacturers. MFi allows hearing aids to connect directly to Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac — without an intermediary streaming device. The connection is low-latency and energy-efficient, meaning you get clear, real-time audio without significantly draining your hearing aid batteries. Most major manufacturers, including Oticon, Phonak, Signia, Starkey, ReSound, and Widex, offer MFi-compatible hearing aids. If you use an iPhone, virtually any modern hearing aid will stream directly to it.
Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) is Google`s equivalent protocol for Android devices, supported on phones running Android 10 or later with compatible Bluetooth hardware. ASHA provides direct streaming from Android smartphones to hearing aids, similar to what MFi does for Apple users. Adoption has grown rapidly, and most current-generation hearing aids from major manufacturers now support ASHA alongside MFi. However, compatibility can vary between Android phone models — not all Android 10+ devices have the specific Bluetooth chipset required for ASHA.
Classic Bluetooth is the standard Bluetooth protocol used by all wireless devices. Some manufacturers, notably Phonak and Unitron (both part of the Sonova group), use classic Bluetooth in their hearing aids, which allows direct connection to any Bluetooth-enabled device — iPhones, Android phones, laptops, tablets, and even some smart TVs — without requiring MFi or ASHA support. The advantage is universal compatibility; the trade-off is slightly higher battery consumption compared to the low-energy protocols.
When choosing hearing aids, discuss Bluetooth compatibility with your audiologist. Tell them which phone you use (iPhone or Android, and the specific model), whether you want to stream from a laptop or tablet, and whether TV streaming is important to you. This will help narrow down the best options for your needs.
Streaming Audio: Phone Calls, Music, and Media
The most popular use of Bluetooth hearing aids is streaming phone calls directly to both ears. For people with hearing loss, phone calls can be one of the most challenging daily tasks — the absence of visual cues, the compressed audio quality of mobile networks, and the difficulty of holding a phone to your better ear all contribute to the struggle. With Bluetooth streaming, the caller`s voice is delivered to both hearing aids simultaneously, at your personalised amplification levels, with automatic adjustments for your hearing loss profile. Many users describe this as the single biggest improvement Bluetooth has brought to their hearing aid experience.
Music and media streaming work in much the same way. Podcasts, audiobooks, music, YouTube videos, and streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and BBC Sounds can all be streamed directly to your hearing aids, turning them into high-quality personalised earphones. Because the audio is processed through your hearing aid`s amplification algorithms, you hear music and speech with the clarity adjustments your audiologist has programmed — a level of personalisation no standard earphone can match.
Video calls via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, and WhatsApp also benefit enormously from direct streaming. The speaker`s voice arrives clearly in both ears, while you can still see their face on screen for visual cues — a combination that makes video calling significantly more accessible than traditional phone calls for people with hearing loss.
Navigation apps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps can stream turn-by-turn directions directly to your hearing aids while driving or walking, without the need for your phone`s speaker or separate earphones. This is particularly useful for people who find it difficult to hear their phone`s speaker in noisy outdoor environments or while driving.
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Find appointments →Manufacturer Apps: Your Hearing Aid Remote Control
Each major hearing aid manufacturer offers a free smartphone app that transforms your phone into a powerful remote control and personalisation tool. These apps are available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and they unlock features that go well beyond simple volume adjustment.
Oticon ON and Oticon Companion — Oticon`s apps allow volume adjustment, programme switching, and access to features such as speech-in-noise enhancement and tinnitus sound support. The Companion app also includes Oticon RemoteCare, enabling your audiologist to make real-time adjustments to your hearing aids via a video call, saving you the journey to the clinic.
Phonak myPhonak — Phonak`s app is one of the most feature-rich available. It includes Remote Support for video-call audiologist adjustments, speech focus controls that let you direct the hearing aid`s microphones towards a specific speaker, noise reduction sliders, and a hearing diary that tracks your listening environments. The myPhonak app also supports Phonak`s Roger microphone accessories for challenging listening situations.
Signia app — Signia`s app features an AI-powered assistant called Signia Assistant that learns from your feedback and adapts settings over time. If you report that speech sounds unclear in a restaurant, the assistant adjusts the noise reduction and directional microphone settings accordingly. The more you use it, the more personalised your hearing experience becomes.
Starkey My Starkey — Starkey`s app goes beyond hearing aid control to include health and wellness tracking features: step counting, activity monitoring, brain health scores based on listening engagement, and fall detection with automatic alerts to nominated contacts. These features position hearing aids as broader health devices, not just amplification tools.
ReSound Smart 3D and ReSound Smart Fit — ReSound`s apps offer environmental presets for different listening situations (restaurant, outdoor, music), sound personalisation controls, and integrated tinnitus management with a library of soothing sounds. The ReSound Assist feature enables remote fine-tuning by your audiologist.
Widex MOMENT — Widex`s app includes SoundSense Learn, a machine-learning feature that presents you with A/B comparisons of different sound settings and learns your preferences over time, creating a highly personalised listening profile.
