Benefits of TV Streamers for hearing aids

Watching TV with your family when you have hearing loss offers both emotional and practical benefits. While hearing loss can sometimes create barriers to shared experiences, modern technology and communication strategies make it easier to stay engaged and connected.

• Social Connection: Watching TV together fosters quality time and strengthens relationships. It creates opportunities for shared laughter, conversation, and emotional bonding, helping reduce feelings of isolation that often accompany hearing loss.
• Inclusion and Confidence: Being part of a group activity like watching a film or show helps you feel included. With the help of hearing aids or TV streamers, you can follow along confidently without needing others to repeat or explain.
• Improved Communication: Group viewing often leads to discussion, which encourages communication. This gives you a chance to practice listening skills in a relaxed setting, making conversations feel more natural and less pressured.
• Technology Integration: Using hearing aids with TV streamers or subtitles allows you to enjoy the same audio experience as others, leveling the playing field and making shared viewing more enjoyable for everyone. Together, these benefits support both hearing health and family harmony.

Bluetooth streaming with hearing aids

Bluetooth streaming with hearing aids offers a seamless and convenient way to connect to digital devices, enhancing both communication and entertainment. Many modern hearing aids are now equipped with Bluetooth technology, allowing users to wirelessly stream audio directly from smartphones, tablets, TVs, and other compatible devices. This means phone calls, music, podcasts, and even GPS directions can be heard clearly and directly through the hearing aids, without the need for additional headsets.

For iPhone users, many hearing aids are “Made for iPhone” (MFi), offering  direct streaming without extra accessories. Android users can benefit from similar features through Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio or by using small intermediary devices called streamers that relay the signal to the hearing aids.

Bluetooth streaming provides a personalized listening experience. Users can adjust volume and settings via apps, often in real time. This level of connectivity not only supports better hearing in daily life but also helps users stay more socially and emotionally connected. For individuals with hearing loss, Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids offer greater independence, convenience, and enjoyment of modern technology.

Hearing aid TV streamer: things to know

A hearing aid TV streamer is a helpful accessory that allows sound from your television to stream directly into your hearing aids, offering clearer, more personalized audio without raising the TV volume for others. It enhances speech clarity and reduces background noise, making it easier to follow dialogue and enjoy programs comfortably.

Most TV streamers connect to your television using standard audio cables or Bluetooth and then transmit the sound wirelessly to compatible hearing aids. This is especially beneficial for individuals who struggle to hear the TV even at higher volumes or who share a household with others. The streamed audio typically arrives in both ears, providing balanced and immersive sound.

To use a TV streamer, your hearing aids must support streaming technology, such as Bluetooth or proprietary wireless systems. Some streamers may require pairing with a remote control or smartphone app for volume and programme adjustments.

It's important to choose a TV streamer that is compatible with your specific hearing aid model. For the best results, consult your hearing care professional, who can recommend the right device and help set it up for optimal sound quality and comfort.

Hearing aid TV streaming: how it works

Hearing aid TV streaming allows sound from your television to be sent directly to your hearing aids, improving clarity and making it easier to enjoy programs without increasing the volume for others. This technology works by using a dedicated TV streamer device that connects to your television via audio cables or Bluetooth.

Once connected, the TV streamer transmits audio wirelessly to your hearing aids using Bluetooth or a proprietary wireless protocol, depending on the brand. For example, many brands each offer their own TV streaming accessories designed to work exclusively with their hearing aids. The sound is delivered directly to both ears, reducing background noise and echo for a more immersive and personalized listening experience.

To use TV streaming, your hearing aids must be compatible and properly paired with the streaming device. Some hearing aids connect directly, while others may require an intermediary accessory worn around the neck or clipped to clothing . Many systems allow you to control volume and settings via an app or remote. TV streaming with hearing aids offers a clearer, more comfortable way to watch television—especially for those with moderate to severe hearing loss.

Audio streaming for hearing aids: benefits and options

Audio streaming for hearing aids allows users to receive sound directly from digital devices into their hearing aids, offering a clearer and more personalized listening experience. This is especially helpful for phone calls, music, video content, and GPS directions, significantly improving communication and everyday convenience.

For Android users, many modern hearing aids support ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids), a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol developed by Google. ASHA enables direct streaming from compatible Android devices to hearing aids without the need for intermediary accessories. Miracle-Ear offers ASHA-enabled hearing aids, allowing for energy-efficient streaming with excellent sound quality. Benefits of audio streaming include:

• Improved speech clarity during calls or media playback
• Reduced background noise, as audio is sent directly to the ears
• Hands-free convenience, when using phones or voice assistants
• Customizable sound through hearing aid apps

For individuals with hearing loss, audio streaming enhances both accessibility and quality of life. Whether you're using iOS or Android, ensuring your phone and hearing aids support the same streaming standard (such as MFi for iPhone or ASHA for Android) is key to achieving a seamless listening experience.

Can OTC hearing aids offer Bluetooth streaming?

While some over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids now include Bluetooth streaming capabilities, they vary widely in capability. Many OTC devices offer Bluetooth for basic app-based controls, like adjusting the volume or settings, but may not support full audio streaming. Even those that do may have limited compatibility or performance compared to prescription hearing aids.

At Miracle-Ear, our Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids are professionally fitted and customized to your unique hearing and lifestyle needs. They allow you to stream audio directly from your smartphone, TV, or other compatible devices, giving you a seamless, high-quality listening experience.