ReSound Vivia - Good Devices, Bad Software

New prescription hearing aid user, doctor at Northwestern University recommended the ReSound Vivia.
They have been nothing but problems for the two weeks I’ve had them. Like most “advanced” hearing aids, they generally require use of the phone app. I’m running an iPhone, Pro Max 17, with all the latest updates. And I’m a computer professional so I’m not a novice at Bluetooth pairing.

I’ve already notified my audiologist that we’re going to need someone else. The ReSound work well, but every morning is a challenge to get the hearing aids to re-pair to Bluetooth. It’s obvious that ReSound hasn’t “followed the rules” that Apple has structured for Bluetooth pairing. I have several different music devices - headphones and Airpods. They never fail to immediately re-pair to this phone when asked. The ReSound’s DON’T.

When the company starts telling you things like “reinstall the app” and “try restarting your phone”, it’s obvious they don’t know what they’re doing.
Too bad, I like the overall form factor and the job they could be doing.

Pixel 9, Android 17. Worse than Android 16. I write that because the fix used to be pretty simple - disconnect the HAs and reconnect almost always worked under release 16. Now, sometimes the pr0cess for reconnecting is:

disconnect HAs, then reconnect.

Other times it’s: BT off, BT on, reconnect HAs.

Other times it’s: HAs off (press buttons for 5 seconds), HAs on (reconnects automatically)

Other times it’, HAs off, HAs on, BT off, BT on, reconnect HAs.

The randomness is maddening. But the HAs (I have the Jabra version) are the best I’ve had, and I keep telling myself Google will improve the OS.

I’ve been relying on the Android applet for a week now. It’s been much better than the Jabra app, which has lost track of the HAs. Resound owes us real apologies and a commitment to make the app work as expected. I know Resound can’t control a phone’s BT, but they surely can control the connection protocol, and they certainly can make the HAs respond correctly to commands. (When I stop streaming from TV or the Multi-Mic+, it takes 5 minutes to go back fully to the All Around program.)

If the NU pro football/semi-pro b’ball/concert impresario/university conglomerate hasn’t done so, ask them to set up the buttons to control the HAs. That way the apps are less necessary. The buttons can change programs, turn volume up and down, start and stop streaming. The buttons sometimes fail to do what they’re supposed to do, but they’re a lot more reliable than the app.

@JimMcMill said:

I’ve already notified my audiologist that we’re going to need someone else. T

Welcome to the forum.

Lots of really good information on this forum about Bluetooth. We have some really bright people here that anyone can learn from.

If you are anywhere near a Costco you might give them a try for hearing aids. They carry top of the line aids and use best practices to fit them. It’s a great place to start a hearing aid journey.

Good luck.