Does Your Hearing Aid Support Call Streaming?
Not all hearing aids support direct audio streaming. Here is how to check.
- Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids: these are specifically designed to stream audio directly to iPhones. Look for the "Made for iPhone" label on your hearing aid packaging or documentation.
- Bluetooth hearing aids for Android: many modern hearing aids support Android streaming, but compatibility varies by phone model and hearing aid brand.
- Older hearing aids: hearing aids more than five to seven years old may not support direct streaming. They may require a separate streaming accessory (like a TV streamer or phone clip) to stream audio.
Tip: Check your hearing aid brand's website or ask your audiologist to confirm whether your specific model supports direct call streaming on your phone.
Setting Up Call Streaming on iPhone
iPhone has built-in support for Made for iPhone hearing aids. Once your hearing aids are paired, calls should stream automatically.
- 1Make sure your hearing aids are paired with your iPhone (go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices to check).
- 2When you receive or make a phone call, the audio should automatically stream to your hearing aids.
- 3If it does not stream automatically, tap the audio icon during a call (it looks like a speaker or headphones) and select your hearing aids from the list.
- 4To set hearing aids as the default audio output for calls: go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices → your hearing aids → Use as Default Audio Output.
Tip: Your voice is picked up by your iPhone's microphone during calls, not your hearing aids' microphones. Hold the phone normally or use speakerphone — the caller will hear you clearly either way.
Setting Up Call Streaming on Android
Android call streaming works through Bluetooth. The setup varies slightly by phone brand.
- 1Make sure your hearing aids are paired with your Android phone via Bluetooth (go to Settings → Bluetooth to check).
- 2When you receive or make a call, tap the audio icon (usually a speaker or headphone icon) during the call.
- 3Select your hearing aids from the audio output list.
- 4If your hearing aids do not appear, make sure they are connected in Bluetooth settings.
Tip: On Samsung phones, you can go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Enhancements to find additional hearing aid settings and audio routing options.
Streaming Audio (Music, Videos, and Podcasts)
In addition to phone calls, many hearing aids can stream music, podcasts, and video audio directly from your phone.
- 1Make sure your hearing aids are connected via Bluetooth.
- 2Play audio on your phone (music, a podcast, a YouTube video).
- 3The audio should stream automatically to your hearing aids.
- 4If it does not, go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and make sure your hearing aids are set as the active audio output.
Adjusting Call Volume
You can adjust the volume of streamed calls in two ways.
- Use the volume buttons on your phone during a call — this adjusts the call volume.
- Use your hearing aid app — some apps have a separate streaming volume control that adjusts the level of streamed audio independently from the hearing aid's overall volume.
- Some hearing aids also have physical buttons that adjust streaming volume directly.
Troubleshooting: Call Audio Is Not Streaming to Hearing Aids
If calls are not streaming to your hearing aids, try these steps.
- 1Check that your hearing aids are connected in Bluetooth settings — they should show as Connected, not just Paired.
- 2During a call, tap the audio icon and manually select your hearing aids.
- 3Restart your hearing aids by placing them in the charging case for 10 seconds and taking them out.
- 4Restart your phone.
- 5If the problem persists, go to Bluetooth settings, forget your hearing aids, and re-pair them.