What You'll Need
Before you start, make sure you have:
- Your hearing aids (fully charged)
- Your smartphone (iPhone or Android)
- Your hearing aid's app (if applicable — check with your audiologist)
- Bluetooth turned on on your phone
Connecting to an iPhone (Made for iPhone Hearing Aids)
Many modern hearing aids are 'Made for iPhone' (MFi) certified, which means they connect directly through iOS Settings rather than Bluetooth.
- 1Make sure your hearing aids are on and in pairing mode (check your hearing aid's manual)
- 2On your iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices
- 3Your hearing aids should appear in the list — tap them to connect
- 4Accept any pairing requests that appear
- 5Once connected, you can control volume and settings from the Hearing Devices menu
Tip: If your hearing aids don't appear in the Hearing Devices menu, try turning them off and back on, or opening and closing the battery door to restart them.
Connecting to an Android Phone
Android hearing aids typically connect through the standard Bluetooth menu:
- 1Put your hearing aids in pairing mode (check your manual)
- 2On your Android phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth
- 3Make sure Bluetooth is turned on
- 4Tap 'Scan' or 'Add new device'
- 5Select your hearing aids from the list of available devices
- 6Accept any pairing requests
- 7Download your hearing aid manufacturer's app for additional controls
Tip: Android compatibility varies by hearing aid brand. Check your hearing aid manufacturer's website for a list of compatible Android phones.
Troubleshooting Common Connection Problems
If you're having trouble connecting:
- Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your phone
- Make sure your hearing aids are in pairing mode (not just on)
- Try turning your hearing aids off and back on
- Try turning Bluetooth off and back on on your phone
- Delete the hearing aids from your phone's Bluetooth list and start the pairing process again
- Make sure your hearing aids are charged — low battery can prevent pairing
- Restart your phone
Warning: If you've tried all these steps and still can't connect, contact your audiologist. Some hearing aid settings need to be adjusted by a professional.
Streaming Audio to Your Hearing Aids
Once connected, you can stream audio directly to your hearing aids from: phone calls (the caller's voice streams directly to your hearing aids), music and podcasts (from Spotify, Apple Music, etc.), videos and TV (using your phone or a TV streaming device), and navigation apps (turn-by-turn directions stream directly to your ears).