Why we recommend Phonak
Phonak’s Audeo Lumity stands out among prescription hearing aids due to its clear hearing technology, long-lasting rechargeable battery, and seamless Bluetooth integration. This hearing aid is our top pick for those with severe hearing loss.
Features
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Adjustment: Local fitting included with purchase
- Warranty and trial period: Dependent on retailer
What you should know about Phonak
Phonak Audeo hearing aids have universal Bluetooth technology and innovative features. But they’re also much more expensive than other models on our list. This is what makes them our top pick for those with severe hearing loss.
Audeo Lumity hearing aids use Bluetooth technology to provide users with the ability to stream phone calls, music, and podcasts. They range in price from $2,600 to $6,500, but the higher price tag may be worth it for the advanced hearing technology and Bluetooth connectivity.
Keep in mind that Phonak hearing aids are prescription only and require a local fitting with an audiologist.
What are Bluetooth hearing aids?
Bluetooth hearing aids wirelessly communicate with other Bluetooth-enabled devices by exchanging radio frequencies to deliver audio to your ears. They can connect to your smartphone, laptop, television, or intermediary device.
All Bluetooth devices have hardware inside to transmit the signal. This hardware takes up space inside the body of your hearing aid, so it’s difficult to find small styles with Bluetooth capabilities. One of the most discreet hearing aids on the market that still offers Bluetooth connectivity is the Starkey Evolv AI completely-in-canal (CIC) style hearing aid, which has an antenna on the outside of the hearing aid, so there’s space for the hardware on the inside of the device. Unfortunately, manufacturers haven’t found a clever Bluetooth solution for invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids yet.
Pros and cons of Bluetooth hearing aids
Pros
- Ability to make sound adjustments on your phone
- Some allow remote adjustments from audiologists
- Take calls and stream music through hearing aids
- “Find My Hearing Aids” feature on many models if hearing aids are misplaced
Cons
- Higher price point than non-Bluetooth options
- Bluetooth can drain battery life quickly
- Not found in many discrete models, like IIC styles, due to size restrictions
- Connectivity issues may occur
Types of Bluetooth streaming hearing aids
Even though your hearing aids can pair to your phone, you may not have streaming capability. Bluetooth streaming is an evolving feature, and technology limitations still exist.
Streaming compatibility depends on the generation of your phone and hearing aid brand and model. Below are different types of Bluetooth streaming, each requiring a different set of parameters to function.
Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids
Although Bluetooth hearing aids can connect to all iPhones if they meet the requirements listed above, some hearing aids are specifically designed to connect to Apple devices and offer additional features. In 2013, ReSound announced the first MFi hearing aid, featuring Bluetooth low energy (LE) connectivity, which allows streaming and hands-free calling from compatible Apple devices without significant battery drainage. MFi hearing aids are increasingly common, as most major brands carry compatible models—some of which can last 40–50 hours before needing to recharge, depending on how often you stream audio.
Once you pair your hearing aids to your iPhone by finding your devices in the iPhone settings, you can access volume controls, audio presets, and streaming preferences in your settings. You can find the dashboard view as pictured below by going to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing > Hearing Devices, and then tapping on your hearing aids.
Accessing this dashboard takes quite a few steps, so consider setting up an accessibility shortcut instead. This allows you to quickly access volume controls and audio settings by either pressing your home button or right side button three times.
MFi hearing aids also offer a feature called Live Listen, which transforms your iPhone or iPad into a microphone. You can hold your Apple device or place it on a table in front of you to help you pick up voices during conversations, like while eating with a friend at a busy restaurant. Other hearing aids require you to purchase a separate accessory for this functionality, like the ReSound Multi Mic accessory, which costs roughly $600 on top of your hearing aid purchase.
You must have an iPhone 5 and IOS 15.3.1 or iPadOS 15.3.1 and newer to stream with MFi hearing aids.
Android-compatible hearing aids
In 2019, six years after Apple, Google announced Bluetooth hearing aid compatibility in some Android devices, called the Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) protocol. This protocol, or set of communication rules using radio frequency, allows participating Android devices to stream audio to hearing aids through Bluetooth LE connectivity, following the same highly powerful yet energy-conserving technology efforts as Apple.
It’s recommended you have Android OS 10 or higher to stream with ASHA-compatible hearing aids, but this can vary by hearing aid brand.
Universal streaming hearing aids
Between the announcement dates of MFi and ASHA, Sonova unveiled the first universal streaming solution for all Bluetooth devices in 2017. The Sonova Wireless One Radio Digital (SWORD) allows any Bluetooth-enabled cellphone, including some older flip phones, to connect to hearing aids for music and call streaming.
Unlike MFi and ASHA, SWORD is compatible with both Bluetooth Classic (the primary Bluetooth protocol used in older phones) and BLE. But SWORD is only available in Sonova hearing aid brands like Phonak and Unitron.
Sonova’s most recent innovation is the Processing Real-time Intelligent Sound Management (PRISM) chip. First introduced in the Phonak Paradise model, this upgraded technology allows more powerful sound processing and universal wireless streaming from compatible cellphones with less power consumption to conserve battery life.
Both models last up to 16 hours with a few hours of streaming, but if battery life with streaming is a priority, consider other brands, like the Starkey Genesis AI. Its receiver-in-canal (RIC) style offers up to 45 hours of battery life with streaming—considerably longer than most other brands on the market.
Intermediary streaming devices
If your Bluetooth hearing aid does not offer streaming functionality, or if you have an older smartphone, an intermediary device may be a good solution. Also known as streamers, these optional accessories facilitate the connection between your hearing aids and your smartphone to allow clearer audio to reach your ears.
For example, Oticon offers the ConnectClip accessory, which pairs with your hearing aids and your smartphone to allow hands-free calls and music streaming. It also has a remote microphone functionality similar to MFi’s Live Listen feature, so you can pick up ambient audio (background noise) for clearer understanding. Price varies depending on the retailer, but you can expect to pay between $200–$400 for this type of accessory.
Although many modern televisions connect directly to Bluetooth hearing aids, some do not. Most hearing aid brands offer television streamers instead, which plug into your television and send audio directly to your ears. These devices cost between $200–$700, depending on the retailer, and may be a worthwhile purchase if you’d like to hear your favorite shows without increasing the television volume.
How much do Bluetooth hearing aids cost?
Among the best hearing aids on the market, those with Bluetooth connectivity cost between $500-$7,500 per pair. In general, hearing aids cost between $99–$7,500 per pair, but Bluetooth hearing aids are on the higher end of this range.
If you’re looking for affordable OTC options with Bluetooth streaming, consider Jabra Enhance Select ($1,195–$1,995 per pair) and Audicus ($1,398–$2,998 per pair). Most prescription options, like Phonak or Oticon, offer Bluetooth streaming but are priced from $2,000–$7,500 per pair.
