Bluetooth® hearing aids have changed how those with hearing loss experience the modern world, adding versatility and convenience to everyday life. Bluetooth® hearing aids now allow those affected by hearing loss to customize their hearing experience to meet their personal needs.

Moreover, the addition of Bluetooth® technology to hearing aids has made them more than simple assistive devices. These hearing aids can offer streaming capabilities for music, media, or phone calls, making everyday life that much easier and more enjoyable.

However, it’s important to note that not all Bluetooth®-enabled devices are capable of streaming all of these functions. Some devices are Bluetooth®-enabled, allowing the wearer to connect the hearing aids to a smartphone, but do not have streaming capabilities.

What is a Bluetooth® hearing aid?

As the name suggests, a Bluetooth® hearing aid is simply a hearing aid that uses Bluetooth® wireless technology to connect to a smart device (such as a smartphone). Bluetooth® is a term synonymous with wireless connectivity—it’s a method of wireless communication between electronic devices that allows the transfer of data using high-frequency radio waves.

Initially, Bluetooth® hearing aids provided a way for manufacturers to give control of the hearing aid user’s experience to the user itself, typically through an app on the smart device.

Bluetooth® is also capable of streaming phone calls, music, and audio through the hearing aid from a smart device, similar to wireless headphones or earbuds. Some devices, like the Go Ultra OTC hearing aid, can stream music, media, and phone calls directly from your smartphone to your hearing aids!

Apple vs. Android: Does it matter?

Bluetooth® is technically a third-party wireless communication protocol—meaning it’s an unbiased wireless “language” for electronic devices. What this means is that it doesn’t matter whether the smart device you’re using to connect your hearing aids is an Apple or Android device because the language is the same across any Bluetooth®-compatible device.

That said, there are some small differences between Apple and Android devices to note. While you can certainly use a Bluetooth® hearing aid across both platforms without any issues, there are a few things to consider.

Apple

Apple does slightly edge ahead of Android when it comes to optimizing the Bluetooth® hearing aid experience. Apple has patented a specific Bluetooth® connection for hearing aids, allowing them to communicate with devices such as iPhones and iPads.

The main benefit of this optimized Bluetooth® connection, called “Made for iPhone™,” is that it reduces the amount of battery power needed to power the Bluetooth® connection, giving you a longer battery life for your hearing aids.

Android

Android is by no means incompatible with Bluetooth® hearing aids (as long as the device is running Android 10.0 or higher). The only difference is that there is no direct communication or connection between Android devices and hearing aids (as we see with Apple), other than the standard Bluetooth® connectivity.

The drawback here is that Android devices do not optimize battery life, meaning it may drain the battery faster than if the same hearing aid were connected to an Apple device. Google is currently working on improving hearing aid compatibility and optimization to enhance the user experience, but it’s unclear when that will be released.

Benefits of Bluetooth® hearing aids

While most of the benefits of Bluetooth® hearing aids come from the ability to stream phone calls and media directly to your hearing aids, these features are not yet widely adopted. One of the biggest benefits of Bluetooth® connectivity is still customizability, which is something that we at Go Hearing have extensively adopted in our range of Bluetooth® hearing aids.

Bluetooth® hearing aids can be customized according to your specific needs, allowing you to adjust various settings independently. Not only does this give you greater control over your hearing aid itself, allowing you to conveniently change the volume, but you can also customize profiles for different environments to ensure the best possible hearing experience at any given time.

In summary

Bluetooth® hearing aids enhance the convenience and versatility of everyday tasks and offer those with hearing loss the ability to customize their hearing experience to suit their personal needs. Features such as streaming, which are available in the Go Ultra OTC hearing aid, are becoming more widely accessible, further promoting hearing aid accessibility. However, the greatest benefit of Bluetooth® hearing aids so far has been customization.