Smart phone compatibility--reality vs what people want

#25

That pretty much explains it. IMHO getting everything to work together is not a matter of if, but when.

Consider Bluetooth 5 was announced in June of 2016. Samsung released products supporting it in April of 2017, Apple in September of 2017. Microsoft’s latest flagship product the Surface Book 2 will be released November 9, 2017 with Bluetooth 4.1.

The technology getting HA’s to work with all these things, is almost the same as what someone might want in wireless ear buds. I suggest that the market is much bigger than just the HA market. Those with vision will see the same and work towards the appropriate protocols and products.

For me, I accept that these things take time. If the latest and greatest, requires multiple expensive hardware upgrades, I will likely purchase a lower cost and lower featured option that will get me through 3-5 years of product life cycle and upgrade on an as needed basis rather than an as wanted basis. Unless of course the newest technology will make a fundamental change justifying the expenditure.

I listened to people complain for years about the difficulties of using a telephone with hearing aids (self included). After experiencing cell phone connectivity through a streamer I hear a major difference. I would have no qualms suggesting to someone that they simply get a cell phone and streamer (if needed) then cancel their land line after porting their number over to a cell phone.

#26

My hearing aids connect directly to my cheap LG/TracFone smartphone via bluetooth thus enabling me to actually hold a phone conversation with about 90% comprehension if the caller speaks distinctly. I can not use any other type of phone. I have no intention of buying any Apple product or carrying some kind of inbetween device around in my pocket. I can also use my hearing aids as my computer speaker via bluetooth…

#27

I want direct connectivity with my android phone like Audio B-Direct AND FM functionality to use in noisy group meeting situations.

So far no aid models seem to fit the bill and if I want to stream to my phone and have FM capabilities I need to accept the fact I’ll have to use an intermediate device.

I’m being overly picky probably - I’ll be a part time HA user. Have normal pure tone audiogram for my age but have CAPD. Finally got sick of it so got officially diagnosed and am currently on trial with Audio B Direct.

Might wait for the Connect Clip 3 from Opticon and try the Opn aid…

#28

Can’t you attach a Roger receiver to the Audeo B Direct to get the FM capability? Pricey, but I think possible.

#29

I wish! The Audeo B-Direct line is not compatible with any accessory besides the TV link.

#30

Ah, I see now. Yeah, if I wanted it all, I think I’d consider iPhone and either Resound or Oticon.

#31

I’m stuck with my current android phone (note 8) since I’m paying it off for next… 20 months. Also sorta die heard android user.

I might try Oticon Opn when/if the connect clip 3 comes out. Which means delaying purchasing and that’ll work out so I can use 2018’s FSA funds to pay for these. (In my infinite wisdom, I pull the trigger on whole official diagnosis and HA trial too late, since I just lost hearing aid reimbursement with my insurance when my policy renewed in September)

My Audi thought with the B-Direct the phone could be used as mic… Phonak seemed to think my idea of using the phone as microphone for FM-like feature was good idea when I reached out to them and the person I chatted with will forward my suggestion to the product engineering team.

The technology to do that exist in the phone and in the HA. I found few third-party apps that can amplify directly to the aid via the phone’s mic, but there’s a delay. So hopefully Phonak rolls out future upgrades to allow phone-as-mic (minus delay), especially since the accessory option is next to nothing compared to non-direct models.

#32

I haven’t really heard of anybody being happy using phone as microphone. Phonak’s Roger and Resound Multmic seem to be preferred solutions. There’s something on here somewhere about a guy with Multimic and Roger microphone on a Resound (Linx 3D I think)

Yeah, I’m not an Apple fan either, but if it’s an important feature, an Apple SE can be picked up for not much more than the price of a hearing aid accessory.

Then again with a Note 8, you’ve got Bluetooth 5 capability, maybe somebody will come out with a Bluetooth 5 hearing aid soon. Oticon, Resound or Widex seem like the most likely suspects to be first with Bluetooth 5, but it’s pure speculation.

Warning though, in noisy situations you’re still going to have to deal with the noise as I assume with a near normal audiogram that you’ll go with open domes.

#33

I have read this whole thread - now totally confused as to “what, if anything, is out there”.
I am on the phone, a lot, for business. For years before I got HA about 7 years ago - wore a Bluetooth headset. I have had no trouble using the BT while wearing the HA.
I sure would like to be able to dispense of the BT and some how use the phone to communicate with the HA.
Question - Is there such an HA in existence? I gather, in reading this thread, that Apple has something. I am vehemently opposed to using Apple products. Prime example - ALL phone manufacturers agreed to a charging port protocol years ago - except Apple. All our devices are “Google based” - from phones to the Google smart “Home” to the Google mesh wifi system in our home to Google video and audio streaming devices.
My HA (now almost 7 y.o. Phonak Audeo) are starting to show their age. If something is on the horizon, I’ll wait a year or two before getting new HA. I buy cell phones that are top of the line (Samsung or LG) every 2-3 years.

Thanks.

