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Problems with iPhone Bluetooth streaming and phonak

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Recently got a new iPhone 16e and updated the software to iOS 26.2.1, the past two days I’ve noticed my hearing aids are still streaming audio when the audio is completely down/off. I can adjust the volume on my hearing aids with the rocker switch but I find this very odd as they are just paired like any other Bluetooth headset. Not a super big issue but slightly annoying as I do not want to have to change the volume through my hearing aids since it effects the environment volume, wondering if maybe it’s just a bug in the phone software?

Wearing phonak sky m-m aids.

I’m curious about this issue too but this is not an iOS 26 issue as it happens on earlier versions as well. Were things always this way or is there a bug?

I seem to recall something similar or at least a problem once IOS 26 came out. I recall getting the Apple Accessibility folks on the phone to talk about it. Now, I forget whatever it was but I’d suggest getting hold of the accessibility folks. They’ve been helpful to me in the past.

I did some more digging. Based on my testing the solution is setting Device Type, which is not set by default. Touch the information icon next to the hearing aid name in the Bluetooth settings. Then select Device Type and select Hearing Aid. With this setting change reducing iOS volume to zero reduces the hearing aid streaming volume to zero.

You can still lower or raise the volume some with the aids if desired and the aid volume change appears independent from iOS volume.

As Phonak now pairs the hearing aids through the MyPhonak app, they may be able to change the Device Type setting from default to Hearing Aid upon pairing. The permissions needed are likely buried in some Apple documentation for developers. It could be worth giving feedback to Phonak so they could look into either an update to automate this or adding an instruction screen to the pairing process instructions so users can be advised what to change.

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