Connecting to Your Environment
People with hearing loss often have difficulty communicating over the phone, especially with cell phones. The television may also be difficult to understand, even when you are wearing your hearing instruments. There are now devices available to help you on your phone and with the TV.
Modern hearing instruments take Bluetooth® technology and use it to assist you to connect to electronic devices in your environment, like your TV or phone. This allows you to hear the conversation, music signal, or TV signal through your hearing instruments.
Here are some frequently asked questions about hearing devices and Bluetooth®
1. What is Bluetooth®?
- Bluetooth® provides a way for certain devices, like cell phones, laptops, and personal computers to communicate wirelessly. This wireless technology enables communication between Bluetooth®-compatible devices. It is used for short-range connections between desktop and laptop computers, digital cameras, scanners, cellular phones, and printers.
2. Do my current hearing aids have Bluetooth® capability?
- Not all hearing devices have this ability. Many devices purchased since 2008 may have Bluetooth® capability. It is important to talk to your audiologist to find out specifically if your hearing instruments have this feature.
3. Is it hard to operate?
- These devices are easy to operate. Your audiologist at Total Hearing Care will set these devices up for you. To connect with your cell phone, you must have Bluetooth® on the phone. For the TV and landline phone, all you will need to do is plug in the external devices when you get home. Your audiologist will go over the instructions in detail with you at the time of your appointment.
4. Is it expensive?
- Bluetooth®/Connectivity devices come in a range of prices. Some hearing instruments come as a package with the devices, while others are purchased as accessories. Please speak to your audiologist for pricing.
5. How do I use the Bluetooth® streaming device with my Hearing Aids?
- It will allow you to connect to your TV, landline or cell phone, which will play the sound through your hearing instruments, which are programmed to YOUR hearing loss. It will set the TV or the telephone to your specific needs. It will allow you to adjust for volume for the TV without changing it for other people.
- Your hearing instruments are paired to a streaming device which connects to your Bluetooth® enabled devices, such as your computer, cell phone, landline telephone, TV, and MP3 player. If these devices do not have Bluetooth® built into them, we can often add an external device which will give these devices that capability.
- The streaming devices also have direct audio input jacks, where cables can be used to directly connect to your listening devices.
6. How do I get started hearing better on the phone or while watching TV?
- Contact your audiologist. They will be able to work with you and your hearing devices.
