Bluetooth hearing aids explained: features, benefits, and what to look for

If you’re researching hearing aids for the first time, or thinking about upgrading from an older pair, you’ll quickly come across Bluetooth as a feature. Most modern premium hearing aids now include it as standard, and it’s worth understanding what it actually does in practice before you decide how much it matters to you.

This blog covers how Bluetooth hearing aids work, what you can do with them, the latest developments in the technology, and how to decide whether it’s a feature you’d genuinely use day-to-day.

What are Bluetooth hearing aids?

Bluetooth hearing aids are devices that connect wirelessly to your smartphone, tablet, television (usually with a small TV streaming accessory), or other compatible devices, allowing sound to be streamed directly into your ears without cables.

Once paired with your phone, for example, your hearing aids essentially become a wireless headset. Phone calls, music, podcasts, audiobooks, and TV audio can all be streamed directly into both ears at a volume that works for your hearing loss, rather than relying on the phone’s speaker or a separate pair of headphones.

Pairing is straightforward. Most modern hearing aids connect through your phone’s Bluetooth settings or a companion app (Made for iPhone hearing aids are paired through your iPhone’s accessibility settings instead), and once paired, they reconnect automatically each time you’re in range.

You don’t need to go through the pairing process again. Our guides for iPhone and Android users explain the details.

What can you actually do with Bluetooth hearing aids?

The practical benefits go beyond simply streaming audio. Here’s what Bluetooth connectivity makes possible day to day:

• Phone calls streamed directly to both ears, making conversations clearer and easier to follow without holding the phone to your ear
• Hands-free calling on models, meaning you can speak and listen through your hearing aids with no need to hold your phone at all (whether this works with your phone depends on the brand, so it’s worth checking)
• TV and music streaming directly to your hearing aids, at your preferred volume, without affecting what anyone else in the room can hear
• App control via a companion app on your phone, giving you discreet control over volume, programmes, and settings without touching your hearing aids
• Remote fine-tuning by your audiologist, who can make adjustments to your hearing aids remotely via the app without a clinic visit
• Find my hearing aids functionality, which helps you locate a misplaced hearing aid using your phone

All of the leading brands we stock at The Hearing Shop, including Phonak, Resound, Signia, and Rexton, offer free companion apps that work with their Bluetooth hearing aids on both iPhone and Android.

Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast: what’s coming next

Many of the latest premium hearing aids now support Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, an updated standard that delivers better sound quality, more reliable connections, and significantly lower battery drain compared to older Bluetooth technology.

To use it for streaming, your phone also needs to support LE Audio. Many recent Android phones do, but iPhones don’t yet.

Alongside this, a growing number of hearing aids now support Auracast, a newer broadcast standard that allows hearing aids to connect directly to public sound systems.

In practical terms, this means that in venues equipped with Auracast, you’ll be able to stream audio directly to your hearing aids from theatre performances, station and airport announcements, and other public systems, without needing a loop or any additional accessories.

Auracast is still in its early stages of rollout in public venues, but Resound is currently the only manufacturer with an active Auracast connection rather than simply being Auracast-ready, and Phonak models also support the technology.

Several manufacturers now have models with Auracast switched on, including Resound, Phonak EON Sphere and Oticon Zeal, while others, such as Phonak Infinio Ultra Sphere, are Auracast-ready and waiting for a future update (see our EON Sphere vs Infinio Ultra Sphere comparison).

If future-proof connectivity matters to you, it’s worth looking for models that include active Auracast support rather than just Auracast readiness.

Are Bluetooth hearing aids compatible with all devices?

Most modern hearing aids connect directly to iPhones and Android smartphones without any additional equipment. Older Bluetooth standards sometimes required an intermediary streaming device for Android users, but this has improved significantly with more recent models.

Compatibility does vary between models and manufacturers, so it’s worth checking before you buy, particularly if you use a less common device or want to connect to a Smart TV directly. Our audiologists are happy to confirm compatibility for any specific model before you order.

Bluetooth operates at a range of up to approximately 10 metres from the paired device, and it does not require a Wi-Fi connection to work.

Does Bluetooth affect battery life?

Streaming audio via Bluetooth does use more battery than wearing your hearing aids without streaming. In practice, most modern rechargeable hearing aids are designed to handle a full day of typical use, including several hours of streaming on a single overnight charge.

The newer Bluetooth LE Audio standard is considerably more battery-efficient than older Bluetooth technology, which is one of its main advantages for hearing aid users.

If you stream audio for most of the day, it’s worth checking the battery life specifications for any model you’re considering, particularly when comparing rechargeable options. Our guide to rechargeable vs traditional batteries covers this in more detail.

Our audiologists can help you find the right balance between streaming capability and battery performance based on how you actually use your hearing aids.

Do you need Bluetooth in a hearing aid?

Not necessarily. Bluetooth is a genuinely useful feature for many people, but it isn’t essential for a hearing aid to work well.

If you don’t use a smartphone regularly, rarely watch television alone, and aren’t interested in streaming audio, a non-Bluetooth model may suit you perfectly well and at a lower price.

The customers who tend to get the most from Bluetooth connectivity are those who make regular phone calls, watch television daily, work in environments where calls or audio matter, or value having discreet app control over their settings throughout the day.

“Phone calls are the feature people end up loving most. Hearing a call in both ears, at a volume set for your hearing, makes a huge difference compared with holding a phone to one ear. But if someone rarely uses their phone, I’m always happy to say they don’t need to pay extra for Bluetooth.”

says Beverley Carter, HCPC-registered RHAD, Hearing Shop

If you’re not sure whether Bluetooth would make a real difference to your daily life, it’s a useful question to raise with our audiologists during your free consultation. Our guide on how to choose the right hearing aid may also help.

Bluetooth hearing aids at The Hearing Shop

All of the Bluetooth hearing aids we stock are programmed to your personal hearing test results by our qualified UK audiologists before they’re dispatched, and remote fine-tuning via the companion app is included as standard once you’re wearing your aids day to day. There’s no clinic visit needed at any stage.

Our full range of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids from Phonak, Resound, Signia, Rexton, and more is available at up to 60% less than the high street, with free UK delivery and a 60-day free returns policy on every order.

Get in touch with us about Bluetooth hearing aids

If you have questions about which Bluetooth hearing aids would suit you, or want to check compatibility with a specific device, our qualified UK audiologists are happy to help.

Contact us free, at The Hearing Shop, on 0808 208 5154 to speak with one of our audiologists who can help support and advise you on your hearing loss journey. Alternatively, you can fill in our quick form here and select the best time and day to be contacted.

✒️Written and updated by Beverley Carter, HCPC-Registered RHAD (HAD01644)

FAQs

Can I stream my TV to Bluetooth hearing aids?

Yes, usually with a small TV streaming accessory that plugs into your TV. It sends the sound straight to your hearing aids, so you can set your own volume without changing it for everyone else.

Do Bluetooth hearing aids work with both iPhone and Android?

Yes, most of today’s models work with both. Connection can vary between brands and phones, so just tell us which phone you use, and we’ll check before you buy.

Can I take phone calls without holding my phone?

On many models, yes. The hearing aid microphones pick up your voice, so your phone can stay in your pocket or bag. Whether this works with your phone depends on the brand, so it’s worth asking us.

Does streaming drain the battery?

Streaming does use more power, but most modern rechargeable hearing aids still last a full day, including several hours of streaming, on one overnight charge.

Do I need Bluetooth in my hearing aids?

Not necessarily. If you rarely use your phone or stream audio, a non-Bluetooth model may suit you just as well. If you make regular calls or watch a lot of TV, it’s a feature worth having.