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Help Hearing aids

Bubba77 said:
Well, @chanchan05, that's actually helpful. I agree with you. Why have *NO* hearing aid companies gone with A2DP?
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Apple's very probably patented iPhone only hearing aid mode does some things that are specific for hearing aid use, that are not in the current industry standard Bluetooth profiles, like streaming to individual left or right devices only, and hearing aid manufacturers like Starkey and Resound pay Apple to license it.
iphone7-ios10-settings-general-accessibility-hearing-devices-settings-crop.jpg

I believe there are some hearing aids that can use standard BT A2DP, but that doesn't have the individual left and right device control and battery monitoring, as it was really meant for regular headphones, speakers and car systems.


Possibly the Bluetooth SIG could implement something similar in a future version of the BT specs, that phone and hearing aid manufacturers could use and work to if they choose. I'm pretty sure Apple wouldn't license theirs out though to Samsung, ZTE, Huawei, etc.
 
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mikedt said:
Apple's very probably patented iPhone only hearing aid mode does some things that are specific for hearing aid use,
<span style='text-decoration: underline'>that are not in the current industry standard Bluetooth profiles, like streaming to individual left or right devices only, and hearing aid manufacturers like Starkey and Resound pay Apple to license it.</span>
<a href='https://androidforums.com/attachments/123851/'>View attachment 123851</a>
<br> I believe there are some hearing aids that can use standard BT A2DP, but that doesn't have the individual left and right device control and battery monitoring, as it was really meant for regular headphones, speakers and car systems.
<br>
<br>
<br> Possibly the Bluetooth SIG could implement something similar in a future version of the BT specs, that phone and hearing aid manufacturers could use and work to if they choose.
<span style='text-decoration: underline'>I'm pretty sure Apple wouldn't license theirs out though to Samsung, ZTE, Huawei, etc. </span>
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Nah. The right and left thing doesn't hold water. Look at Verve Onrs and Gear Icon X. They got battery monitoring and left and right control. All you need is an app and A2DP support and you're good to go.




I'm guessing it's more of a deal between Apple and the companies. More likely Apple is paying them to support hearing aid mode. Like Apple supplying them software or technical help etc, or sponsoring their research . Android being open source doesn't have Google actually going out of its way to contact hearing aid companies because the capability is there, you just have to make an app for it.


An audiologist on another site mentioned that Phonak and Widex are working on direct streaming from Android. But he cited no actual documentation. The given reason for such is that since Android is open source, the companies cannot guarantee that they can work with all Android phones. Which is why they chose a streamer option. The rumored Widex support that is being worked on is supposedly limited to just Samsung flagship devices. I must reiterate however that source for that are just some random comments in reddit by someone who claims to be an audiologist.
 
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chanchan05 said:
Nah. The right and left thing doesn't hold water. Look at Verve Onrs and Gear Icon X. They got battery monitoring and left and right control. All you need is an app and A2DP support and you're good to go.




I'm guessing it's more of a deal between Apple and the companies. More likely Apple is paying them to support hearing aid mode. Like Apple supplying them software or technical help etc, or sponsoring their research . Android being open source doesn't have Google actually going out of its way to contact hearing aid companies because the capability is there, you just have to make an app for it.


An audiologist on another site mentioned that Phonak and Widex are working on direct streaming from Android. But he cited no actual documentation. The given reason for such is that since Android is open source, the companies cannot guarantee that they can work with all Android phones. Which is why they chose a streamer option. The rumored Widex support that is being worked on is supposedly limited to just Samsung flagship devices. I must reiterate however that source for that are just some random comments in reddit by someone who claims to be an audiologist.
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Could be because this is medical stuff which must be approved and licensed by the FDA, etc, and Samsung flagship phones are known devices, same with the iPhones of course.

IANAD
 
There some misunderstandings here about the problem. I have tried several leading brands of hearing aids and none of them can stream directly from any Android device. They are all tied to Apple. I am not sure why this is so but suspect a deal with Apple is the likely cause. In late 2017 Phonax announced the first device which is to be compatible with both ios and Android but I have yet to find it available. My audiologist told me that the Apple/Aids licence was due to expire in 2018. Again I'm not sure what that means. My main point is that previous responders are uninformed when they tell the OP to choose a different brand of aids. No major brand will stream directly from Android. I hate the iPhone cult but was forced to join or lose out on the world of entertainment.
 
My phonax, even in the most brutal conditions of snow and rain, somehow are water proof, but you have to kind of dig deep in your hearing aids, but also quickly wipe them off with a napkin out of a restraunt or even your own clothes :) But be warn though, always sit down when you are doing this :)
 
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