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Streaming to cochlear implant and hearing aid at same time?

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As background, I will be getting the cochlear implant (manufactured by Cochlear)activated next week in one ear. I am using an oticon intent hearing aid in the other, which is not compatible with the cochlear device.

I normally stream online meetings at work from my iPhone to my oticon ’s. Will I be able to stream online meetings to both the cochlear implant and to the oticon HA at the same time? Not sure if the iPhone can simultaneously stream to two devices. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

Tom

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Everyone of us is an individual and hearing through a just doesn’t happen for everyone at activation, it’s totally different to hearing through a hearing aid. There’s a possibility that you won’t hear very much through the cochlear immediately after activation. You could hear a lot of scratchy noises or static. It takes a lot of rehab for your brain to lay down new neural sound pathways. Once the pathways are established you will start to hear through the cochlear.

Your Oticon aid won’t direct stream with your CI, it will work as an ordinary though. Once your CI is set up on your smartphone I’m not sure if it will still stream even. The settings might have to be deleted to set up your CI.

Good luck to you on your new hearing journey.

Congratulations on your new .

As far as streaming you will be able to stream either to the CI or the non compatible Oticon hearing aid. Both at the same time will not work on any phone that I am aware of.

To stream in both ears properly to both ears you will need the correct compatible Resound hearing aid to stream with the CI. There are 4-5 Resound aids that are compatible so you will need to see which would be best for your hearing loss. Both and Resound aids can be compatible.

Good luck with your activation.

As far as I know, iPhones can only stream to multiple devices under certain limited conditions (devices compatible with Apple’s Airplay - for example Airpods + Beats).

There is a software solution that claims that it can do streaming to multiple devices (Ampme). I haven’t tested this and I have no idea if this would work with using bluetooth LE.

Hopefully, the implementation of + by Apple in the future will make this easy.

How to Stream Music to Multiple Speakers from Your iPhone — Audioengine3

How to Stream Music to Multiple Speakers from Your iPhone Music lovers know the value of streaming audio to multiple speakers, especially when you're looking to fill a room (or multiple rooms) with rich, detailed sound. However, if you're an iPhone...

In reply to @Raudrive

Thanks for the info. At some point I will likely get a compatible by Resound just to increase my chance of having better hearing. Just anxious right now to get the activated!

@ceetom1 said:

. Surprisingly, my hearing with only one ear has not been much worse than before.

That’s a sign getting the was a great choice. Plan on being amazed if not overwhelmed.

I am looking forward to hearing about your progress.

In reply to @ceetom1

@ceetom1 said:

Not sure what to expect upon the activation of the CI

Activation day can be so many different emotions. You might hear nothing very much, or you might hear scratchy sounds. You also might hear a word or two being spoken. Whatever you hear or don’t hear, remember it’s your journey, be patient with yourself, everyone’s activation day is so very different, it can be so overwhelming as well.

Come back and keep us updated on how you are going.
Good luck to you on your new hearing journey.

One factor to bear in mind may come into play, at least based on my experience streaming to two separate audio devices simultaneously on my Android phone. The two devices do no synchronize precisely – one is always a fraction of a second behind the other. This works fine for streaming to two users’ separate earbuds or to speakers in separate rooms, but if I stream to two speakers in the same room there is a noticeable disconnect. I can only imagine the disconnect would be worse streaming to two hearing devices in the same head.

Thanks. I will likely have to wait and see and react accordingly. Even a slight delay can cause an echo effect.

Edited

In reply to @requa

I have never experienced any slight delay or echo, streaming to two hearing devices with iPhones since I got the first MFIA which came out in 2015. Pre-cochlear, I had Resound Enzos and then Resound Omnias, with a variety of iPhones. Post (Nucleus 8) I have had Omnia in the other ear and stream to both with no issues with iPhone 15 pro then 17 pro.

I’m glad to hear this works better with hearing devices than with the standard B T audio devices I used, even with mixed brands.

Good luck with your implant! I would urge you to address this with the audiologist that has selected which device is going to be implanted. A friend learned that hard way how important being able to stream to both devices after getting an implant and learning that there was not an easy solution to stream to her incompatible hearing aid. Also some the cochlear manufacturers offer a discount on a companion aid if ordered along with the cochlear device. Good luck!

Thanks for the input. I will likely wait a while to see how the is performing before deciding on a new compatible by Resound. Interestingly, some of the HA providers I contacted do not carry the Resound brand.

Typically the audiologist will also fit the compatible hearing aids. In the US for sure.

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