#34

Given that you want to stick with Android phone, the only hearing aid that allows direct streaming from phone to hearing aids is the Phonak Audeo B-Direct. If you’re willing to wear or carry a small device (either worn around the neck or clipped to a pocket, depending on manufacturer) several manufacturers offer hearing aids that will work.

#35

That is not correct. I have used these for over a year and found them to be the best solution for my profound hearing loss:

http://www.soundworldsolutions.com/store/hearing-aids/companion

#36

I’m very glad they work for you. You probably consider me quibbling, but I don’t consider them hearing aids. They seem to be very impressively featured PSAPs (Personal Sound Amplification Product) They do not appear to have the precision adjustability of hearing aids. That said, I can imagine them working well for somebody with a fairly flat hearing loss. Curious about battery life. I’m guessing the rechargeable battery is either pretty big or doesn’t last long since it uses standard Bluetooth.

#37

They are hearing aids. When new, the battery lasts about 12 hours. After a year’s use, I usually have to charge them in late afternoon…it takes about 30 min. What I find most useful is the Andorid app which I use to check on the volume setting and occasionally change the frequency response settings. I don’t care what they look like,

#38

@miket I’m trying out Phonak Audeo B-Direct and it does connect to my Samsung Note 8 directly and the HAs act as a headset.

My qualm with the Audeo B-Direct is lack of connectivity with other wireless accessory options Phonak offers like the Roger microphones for FM feature.

Also, I was slightly disappointed the hands-free bluetooth cell phone call options only streams to one aid, which in grand scheme of things isn’t really bad… I use my right ear almost exclusively for phone calls. (I have normal puretone audiogram but have difficulty with speech in noise/over phone due to CAPD) Supposedly other non-streaming aid act as a microphone.

Since the connectivity technology exists, I hope Phonak expands the streaming capabilities between bluetooth devices and the HAs. At the moment the B-Directs connects to phone or to the TV and some other bluetooth devices via TV Link. It’d be a shame to under utilize the first ‘made for all phones’ feature.

#39

Phonak Audeo B-Direct apparently range in price from $1400 ea to $2400 ea. I bought my Sound World Companion hearing aids for about $670 for the pair. I was so sick of my Hearing Health Center audiologists I would, at that time, try most anything. For that price, I could sell them on eBay and recoup most of the cost if I didn’t like them. But, they were so much better than my Audibel hearing aids there was no question of keeping them. The CS Customizer application on my phone works fine but the Personalize application within CS Customizer really does not work well for me. Currently my settings, after running the Personalize application, for both ears, are: Volume 4dB, Treble 4dB, Mid 3dB, and Bass -7 dB. So, the Bass is essentially turned off.

Finally, I can easily afford to buy any hearing aid on the market. I am a retired electrical engineer.

#40

@member6

I’m actually fine with how much the Audeo B-Directs will cost me.

With my specific needs, cheap devices will not be an option since I need HAs with a good speech in noise program.

Anyway - I was mainly replying to miket, since they were asking about direct connectivity to androids.

#41

I will make one more comment then shut up. Noise supression must be difficult to implement. How does the circuitry decide what is noise and what is a legitimate signal? Anyway, my hearing aids do squeal occasionally when my wife whistles and while watching some
TV programs. In contrast, my Audibel hearing aids essentially shut off when I was driving or running a sink full of water.

Well, it is time to go. My left hearing aid just said, “Low battery.”

#42

Generally the circuit looks for the modulation in the signal to determine whether it’s noise or speech. Speech tends to have lots of modulation while static noise (mechanical sounds like fan, road noise, water running, etc) tend to have less modulation and therefore are considered noise.

Noise suppression is usually done by controlling the directionality of the microphones to block out surrounding sounds and focus on the sound in the front. Noise suppression is also done by detecting non-modulating signals and consider them non-speech noise and their gain is attenuated.

There are even more ways to improve speech in noise but the 2 mentioned above are the most basic ones.

#43

They do sound like interesting devices. I’m guessing Volume of 4dB is 4dB above baseline? I think I remember there was some sort of initial settings that get input. If you wanted to give a full review, you could log on to the main Hearing Tracker site. Then go to Hearing Aids and a submenu opens up and select Personal Sound Amplifiers. If you go further down and select the brand they will pop up. Nobody else has done a review. I do think hearing aids continue to get better. I remember my father in law’s hearing aids always used to squeal loudly. Mine will chirp slightly if I cup my hand over my ear. From reading the literature, yours do have some sort of noise and feedback suppression.

#44

I think to write a review I would have to have some experience with a wider range of hearing aids. I am replying because my hearing aids have absolutely no feedback when I cup my hands over my ears. This is only because I use Comply foam tips on my hearing aids. When the audiologist at COSTCO saw them she said I could use double domes on their hearing aids…nuts to that! I seem to be an outlier in this forum. It surprises me to read posts on this forum that imply a direct connection between an Android phone and hearing aids isn’t implemented more widely because Bluetooth requires too much battery power. I use my Bluetooth direct connection all day with no problem at all.