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Bluetooth Horrible always?

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Hello, I get new hearing aids every 5 years. I keep hoping that Bluetooth capability will improve. So far, it seems to be getting worse?! How is this possible or acceptable? I NEED Bluetooth for my job and I use it a lot in my life recreationally. I also need hearing aids. But so far, Bluetooth reception is so bad that I switch between headphones for music to access Bluetooth when there aren’t people around and when I need to have conversations, putting my heating aids in. I have been trying new aids for 3 months (3 different ones) and they’re all awful. The Bluetooth adaptor that I got to hang around my neck with Phonaks 15 years ago works better.
I’m so frustrated and disappointed in this whole process. I would just use the new iPhone earbuds I think, but they don’t look professional in a workplace environment and they fall out of my ears when I get too physical at all.
Is there a brand that works best with iPhone, moderate hearing loss and an ite aid? I’m tired of trying and sending aids back and my audiologist seems to not know.

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I have been wearing hearing aids for 20 years. I have gone over those years from aids with no communication, no controls not even volume to my present aids that connect flawlessly with my Samsung S23 android phone. And by way of a connect clip to my other devices. I take hands free calls on my Samsung phone, I listen to audiobooks, and music either on my phone or one of my other tablets. Is it perfect, well there isn’t anything on this earth that is perfect that is manmade, but it is very close. I am a retired IT professional and i have definitely seen the improvements of Bluetooth. And now with le audio it is becoming almost perfect.

Welcome to the forum. IMO some Sid’s work better with than others, even if they are MFI.
I’ve had Phonak also but I’ve found GN Resound do have a very good connection to BT.
Here’s a list of aids that are MFI for you.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mfi+hearing+aids+list&rlz=1CDGOYI_enAU695AU695&oq=what+hearing+aids+are+MFI&gs_15

Also your iPhone has a bigger list of MFI aids.

List of Made for iPhone hearing devices – Apple Support (AU)20

These Made for iPhone () hearing aids are compatible with iPhone and iPad. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are also compatible with Mac.

Ok FWIW.
I wear Starkey Edge aids. Which by the way are not thought of to highly on this site.
I have a Pixel 6a. I connect my aids to my phone using .
My phone is generally in my front left pants
pocket.
It is the three feet from my aids.
I have no problems using Bluetooth to steam to them.
I have to talk into my phone for calls because I do not have the new . I put the phone in my top pocket and talk away.
If you really need it for work, and have to have it work, you probably should look at getting a intermediary device that connect the phone to the aids.
It can connect to laptops, phones, whatever.

I should perhaps be more specific in how I feel the Bluetooth is horrible… talking on the phone is spotty and calls are dropped, or not picked up with the hearing aids, or there is a beeping background noise that is distracting and I have to have the phone in my hands, not in a pocket or other room. If I’m listening to music or audiobooks, the sound quality is poor, again I can’t have the phone in my pocket , unless it’s in a coat pocket on my chest. If I’m in my house, I can’t leave the room where my phone is. I sewed a pouch to hang around my neck, but that seems so technologically un-advanced, if that’s a word. If I’m outside, I can’t walk quickly or turn my head, because then the sound switches between ears which is dizzy-fying. Regular Bluetooth earphones don’t have this problem, yet are a fraction of the cost of ’s.

Currently I’m trying signia insio. Last month I tried signia active pro ix and the month before was unitron insera. The past 5 years I’ve been wearing Phonak insio, I believe.

@Hope1 said:

Phonak insio,

Phonak don’t have a insio model, Virto no doubt you mean, did you try Signia Silk? Or how about Resound Customs .

After trialing the Starkey Genesis 312 wireless ’s - I settled on purchasing their Edge AI 312 CIC’s and found the latest LEaudio connection for receiving/answering calls to my Iphone to be a stronger and superior connection than to the Genesis which dropped out within a couple of metres - the range/distance before the connection drops out from the Edge AI is a few metres better. They are also enabled which should prove be very benificial further down the line.

What phone do you have? How old is it? What software is it running?

I assume you’ve used the same phone with all 3 . If that assumption is valid, it’s very possible that your phone or the way you’re using it is the problem.

My phonak aids work well with classic Bluetooth, connecting to my MacBook, Echo spot, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch.

My Signa Active Pro IX, while fabulously practical and easy to live with, will only connect with my iPhone via MFI.

The Signia also don’t connect well in large open spaces (walking the dog up the hill), but my early Phonak had the same issue. I had to move either my watch or phone to my chest pocket for one section of the walk.

So for better reception, I would suggest as clear and short line of sight between your device and hearing aids. Also hard reflective surfaces seem to help (walls) if they are not between you and the source.

I have Phonak Lumity 24R hearing aids and one of the few good things about them is they use Classic so they can be connected to multiple devices at the same time. Welcome to the HT forum.

I learned many years ago, any time there is an update for the aids or phone to unpair my aids and restart the phone and pair fresh after the phone restarted. Ot normally worked

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