Suealpha Author

Level 1

8 points

Can my MacBook Pro be paired by Bluetooth with my hearing aids?

My iPhone works well by Bluetooth with my hearing aids, which are made by Signia; the model name is Stretta Stretta Aya M.

The hearing aid clinic audiologist helped me pair the hearing aids with my iPhone when she first fitted them. At a later appointment, after I had failed to pair them with my MacBook, I asked a different audiologist if this should be possible. She didn't know and consulted one of her colleagues, and this person (who I didn't meet) *seemed to think* that the MacBook pairing was not possible.

Perhaps this person was right, but I'd really like to be sure before I give up as it would be so good to be able to listen to sound from the MacBook without inconveniencing my husband AND without wearing headphones.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Feb 9, 2024 3:35 PM

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Top-ranking reply

Level 8

39,205 points

Posted on Feb 10, 2024 6:44 PM

Hi Suealpha

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!

Re: Can my MacBook Pro be paired by Bluetooth with my hearing aids?

Am no expert in this area, yet your question surely deserves some response.

It seems your audiologists may be right, technically, about pairing not being possible.

Seems the Signia Stretta Stretta Aya M is not in the list of Hearing Aids that use bidirectional streaming, so they may not be compatibile with the Mac.

List of Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support (bi-directional streaming is marked *)

_____________________________

Yet a MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 or later with macOS Sonoma 14 or later is compatible with some "Made for iPhone" (MFi) Hearing (those marked * that use bidirectional streaming).

If you want to check which MacBook Pro model (year) you are using:

try Apple menu > "About this Mac"

____________________________________

More info: Apple Support's online articles:

Re: compatibility: "Made for iPhone hearing devices can be paired only with selected Mac computers with the M1 chip, and all Mac computers with the M2 or M3 chip".

_________

Re: pairing: If your hearing devices are already paired to another nearby device, such as an iPhone or iPad, make sure Bluetooth® is turned off on those devices. (When you finish pairing your hearing devices to your Mac, you can turn Bluetooth on again on those devices.)

Above info. from : Use hearing devices with your Mac - Apple Support

How to: Change Hearing Devices settings for accessibility on Mac - Apple Support

__________________________

Re: it would be so good to be able to listen to sound from the MacBook without inconveniencing my husband AND without wearing headphones.

While not ideal, there is an alternative that may be useful in some situations:

About: macOS accessibility features for hearing - Apple Support has info. on using live captions

All the best :-)

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3 replies

Top-ranking reply

Level 8

39,205 points

Feb 10, 2024 6:44 PM in response to Suealpha

Hi Suealpha

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!

Re: Can my MacBook Pro be paired by Bluetooth with my hearing aids?

Am no expert in this area, yet your question surely deserves some response.

It seems your audiologists may be right, technically, about pairing not being possible.

Seems the Signia Stretta Stretta Aya M is not in the list of Hearing Aids that use bidirectional streaming, so they may not be compatibile with the Mac.

List of Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support (bi-directional streaming is marked *)

_____________________________

Yet a MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 or later with macOS Sonoma 14 or later is compatible with some "Made for iPhone" (MFi) Hearing (those marked * that use bidirectional streaming).

If you want to check which MacBook Pro model (year) you are using:

try Apple menu > "About this Mac"

____________________________________

More info: Apple Support's online articles:

Re: compatibility: "Made for iPhone hearing devices can be paired only with selected Mac computers with the M1 chip, and all Mac computers with the M2 or M3 chip".

_________

Re: pairing: If your hearing devices are already paired to another nearby device, such as an iPhone or iPad, make sure Bluetooth® is turned off on those devices. (When you finish pairing your hearing devices to your Mac, you can turn Bluetooth on again on those devices.)

Above info. from : Use hearing devices with your Mac - Apple Support

How to: Change Hearing Devices settings for accessibility on Mac - Apple Support

__________________________

Re: it would be so good to be able to listen to sound from the MacBook without inconveniencing my husband AND without wearing headphones.

While not ideal, there is an alternative that may be useful in some situations:

About: macOS accessibility features for hearing - Apple Support has info. on using live captions

All the best :-)

Reply

Suealpha Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 11, 2024 2:24 AM in response to brbo

Thank you, brbo, for an exceptionally helpful – though disappointing – response.

My MacBook Pro was made in 2018. Interestingly, I was in our local iStore only last week and the technician explained about the non-Intel processors now being used in the most recent MacBooks, and what a big difference they made. He did not mention the hearing aid implications but, in the light of how significant he suggested the change was, I am not surprised.

The List of Made for iPhone hearing devices features my hearing aids (or, rather, names that are almost certainly close enough to the name my iPhone Settings displays for them) but it makes clear beyond doubt that it is impossible for my hearing aids to be paired with my Mac. Bad news, but conclusive, and the latter is valuable. Incidentally, the issue preventing what I'd really like is not what the NHS supplies to me but the fact that I do not have the latest Apple technology. I am really very happy in every other way with my lovely MacBook Pro, so I'll just have to stop yearning for headphone-free listening to music, etc!

Thank you again so much.

Reply

Level 8

39,205 points

Feb 11, 2024 3:03 PM in response to Suealpha

Thank you kindly for your thoughtful reply, and details. Sorry it seems that neither your hearing aids, nor your Mac, are able able to use bidirectional streaming.

I guess you have checked whether the hearing aids happen to pair with the Mac anyway.

It seems too, that Signia make an app for use with iPhone, and iPad, but not for Mac.

On another "tack", and in the light of your information, if someone were to present you with a pair of airPods, they may give you listening ability with your Mac. It seems there is a new feature with AirPods that is proving helpful to those with hearing challenges. Again, am no expert with hearing technologies, and your hearing specialist is the one who knows your hearing needs.

About: AirPods Pro and AirPods Max Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode - Apple Support

How to: Set up AirPods with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices - Apple Support

All the best :-)

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Can my MacBook Pro be paired by Bluetooth with my hearing aids?

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