External Mic for iPhone

@indydonna My Starkey Hearing Aids (from the VA) have a bluetooth external mic that one can clip on to clothing or be worn with a lanyard. It can operate as a mic so you can set it up by the person giving the lecture or presentation and it will broadcast to your hearing aids. With Starkey there is an app called "Thrive" that you can download to the phone, so the phone serves as the controller.. I assume by 2020 most brands of hearing aids would have this feature.. I use it giving it to my partner who is often in another room and wants to pass on a gem of wisdom..

That sounds fabulous! Unfortunately, I have very old analog aids and although I have tried numerous new aids, I have not been able to hear well with them. My doctors and audiologists have said it's hard for someone who has worn analog aids for 40 years to successfully switch to digital.

Have you tried an FM system at work? I've been out of the workplace since retirement 10 years ago, but used an FM system often when I was working. The technology requires telecoils in your hearing aids to use appropriately for a severe hearing loss. It was a lifesaver for me. I also had to adjust switching from analog to digital. It took some time, but it was worth working on. While external mikes work best when they are close to the speaker, there are microphone devices that can be placed on the center of the table. You are using technology that is rather old, including your iphone, but I know a neckloop can work very well with the iPhone 5. Have you ever tried using a neckloop with your phone? You have to have telecoils to do that too, but thinking that older analog hearing aids might have that feature.

Thank you for your suggestion, but, I don't think bringing in more sound will help. I use telecoil when using the phone, but it has not been much help to improve my speech understanding with FM systems. My hearing loss is at severe/profound level and I pick up much of my speech with lip reading. I have severe recruitment and they are unable to increase the high frequency sounds without causing pain. I was managing pretty well until our Covid mask requirements started. With technology advancements, I hope to find a way for speech to text apps to help me until we can stop wearing our masks.

@indydonna, I have the iPhone 6S and use the Movo PM10 microphone, which also works with my Android.
Tony in Michigan

@indydonna Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Here are a couple of previous discussions that may be of interest to you.

- What are your favorite apps for hearing loss or tools you use? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-are-your-favorite-apps-for-hearing-loss-or-tools-you-use/
- Live Transcribe Problem https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/live-transcribe-problem/

Thanks! Do you know it pick up the sound if it's 6-8 ft from the person speaking?

@indydonna Good luck with the analog.. When I switched it really was not very different, the digital gives so many advantages.. my Starkey Remote mic works 20 feet away.. even in a different area ... the doors are left open so there are no barriers.. Ken

@indydonna, I would not expect any mic to pick up reliable sound at that distance. A table mic would probably work the best. I cannot speak from experience, but I heard that the Roger system, from the hearing aid manufacturer Phonak, works well. What brand of hearing aids or cochlear implant are you using? I may be able to give better information if I know what manufacturer you're using.
Tony in Michigan

@tonyinmi I tested out the Phonak mic system. For a big room the manufacturer recommends 3! and to place them at various places at the table. You can also use one. They link to any hearing aids. The sound quality input directly to the hearing aid was good. Much better than sound through the air. A bit expensive - perhaps a company could pick up the cost? In Canada we can request this - perhaps ;you can too? Lucy in Toronto