Listening on the telephone is a challenge for hard of hearing people. Placing the telephone directly to one ear may cause hard of hearing persons to miss or misunderstand words in conversation, which can be frustrating to both sides. Luckily, hearing aid manufacturers are developing ways to help make this easier. A recent study by ReSound found that the use of FaceTime with their MFi (made for iPhone) hearing aids was shown to improve phone conversations by up to 70%. That is a big deal. But first, lets look at the four main reasons why Hearing aid users find it harder to listen on the telephone;
Over the years, new technologies such as Bluetooth connected hearing aids and cellphone applications have introduced a new and better way to listen on the telephone. The following table shows the results of a study looking at how Bluetooth can be used to improve comprehension on the phone.
Results from Jespersen & Kirkwood 2016*
First, by sending the phone audio directly to the hearing aid through Bluetooth, it allows us to provide the volume needed to understand. This also improves the separation of speech from the background noise. Compared to the traditional method, listening with both ears combined with a direct connection to the hearing aids improves speech understanding by 54% for people with mild to moderate hearing losses and by 58% for those with severe to profound hearing losses.
Subsequently, it also reduces the likelihood of interfering feedback caused by holding the phone receiver over the ear and hearing aid. Next, it allows us to stream the voice signal to both ears, helping to improve speech understanding.
Finally, hearing aid users are more dependent on visual information than normal hearing people. Combining an application like FaceTime to your mfi hearing aids improves speech understanding to an astounding 77% for people with mild to moderate hearing losses and 71% for people with severe to profound hearing losses!
Most of the hearing aids sold in the past 5 years have some form of built in wireless communication. For most of these, it is possible to get a Bluetooth gateway accessories. These are typically a device which either hangs around your neck or clips on to your shirt or collar. Examples of these devices include the Resound Phone Clip+, Phonak ComPilot and Widex Com-Dex. These systems can be used in conjunction with a smartphone. By using a program like Skype or FaceTime, it offers the full benefits shown in the graph above. If you are using them with a simple mobile phone, they can still be used to get the 54% and 58% improvements because of the direct streaming benefits and the binaural benefits.
Apple has done a lot of work with their iPhones and iPads to increase accessibility. Connecting your iPhone directly to your hearing aids can be done with this new generation of MFi hearing aids. With brands like ReSound, Starkey, Oticon, Signia and Widex all offering mfi products, streaming from your phone has never been easier. With these mfi devices, you no longer need to wear a neck loop of clip on device to bridge the gap between the phone and the hearing aids. Come visit one of our offices at the Davidson Hearing Aid centres to find the best option for you a give it a try!
*Click this link for the full study: hearingreview.com/speech-intelligibility-benefits-facetime-advantages-everybody/
As the coronavirus impacts us all, please read how Davidson Hearing Aid Centres is working to create a safe environment for our staff and clients alike. Please note that our policies and office opening may be changing day-to-day as required. Please check back on our website to find the most up to date information.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The myHearing app works for all Andoid smartphones (Android 4.4 and newer) and iPhones (iOS version 8 and newer).
Full live remote tuning was tested and works best with the following devices:
• Google Nexus 6P (Android 7.1.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 – SM-G950F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 (USA) – SM-G950U (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 – SM-G930F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 (USA) – SM-G930V (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – SM-G935F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 – SM-920I (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – SM-G925F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 – SM-G900F (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
The functionality of myControl App was tested and works best with the following Android devices:
• Google Nexus 6P (Android 7.1.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 – SM-G950F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 (USA) – SM-G950U (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 – SM-G930F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 (USA) – SM-G930V (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – SM-G935F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 – SM-920I (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – SM-G925F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 – SM-G900F (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
This app can be used with any hearing aids as a guide for your first fit. The following Signia product families offer full conferencing with your professional as well as access to the full range of programming adjustments.
The following Signia product families offer a more limited range of fine tuning adjustments.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The following Widex product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that the mini CIC’s are not wireless and will not function with these devices.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device. Not compatible with the Audeo B-Direct.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device. Not compatible with the Audeo B-Direct or the Audeo Q-10 products.
*Please note that the Audeo B-Direct, Virto B-Ti, or the Virto nano IIC are not compatible with this product.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device. Not compatible with the Audeo B-Direct or the Audeo Q-10 products.
The following ReSound product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain MIH and ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
The following ReSound product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and many ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
The following ReSound product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and many ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
RC-DEX is designed for basic and easy wireless remote control of your hearing aids.