My iPhone unexpectadly connects to my hearing aids, what to do?

My hearing aids are a very important accessibility aid: I need them to hear sirens and pull over, to hear what my loved ones say to me; to be able to make and receive phone calls. They’re NOT an optional extra. I also need my phone to connect to them to provide navigation, notifications, and feedback. Of course, while my phone is connected to my hearing aids, they’re not doing their normal job of letting me hear the world around me.

Idle games and other apps typically have background music, and the phone connects to my hearing aids to play it. Even if I select the “off” setting for game sounds, the app maintains the phone’s Bluetooth connection to my hearing aids, rendering me deaf. This is a hazard if I am driving (with the app in the background, obviously) or walking on the street; and a handicap all the time. It also drains the hearing aid battery.

How do I prevent specific apps from connecting via Bluetooth, while still letting the phone and navigation functions connect and disconnect as usual?

#ADA #accessability

[Re-Titled by Moderator]