Judging by how much young people rely on their smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices to stay connected, they may envy the Bluetooth capabilities of their parents’ and grandparents’ hearing instruments. Bluetooth is a wireless communication platform that allows for the transfer of data between two or more electronic devices. It can be accessed by Bluetooth-enabled hearing instruments through a compatible assistive listening device (ALD), known as a “streamer,” or a smartphone. The audio signal can usually be set to stream to one or both hearing instruments and can be amplified and shaped to match the hearing aid’s personalized settings. In the case of a music player, the hearing instruments effectively become a set of wireless earbuds.
P.S. Apple’s patented Bluetooth connectivity with hearing instruments enables certain hearing aids to communicate directly with the iOS platform that runs iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices.
If you currently own hearing aids, chances are good that your hearing aids are already Bluetooth compatible. For more information, please call EAR & HEARING CLINIC. We use a personalized approach in recommending hearing aid options to best meet every patient’s preferences. Each year we accept nominations for our Gift of Hearing giveaway. Nominate yourself, a friend, or a loved one for a chance to receive a free pair of hearing aids. We are registered members of the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario. “Hear the Sounds of Life.”
