Connecting Hearing Aids to a Phone: MFi, ASHA and LE Audio Explained
In short. Many hearing aids can receive phone calls, music and other sound straight from a phone. How they connect depends on the phone and the hearing aid: Apple's Made for iPhone system, Android's ASHA, the newer Bluetooth LE Audio, classic Bluetooth on some models, or a telecoil. Before choosing, check which of these both your phone and the hearing aid support.
Why connect at all
Sound streamed from the phone goes straight into the hearing aids, without passing through the air and room noise first. For calls, music, video and navigation, this is often clearer than holding the phone to the ear. Many hearing aids can also be adjusted from an app on the phone.
The main ways hearing aids connect
- Made for iPhone (MFi). Apple's system for hearing devices on iPhone and iPad: streaming calls and audio, and hearing-aid controls in the phone's settings.
- ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids). A protocol for streaming from Android devices to compatible hearing aids.
- Bluetooth LE Audio. A newer Bluetooth audio standard designed for low power use, with built-in support for hearing aids and for broadcast audio (Auracast).
- Classic Bluetooth. Some hearing aids connect like ordinary Bluetooth headphones, which can work with many phones.
- Telecoil. A small coil that picks up sound from compatible phones and hearing loops, without Bluetooth.
What to check before choosing
- Which phone you have now, and which you are likely to have next.
- Which connection the hearing aid supports, and whether it streams both calls and audio.
- Whether hands-free calls work (your voice picked up by the hearing aids) or you speak into the phone.
- Whether there is a control app, and what it lets you change.
- How much streaming shortens battery life.
Support differs between phone models and software versions, so the up-to-date compatibility lists from the phone and hearing-aid makers are the final word.
If it does not work as expected
Pairing is usually done from the phone's accessibility or Bluetooth settings, depending on the system. If streaming drops or sounds poor, check the phone's software is up to date, remove and pair the hearing aids again, and ask the person who fitted them; some features are switched on in the fitting software.
Other ways to make calls easier
Live captions can show the other person's words on screen during calls. Telecoils and hearing loops explains the non-Bluetooth route.
Key takeaways
- Phones and hearing aids connect through MFi, ASHA, LE Audio, classic Bluetooth or telecoil.
- Both the phone and the hearing aid must support the same connection.
- Check calls, audio, hands-free and app control separately.
- Streaming shortens battery life.
- Compatibility lists from the makers are the final word.
Questions and answers
Do all hearing aids connect to all phones?
No. Each hearing aid supports particular connections, and each phone supports particular ones. They must share at least one.
Can I take calls without touching the phone?
Some hearing aids support hands-free calls, picking up your voice with their own microphones. Others stream the caller to you while you speak into the phone.
Will a new phone still work with my hearing aids?
Usually, if it supports the same connection. Check before switching between iPhone and Android, because the systems differ.
Sources and further reading
This page draws on the following sources.
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This information is general and does not replace an examination by a qualified professional.