I discovered this by accident on my phone, under the ‘hearing devices’ option. As far as I know the app from Signia doesn’t include this. Anyway, it turns the phone into a receiver that amps sounds and streams into my HA via bluetooth, I guess. Sounds like a PA system! Most here must know all about this, but not me. I guess it’s to allow me to place my phone at the other end of a dinner table , for example, to pick up conversations there? It’s very lively, to say the least! Too much for playing music. Any insights?
Thanks all. the truth is I don’t read manuals and hate figuring out how my phone and computer works, so I have features that I don’t know about until i need to.
I have used the Live Listen function in noisy cafes to help hear the conversation at my table.
I like the function but I would like to find out more information about its capabilities. Apple support just tells me how to turn it on or off.
What I would like to know is:
can I increase the sensitivity of the iPhone microphone in some way?
can I adjust the selectivity of the microphone in any way, for example so it mainly amplifies speech sounds?
does the microphone filter out some sounds, for example clangs, bangs, hums?
If anyone can supply this information, or point me to where I can find it, I would be most grateful.
I read the answers supplied so far and then did my own investigation.
iPhones have a hidden feature called “Mic Mode” where the user can select preset behaviours for the microphone.
One of these behaviours is “Voice Isolation” which will isolate out speech sounds and suppress other sounds quite effectively.
However “Mic Mode” is designed to be embedded in apps that run on the iPhone (e.g. Facetime, Zoom) and it is not available as a general iPhone feature or setting, so it is not available for “Live Listen”.
The only way for hearing aid users to get access to “Mic Mode” is if the creators of their hearing aid app add it as a feature to the streaming function of the app.
For example, I use Widex Moment HAs and have the Moment app installed on my iPhone. When I use Live Listen, the Moment app shows the Streaming control panel with features like volume control and an equaliser. Widex could enhance the app to include Mic Mode on the Streaming control panel so I could select “Voice Isolation” when I am using Live Listen - this would make a big improvement when listening to people talking in restaurants
I have been using live listen now for 3.9 yrs. My Cochlear AuD told me about it at my first mapping. It’s been a fabulous feature for me especially in noisy situations. The triple click short cut is an easy way to get live listen active. It’s meant I haven’t had to purchase a mini mic2
@Zebras did you increase your microphone level from triple click page? I found in noisy situations I had to increase mine from 50% to around 85%
You are absolutely right. It does not amplify enough in More 1 with 100dB speaker. There is some soft sound in the HA. Should give try using “listen Live” by muting the HA;s mic. The iPhone mic must be near the speaker in order to get a loud sound. I try to use Live listen as a BT transmitter for TV sound. Acceptable to me.
Not sure how Xceed performance using live listen or remote microphone in oticon companion?
I think in my case I have to increase to 100%. I try to mute the HA’s mic to cut down the environment noise so the speaker voice goes directly to the phone mic.