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Anyone using new Phonak hearing aides and TV connector?
I've had Oticon hearing aides for over 4 years but when I upgraded from iPhone 6 to iPhone14, the Oticon TV adaptor quit working. I then upgraded to new Phonak hearing aides and new Phonak TV connector which all work great. The Phonak app shows battery levels, and its great to have rechargable batteries. With the new hearing aides on, I can talk with my wife Charlotte 2 rooms away now. Previously we had to be the same room. Have others had such improvement with new hearing aides?
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This stumps many of us who are 'in the know' about supporting this feature. We have worked hard to advocate for communication access in public places. If it were not for my discovery of The Hearing Loss Assn. of America Inc. years ago, I might not know about telecoils.
Providers push BT. It justifies the high cost of the product. Both BT and telecoils require a bit of time spent by the provider to educate.
Providers often refer to telecoils as 'old technology'. It is. It has been around for decades and was first developed to connect hearing aids to landline phones; thus the name 'telecoil'. It does so much more. In fact, it doubles the value of a hearing instrument.
The reality is: It is still a viable technology that assures communication access in so many venues. It is the key to hearing without debilitating background noise in those places. BT is wonderful. It provides access to personal devices.
In a looped venue, only one microphone system is needed to connect with everyone in the room who has telecoils. To use your BT device in the same venue would require the speaker to have a separate microphone for everyone who wants to use the system. Visualize a speaker with 20 microphones pinned on to his/her shirt! Loops connect directly to the PA system.
HLAA chapters have been largely responsible for advocating for communication access. http://www.hearingloss.org
Do you know if there is an HLAA chapter in your area?
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2 ReactionsYes there are a few in my state NC
I will write my audiologist about this. I see her to finalize purchase of new Resound hearing aids + small device.
Fiddling with my phone all the time was aggravating. I didn't even know my hearing aids could work or adjusted without my cell phone on my person.
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1 ReactionMy Phonak does have an app for iPhone14 which shows current battery charge level for each hearing aide. But I just use rocker switch on my hearing aides to turn up or down sound level which works with TV adaptor independent of the TV speaker volume.
I wonder how others feel about having to have their phone on hand at all times?
This concerns me also as I'm about to upgrade to the N8 Cochlear Processor. That also uses the phone. The N6, which I am currently using can be set to use with buttons on the processor, or with a remote control (or both). I find that using the buttons, as awkward as that can be sometimes, is the easiest way to go. Guess I'm going to have to learn new tricks.
Audiologists need to do more counseling. It takes time. Time is _______.
There are other devices that work in restaurants. Most of them are add on technologies that work with your hearing aids. That's a whole 'nother thing. 🙂
Churches are exempt from the Disabilities Act regulations, but worship centers as a whole have been the most generous in getting technology installed. Reality is: YOU have to ask for it. They may tell you they have a system; possibly an FM system or an Infrared System (IR). Those systems require receivers and usually come with headphones or earbuds. However, you can use the telecoil if you plug in a 'neckloop'. That basically creates a 'looped you', as you are inside the looped circle. Turn telecoils on and you will hear well. Neckloops cost between $40 - $60 and are worth every penny. I use mine with my cell phone, my laptop, a portable radio, and other audio devices. Easier than BT in many ways.
Now that you are aware of hearing loops, are you willing to do the education and advocacy needed to get your church 'in the loop'?
Gads! You are so fortunate to be able to understand conversation two rooms away.
My question is in regard to the t.v. connection: When there is a pause for a few seconds in the speech of a character on the t.v., does your connection from the hearing aid to the t.v. set turn off. In other words, the audio disappears for maybe 15 seconds when there is a pause in speech or a short quiet spell by one of the characters. I use iPhone 14 pro and Phonak RT90 ... all fairly new.
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1 ReactionIt sounds like we have the same Phonak and iPhone14 setup.
I do get short pauses when watching Peacock streaming channel which cuts out all the adds. But it resumes quickly without me doing anything.
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1 ReactionI asked audiologist about telecoils. She said they are not available in the resound hearing aids I’m getting because they are the most inexpensive. And we could talk about it in May. When I think I’m going to pick up my new resounds. So I just said never mind. I just want to be done with this. I’d never have known to ask you hadn’t mentioned on this forum.
Hmmm.... I wonder if depends on the streaming network? I am using: Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV. The delay can easily be as long as 15 seconds before the audio turns back on.
Thank you for your comments.