Hand held microphones that can be used with hearing aids

Early in my hearing loss journey used an FM streamer with my HAs. Now i use the same mini-mike I used with both HAs with my HA+CI hybrid system. Super duper!

I am a hearing aid user, and have found the TV streamer to be a Godsend!! Prior to buying the streamer, I used closed captioning 100% of the time when watching TV, due to a lack of clarity. The streamer removes any background noise, and makes listening so much clearer and easier. I am able to adjust my volume independently from the TV, so everyone listens at their own comfort level. I no longer use CC. In selected situations, I also use the "listen live" microphone feature on my iPhone in conjunction with my hearing aids. It can be helpful in noisy environments, but I find that people tend to be curious when I hold/point the iPhone in their direction. I typically have to explain that I am not recording them, but am simply using the microphone feature for my hearing aids. Best wishes!!!

Using a hand held microphone, streamer, etc. is visible. How do we feel about that? Personally, I've found that when it appears I'm helping myself, other people are more willing to help me. Frequently when using a hand held mike in a restaurant, young wait staff will ask what it is. That gives me the opportunity to say that it helps me hear them, etc. Most times the response is "That's really cool! I'm going to tell my mom, dad or grandparents about that." Our hearing loss may be invisible, but some of the best help to keep us in the hearing mainstream means letting it show!

Hello Bec, I cannot see well so hopefully: Can this hand held microphone help me by looking at an object in my hand in the grocery store and read to me the fine letters and price numbers on it? Miracle of miracles. Peach

@peach414144, In case you are not aware, If you have a smartphone, you can use the accessibility features to magnify what you see in the camera app.
Tony in Michigan

Thank you so much for caring but I cannot see well enough to use an eye phone. You are appreciated for yourself. So much is lost for the low vision persons. Quite a bit of lost sales for the companies who are not considering the low vision people in many aspects. Pass it on please. There is much money to be made from us "The Low Vision People". Will some one please invent a hand held seeing and speaking device and not the 5,000 or 10,000 dollar ones. Bless you for caring. Peach

@julieo4
Hi,

What’s the name of your mini mic.? I have used the Pocket talker in the past but no longer like the sound and it is too much to carry around. I have Phonak aids and tried their accessories and the experience was awful as it picked up too much environmental noise and did little to enhance speech recognition.
I did not try the Roger accessories after listening to some personal experiences from people I know.

I have an Android and rely on Live Transcribe and the Otter App (free version). I would not mind using a wireless mini mic so would be interested in knowing what you use. And , like you said when people responded to your use of the mini mic, most people think my apps are so cool too.

FL Mary

when i use the "listen live" feature on my iPhone, i also get a lot of environmental noise. it doesn't have any type of noise filtration. it is beneficial when the person i want to hear is pithing 2-3 feet of my iPhone.

@imallears, I know you asked Julie but I feel I needed to chime in. Can I assume you used the neckloop to get the sounds into your hearing aids from the Pocketalker? If so, you mentioned that it picked up too much environmental noise. Keep in mind that the hearing aid telecoil has its own programming. The audiologist sets that up. You can get the noise cancellation algorithms added to your telecoil programming. You will have a much better experience, I guarantee. Also, you mentioned that others were not pleased with the Roger. As you probably know, the Roger is a Phonak product. I've used the Roger Pen with my Starkey's and more recently with my Resounds. I had to use the Roger accessory, the MyLink, with my telecoils, to be able to use it. I was impressed with the quality of the sound of the Roger, especially considering having to use additional hardware (and more chance for signal distortion) to make it work.
Tony in Michigan

@bec, I do not like the Live Listen feature either. The phone mic picks up everything and that is sent to the hearing aids. I'm not sure if the audiologist has control of that or not. I cannot think of a good use for that feature unless the noise filtering could be added.
Tony in Michigan