Advancements in modern technology have made hearing aids grow more technologically advanced, adding numerous digital features that enhance your hearing experience. With similar advancements in personal usage and wearable technology, how can your hearing aids connect to these devices? First, it is important to note that not all hearing aids have this type of compatibility, Miracle-Ear hearing aids that do have this feature will be listed later in the article. Learn how you can pair your hearing aids to all types of tech tools to bring you a fully connected and convenient hearing experience.
A common piece of technology found in modern hearing aids is Bluetooth®, a wireless technology that allows short-range connection between two devices. When implemented in hearing aids, Bluetooth enables users to stream sound directly into their hearing aids as if they were wearing a set of headphones or earbuds. This means that by having hearing aids connect to computer or phone audio, hearing aid wearers can enjoy clearer phone calls and video chats free from distractions. Luckily, the procedure to connect hearing aids to computer audio is simple. Here is a step-by-step guide for how to connect hearing aids to laptop or personal computer audio.
Remember that this procedure to connect a hearing aid to computer audio might change slightly depending on your specific hearing aid type, brand and model. Additionally, settings might look different on different tech devices, such as attempting to connect Bluetooth hearing aids to laptop audio compared to trying to connect Bluetooth hearing aids to PC desktop computers. Read your product’s user manuals for precise directions—if you don’t have the manual at hand, a quick Internet search of the product name plus “user manual” will generally turn up a digital version.
Need a guide to connect hearing aids to a laptop to a specific brand? Explore below to find a step-by-step procedure for Windows and iOS.
To connect hearing aids to MacBook audio:
Keep in mind that the process for how to connect hearing aids to MacBook Air systems versus how to connect hearing aids to MacBook Pro settings might be slightly different depending on the year of the device and small changes in design.
To connect Bluetooth hearing aids to Windows computers:
Similarly to MacBooks, there might be some small differences in the process to connect your hearing aids depending on the version of Windows installed on your computer. If you are experiencing challenges connecting your device, Microsoft offers online Windows 10 hearing aid support as well as Windows 11 hearing aid forums to find solutions.
While computers and other personal tech devices are easily connected to hearing aids, getting your smartwatch to work with hearing aids can vary depending on the type of device and its hearing aid compatibility. If you’re still shopping for a smartwatch, be sure to either ask a salesperson or do a specific Internet search to find a fully hearing aid-compatible smartwatch.
Because hearing aids aren’t always completely compatible with these devices, there aren’t universal “best smartwatches for hearing aids.” However, the basic features of smartwatches must support some connectivity features that hearing aid wearers can use to their advantage. Depending on your smartwatch, your hearing aids could be used for different purposes: If the smartwatch has an A2DP profile, the hearing aid could be used to connect and listen to music. If the smartwatch offers an HFP profile, it could be connected for phone calls. If this is the case for your device, your hearing aid can be adjusted directly from your watch.
While the technology is still evolving, there are ways to connect your smartwatch to your hearing aids. Explore instructions for pairing smartwatches for hearing aids usage.
To connect hearing aids to an Apple Watch:
Once your watch displays an Apple Watch/hearing aid connection, you can utilize all of the normal functions of the watch, but hear any related sounds directly through the hearing aids. Once you’ve completed the steps to pair hearing aids to your Apple Watch, you can even use your iPhone’s Apple Watch app to adjust the volume of your hearing aids, depending on your model of hearing aids.
To set a smartwatch to work with hearing aids:
If you have more than one hearing aid, you may need to connect each individual hearing aid on your smartwatch’s list of available devices to fully pair any smartwatches for hearing aids use. Remember that smartwatch-hearing aids compatibility, as well as the procedure to connect a smartwatch to hearing aids, will vary by device. As discussed above, not every smartwatch is a hearing aid compatible smartwatch, so review your type and model before connecting.
Tablets are great for so many uses—from video calls to checking email to watching videos—and their larger size makes them easier for many people to use. Connecting hearing aids to a tablet can improve your listening experience, especially on calls and when streaming entertainment. To connect a tablet to hearing aids, follow these steps to set up a direct Bluetooth connection. How to connect hearing aids to tablets:
Remember that this procedure may look slightly different depending on your device. Explore step-by-step instructions for how to connect your hearing aids to tablets like Apple iPads and Android tablets.
To make an iPad-hearing aid connection:
Remember that iPad-hearing aid compatibility and the process to connect may look slightly different depending on the type and model of both of your devices. If you’re wondering why your hearing aids won’t pair with an iPad, the first step you should always take is powering off and then restarting both devices. Once you’ve restarted, follow the steps above once again.
To pair hearing aids an Android tablet:
Keep in mind that the above process works best with an Android tablet running Windows versions 10.0 or later. The process might look different depending on your device and brand. In some cases, connecting a tablet to hearing aids might require downloading additional apps to adjust your devices
