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Using Apple Siri to control Hearing Aid?

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Has anyone managed to get Siri to “turn down my hearing aid” or something similar?

Sometimes I’m doing stuff that becomes louder than expected and I would love to be able to turn down the volume without using the app or controls on the aid itself. Has anyone managed to do this?

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Since you call the assistant “Siri”, I assume you are an iPhone user? Most hearing aids can be controlled (somewhat) with an Apple Watch.

As an Android user (and I hope @oticon reads this) I tried multiple ways to control my Real 1s without either touching the aids or having to pull out and unlock my phone. (Dirty or wet hands, situation makes it socially awkward to pull out a phone …) They don’t have an app for Android watches, which is regrettable, but they also don’t support the Google Assistant. If the existing app would support Assistant commands, I could give voice commands, e.g. through a smartwatch. Not as of now, that is not possible.

I could imagine it’s a lighter lift to make your app conform with Google Assistant (or Siri) than to create a separate Android watch app. Please, Oticon, harken!

Yes indeed, wet hands, wearing gloves or maybe holding a power tool with both hands and finding something unexpectedly loud. Thats the use case indeed. Greasy or sweaty fingers will also ruin the microphone filter. Lots of reasons to want voice command for some basic control. And yes its Apple Siri, I’ve no experience with Android but would be great for all platforms.

In reply to @OffendedOtter

My research shows that not all major brands offer a Watch app for ’s. Of the few that do, I’ve found Oticon’s app to be the best hands down, which I use all the time to discreetly

  • turn volume up/down or mute both HA
  • change programs
  • Check battery levels of each HA
  • Turn on Speech Booster
  • Turn Remote Microphone On (I don’t have that accessory)

No other brand offers an app that does all this and if my audiologist decided it was time for me to choose HA’s, I would pick the Oticon using the Watch App as one of the main reasons.

I totally understand the awkwardness of pulling the phone out to make adjustments while in church, a party or a conversation with a group or one on one. The watch app is quick and discreet.

I am new hearing aid wearer as of 1-1/2yrs ago and my audiologist decided waive the 45 day trial period in order to continually trial new HA’s as they were released since I’ve been into technology for 40 years as well as software development so I am of value to her practice in evaluating new releases for others she serves.

I use an Apple iPhone and Watch and after trialing Phonak, Resound, Widex, Unitron, Signa, Starkey and Oticon, I continually return to the Oticon’s as the best all around featured HA (none are without issues however). Oticon’s natural non-processed sound along with their apps for the iPhone and Watch contribute to the “wear and forget” that I’m wearing hearing aids.

Note: someone commented that Phonak Sphere’s were not natural sounding and I would agree that the chips with for some brands tend to muffle out background noise, which is very obvious to the wearer when that is happening and contributes to the continual reminder that hearing aids are resting on my ears. :slight_smile:

@Paparatzi said:

No other brand offers an app that does all this

I don’t know were you get this info from but it does not apply to my .

I have Widex SmartRIC and:

The WatchOS has a built-in control panel that includes the features you mentioned. Mine displays live listen instead of speech booster. Additionally, it shows bass and treble controls plus I also have microphone directionality management.

The WatchOS HAs should be able to manage all certified HAs but I don’t have other MFi HAs to prove this.

Glad the Oticon is working for you (I did try them and did not like the hissing sound in quiet environments). And yes, people should try different brands before making a decision.

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