Television Streaming Accessories
One of the most common frustrations for people with hearing loss — and their families — is television volume. The person with hearing loss needs the volume higher to follow dialogue, while others in the room find it uncomfortably loud. TV streaming accessories solve this problem elegantly by sending the television audio directly to your hearing aids at your preferred volume, while the TV speakers remain at a comfortable level for everyone else.
Most major manufacturers offer a dedicated TV streaming device:
- Phonak TV Connector — plugs into the TV`s audio output and streams to Phonak hearing aids with minimal delay
- Oticon TV Adapter — connects via optical, analogue, or HDMI and supports simultaneous streaming to multiple hearing aids
- Signia StreamLine TV — transmits high-definition audio with lip-sync-accurate latency
- ReSound TV Streamer 2 — offers optical and analogue connections with wide streaming range
- Starkey TV Transmitter — compact device that pairs easily with Starkey hearing aids
These devices typically cost between 100 and 250 pounds and are straightforward to set up — most connect to the TV with a single cable and pair with your hearing aids automatically or with a few taps in the manufacturer app. The audio quality is excellent, with minimal delay between the picture and the sound, and you can still hear conversations in the room through your hearing aid microphones while streaming TV audio.
Remote Audiologist Adjustments
One of the most significant developments in hearing aid technology is the ability for your audiologist to adjust your hearing aids remotely, via a video call through the manufacturer app. This feature, offered by Phonak (Remote Support), Oticon (RemoteCare), Signia (TeleCare), ReSound (Assist), and others, means that if you are experiencing a problem — sounds too sharp, speech unclear in certain environments, feedback in specific situations — your audiologist can make real-time programming changes without you having to visit the clinic.
Remote adjustments are particularly valuable for people who live in rural areas far from their audiologist, those with mobility difficulties, and anyone who finds it inconvenient to attend in-person appointments for minor tweaks. Your audiologist can see your hearing aid settings, review data logged by the aids (such as how many hours you wear them and which environments you spend time in), and push updated settings directly to your devices during the video call.
This does not replace the need for in-person appointments entirely — your audiologist will still want to see you periodically for physical checks, hearing aid aftercare, and updated hearing tests — but it significantly reduces the number of visits needed for fine-tuning and troubleshooting.
Bluetooth Hearing Aids on the NHS
For the millions of people who receive their hearing aids through NHS audiology services, the availability of Bluetooth connectivity and app control depends on the specific hearing aid model provided by your local NHS trust. Historically, NHS hearing aids were basic behind-the-ear models without wireless features, but this has been changing as NHS procurement contracts increasingly include Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Some NHS audiology departments now offer hearing aids with basic Bluetooth streaming and companion app functionality, though the range of models is more limited than what is available on the private market. Availability varies significantly by region — what is offered depends on your local trust`s procurement decisions and budget. If Bluetooth connectivity is a priority for you, raise this with your audiologist at your hearing aid fitting appointment. They can advise on which models with wireless features are available through the NHS locally, and whether a private upgrade might be worth considering if the NHS options do not meet your needs.
It is worth noting that even if your NHS hearing aids do not have Bluetooth streaming, you may still be able to use hearing loop systems via the built-in telecoil, which provides wireless audio in public venues across the UK.
Troubleshooting Common Bluetooth Issues
Bluetooth connectivity issues are one of the most common frustrations reported by hearing aid users, but most problems have straightforward solutions. Here are the most frequent issues and how to resolve them:
Hearing aids not appearing in phone`s Bluetooth settings: Make sure your hearing aids are in pairing mode (consult your manual — this usually involves opening and closing the battery door or holding a button). Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. Restart both devices. Check that your phone`s operating system is up to date.
Audio streaming cutting in and out: Keep your phone within 1 to 2 metres of your hearing aids during initial setup. Once paired, most hearing aids maintain connection at up to 10 metres. Interference from other wireless devices, Wi-Fi routers, and microwaves can cause dropouts — try moving away from potential sources of interference.
Connection lost after phone update: Operating system updates can sometimes disrupt Bluetooth pairings. Remove the hearing aids from your phone`s Bluetooth settings, restart both devices, and re-pair from scratch. Also update your hearing aid manufacturer app to the latest version.
Only one hearing aid connects: Each hearing aid is a separate Bluetooth device. Some phones pair with both simultaneously, while others connect to one aid which then relays audio to the other. If only one is connecting, try removing both from Bluetooth settings and re-pairing. Check the manufacturer`s instructions for your specific model, as the pairing sequence may need to start with a specific ear (usually the right).
Battery draining faster with Bluetooth: Bluetooth streaming does consume more power than standard hearing aid use. If battery life is a concern, consider rechargeable hearing aids (which are now offered by all major manufacturers) or reduce streaming time when possible. Closing the manufacturer app when not actively adjusting settings can also help conserve battery.
If problems persist after trying these steps, contact your audiologist or the manufacturer`s support line. Many connectivity issues can be resolved with a firmware update or a reset performed at the clinic. Keeping both your hearing aid app and your phone`s operating system updated to the latest versions is the single most effective way to maintain reliable Bluetooth performance.