Bluetooth and Hearing Aids
It is important to understand that the hearing aids themselves are not capable of receiving a Bluetooth signal directly. The power needs of this technology are more than can be provided by a hearing aid battery. Rather some type of peripheral or "gateway" device is used to receive the Bluetooth signal and then transmit it to the hearing aids. Between the gateway device and the hearing aids, a different type of wireless technology is used, one that requires much less power but still provides a high quality, secure signal. With Oticon hearing aids, for example, a small device called "Streamer" is worn around the neck and can receive Bluetooth signals directly. In turn, the Streamer sends the signal to the hearing aids. The gateway devices use a rechargeable battery. For two-way applications (e.g. listening/talking on the phone), the gateway device also picks up the user's voice and sends it back to the cell phone.
There are several advantages to using Bluetooth technology in conjunction with hearing aids. Many consumer electronic devices already include this technology. ﾠMost cell phones, computers, and several landline phones are Bluetooth-enabled. Since this is a wireless technology, the need for cords and boots is eliminated. The signal is of high quality and is presented to both hearing aids. This provides the hearing aid user with an advantage, especially when using the telephone.ﾠ For devices such as TVs, iPods, MP3 players, etc. that may not be Bluetooth enabled, adaptors can be used. In addition to the Streamer device, Oticon also has the ConnectLine products that consist of a TV adapter and a landline phone adapter. These adaptors are connected to the TV or phone and then send a Bluetooth signal directly to the Streamer.
Bluetooth technology is fairly easy to use. The gateway device (e.g., Streamer) is "paired" with the other device (e.g., cell phone). This helps ensure secure communication and is generally a one-time process. Once pairing has occurred, communication between the devices is generally automatic as long as the devices are within 30 feet or so of each other. Your hearing healthcare professional can help you get the devices set up. Like anything else, with a little bit of practice most individuals are able to quickly adapt and use this technology.
For some additional information on Bluetooth in general, check out www.Bluetooth.com. ﾠYour hearing healthcare professional can also be a valuable resource. The usage of Bluetooth technology in conjunction with hearing aids is rapidly evolving and will likely become a standard feature in the coming years.
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Apr 16, 2010 at 6:28 AM Personally I never use bluetooth technologies, but I read a lot about them. For example, yesterday I downloaded the whole mp3 review on the subject on Mp3 Search <a href=http://www.mp3hunting.com> http://www.mp3hunting.com </a> from which I learned a lot of new things. First of all, that there are two components needed for a hearing aid to work in tandem with bluetooth technology. It has to be either a telecoil or Direct Audio Input (DAI). I've never known about that...
Apr 17, 2010 at 1:53 AM Bluetooth technology has brought a revolution in the market mostly used in mobile technology.But I'm quite happy that it's now used in hearing aids.Thanks.
Bijaya,
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May 13, 2010 at 9:36 AM The Bluetooth ear sets are 10 times cheaper than hearing aids are so when they wear out they are comparatively inexpensive to replace. The computer part is less likely to wear out and because it doesn't have to be miniature or worn in the ear, it is also a lot cheaper than hearing aids. The result could be a state-of-the-art hearing system for two ears that costs about $1000 total and provides all the ALD functions that are now extra cost items.
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Jun 10, 2010 at 11:56 AM Most electronic devices are now bluetooth enabled & it'll be good to find that hearing aids are also bluetoothe enabled.It'll help a lot as its quality would be much better than wired ones.
Jul 9, 2010 at 12:05 AM I really like the Oticons b/c of sound quality and the streamer work for me.
Jul 29, 2010 at 12:10 AM With Oticon hearing aids, I can live like a normal person. My life change drastically when I used it.