What are the Pros and Cons of Hearing Aids with Bluetooth?

Bluetooth technology paired with hearing aids has opened up many opportunities for deaf or hard-of-hearing people. 

You might be used to putting in earbuds when you want to listen to music or even talk on the phone, but hearing aids with Bluetooth are a new development that makes listening a comfortable experience all day long. 

There is a lot of information about Bluetooth hearing aids, and many people who are deaf or hard of hearing want to know the pros and cons of hearing aids with Bluetooth. 

Today we'll take you through all the advantages and disadvantages of Bluetooth hearing aids to help you make the most out of them. 

What is a Bluetooth hearing aid?

There are a lot of life-changing benefits to Bluetooth hearing aids, and today we're going to cover five of the best pros to investing in Bluetooth hearing aids if you're deaf or hard of hearing. 

1. They make listening to media easier

Bluetooth hearing aids have opened many opportunities for listening enjoyment and convenience. You no longer need separate earbuds when you want to listen to music; with Bluetooth hearing aids, you can have your earbuds comfortably in your ears at all times, ready to go for all your streaming needs.

Thanks to hearing aids Bluetooth technology, you'll be able to listen to music a lot clearer. They're specifically programmed to help people with hearing loss pick up on the different instruments. Many manufacturers also allow you to adjust the equalizer for the music you're listening to on their app. With this you'll always get the listening experience you're after. 

Podcasts will also become easier to engage with, making it clearer to listen while going about your daily chores, yard work, exercise, or even while you're traveling. 

You can also link Bluetooth hearing aids to your TV so you can enjoy all your programs easily. 

2. Phone conversations are easier

Talking on the phone can be a huge point of anxiety for many people with hearing loss. 

You don't have facial cues to help you fill in the gaps you're missing with hearing loss, so communicating without a visual aid can be incredibly taxing and difficult. 

Streaming phone calls to your Bluetooth hearing aids will have a huge benefit over a landline or speakerphone. This is because the sound is being delivered right next to your eardrum and has compensated for your hearing loss and as a result, you'll be able to hear phone calls more confidently than ever before.

3. Improves video call experience

With Bluetooth hearing aids, your FaceTime or other video calls will be much louder and clearer. This will make communicating with relatives more manageable and enjoyable. 

Your audiologist will show you how to change the routing of the sound of your hearing aids so you can easily switch to different Bluetooth hearing aids. 

4. Makes using Google Maps easier

Have you ever struggled to understand directions from Google Maps? By connecting your hearing aids with Bluetooth technology to your phone or your car, you'll receive clearer directions. 

5. You can adjust them yourself

Bluetooth hearing aids connect directly to an app on your phone, which means you can make adjustments any time you want without having to go into your audiologist’s office. 

With the app, you'll be able to alter the volume, change programs, and access your Telecoil program. You'll also be able to create custom programs and access a wind or restaurant program. 

Some manufacturers, like Widex, even use artificial intelligence to create  customized programs based on your current environment.

Bonus benefit: Another useful feature available with Bluetooth hearing aids is the ability to find them with your phone if you ever lose them. But remember that this only works if your hearing aid is on and charged, meaning you won't be able to find a hearing aid that has a dead battery. 

Bluetooth hearing aids have even more benefits with Apple

iPhone users are lucky. They have a bonus feature that allows them to use their phone as a remote microphone when using their Bluetooth hearing aids. This means you can use the microphone on your phone to stream sounds directly to your hearing aids.

This is handy if you're trying to hear friends far away or in a noisy situation. For example, if you’re in a conversation with people at a large table, you'll be able to listen to it if you leave your phone near the person speaking.

What are the cons of Bluetooth hearing aids?

Like all great things, Bluetooth hearing aids also have their downsides. Although we do not feel these mean you shouldn’t be interested in Bluetooth hearing aids, it’s good to be aware of things that may come up. 

1. Connectivity issues

Connectivity issues are common, especially with older phones or hearing aids. Anytime a smartphone operating system goes through an update, the hearing aid manufacturers have to scramble to make sure your hearing aid remains compatible with it. 

This isn't always smooth sailing and sometimes leads to connectivity problems. 

Connectivity problems can look like many things, such as:

• Not being able to stream music
• Only hearing music or phone calls in one ear
• Sound bouncing from ear to ear 

Connectivity problems can occur when the phone is not set up correctly or multiple hearing aids with Bluetooth are competing to connect. 

However, many of these connectivity issues can be avoided if your hearing aid is set up correctly from the beginning. Many settings need to be checked to ensure you have a positive experience with your Bluetooth hearing aid. 

Sometimes your app might also tell you that your hearing aids aren't connected to your phone, but this doesn't mean they're not working. It just means they can't communicate via Bluetooth. 

This is usually a quick fix. All you have to do is turn your Bluetooth off for 10 seconds or reboot the hearing aids by putting them in the charger.

Still having trouble? Click here for our blog post on How to Connect Your Hearing Aids and Cell Phone.

2. Drains battery

Bluetooth hearing aids may drain the battery on your phone quickly. For example, the 'find my hearing aid' function has to be running all the time so it can easily capture the location of the hearing aid if it's lost. This completely drains the phone battery, especially with older phones. 

So if you want all your features to work correctly, it’s a good idea to carry a charger or power bank around with you at all times just in case your battery gets too low. 

3. Nobody else can hear what you're watching or listening to

Since people around you can't hear if you are watching or listening to something, they won't know if you’re focused on something else. A friend or family member might try to talk to you, but you may not hear them. This can cause communication breakdowns so it’s a good idea to create awareness for others if you are listening or watching something. 

Are you interested in Bluetooth hearing aids?

Working with an audiologist's office like The Hearing Solution will give you access to the support you need regarding your hearing aid with Bluetooth technology. Our team is here for you if you have any connectivity issues or can't quite get the hang of some of the features. 

In fact, The Hearing Solution office has two audiologist assistants to help you whenever you need assistance with your Bluetooth hearing aids. 

Schedule a hearing test online with our team today or call 916.646.2471 to learn more about the pros and cons of hearing aids with Bluetooth and services available to you.