If you’re a hearing aid user, you know how important it is to have a device that gives you clear sound quality and is easy to use. The same can be said for people looking to buy hearing aids. With so many options on the market, it can take time to decide which is right for you. But if you’re an iPhone user, one key factor may influence your decision: compatibility with your iPhone. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to pair hearing aids with an iPhone so you can make the best decision for your needs.
Preparing for the Pairing Process
Before pairing, ensure your iPhone and hearing aids are charged and turned on. This seems obvious, but it’s important to double-check these things before you start.
You will also need to ensure that your hearing aids are compatible with the iPhone. To find out more about which hearing aids work with iPhones, you can consult the manufacturer’s website or user manual. Below we will leave a comprehensive list of brands that have been confirmed to be compatible with iPhones. These brands sell devices that are “Made for iPhone” or MFi for short.
MFi Hearing Aids Brands
MFi (Made for iPhone) hearing aids are hearing aid that is specifically designed to be compatible with Apple devices, including the iPhone and iPad. Some brands that offer MFi hearing aids include:
- Phonak
- ReSound
- Oticon
- Widex
- Starkey
- Bernafon
- Unitron
- Sonic Innovations
- GN ReSound
- Miracle-Ear
It is important to note that not all hearing aid brands offer MFi-compatible models and that MFi hearing aids may not be compatible with devices other than Apple products. It is always a good idea to check with the manufacturer or hearing care professional to determine the compatibility of a particular hearing aid with a specific device.
The pairing process is much simpler if you have an MFi device, as it can be made directly in Accessibility settings, and we have detailed instructions on how to do this below.
Finally, Apple added compatibility with hearing aids with the launch of iOS 12 in 2018, but updating it to the latest iOS version guarantees you all the latest features and bug fixes.
Pairing the Hearing Aids to the iPhone
1 – Open the battery doors on your hearing devices.
2 – On iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, then ensure Bluetooth is turned on.
3 – Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices.
4 – Close the battery doors on your hearing devices.
5 – When their names appear below MFi Hearing Devices (this could take a minute), tap the names and respond to the pairing requests.
6 – Pairing can take as long as 60 seconds—don’t try to stream audio or use the paired devices until they are successfully connected.
Connecting Hearing Aids to the iPhone
Connecting the hearing aids to an iPhone that is already paired is a quick and straightforward process. To connect, turn on both the iPhone and your hearing aids. Then go to Bluetooth settings on your iPhone and select the hearing aids from the list of available devices. The hearing aids should automatically connect to the iPhone as long as they are in range and turned on.
If you’re experiencing any issues with pairing or connecting your hearing aids to the iPhone, check our troubleshooting tips below.
Do you own an iPad too? This is for you.
You’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to pair your hearing aids with an iPad. If you pair your hearing aids with the iPhone and iPad, your hearing aids will automatically switch from one device to another when you use audio on either. Additionally, any changes you make to your settings on one device are sent to the other devices.
To start the pairing process for your iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPad, then make sure that Bluetooth is turned on. Next, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices and pair your hearing aids to the iPad in the same way as you would with an iPhone.
Important: Sign in with your Apple ID on all your devices to ensure that the pairing process goes smoothly. In addition, it’s essential to ensure that all of your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to communicate successfully.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
A few common issues can arise when attempting to pair hearing aids with an iPhone, and some steps can be taken to troubleshoot these issues.
Hearing aids are not appearing in the list of available Bluetooth devices.
If the hearing aids are not appearing in the list of available Bluetooth devices on the iPhone, try resetting the hearing aids and trying again. To reset the hearing aids, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for specific instructions on how to do this.
Hearing aids are not connecting.
If the hearing aids appear in the list of available devices but are not connecting to the iPhone, try turning off the Bluetooth and then turning it back on again. This can sometimes resolve connectivity issues.
Sound quality or other performance issues.
If the hearing aids are connecting to the iPhone, but there are issues with the sound quality or other performance issues, try adjusting the settings on the hearing aids or consulting the manufacturer’s website or user manual for further troubleshooting steps.
