Hearing aids stop caller from hearing me!

Question

Level 1

4 points

Hearing aids stop caller from hearing me!

My iPhone is a 13 pro Max. I have had no problems until recently, expecially after IOS 26.6 update.

If I answer, or initiate, a call with my Phonak hearing aids on, the caller cannot hear me until I move to speaker. This is consistent no matter what I have tried. The speaker setting works well, but I would prefer to use my hearing aids like I have for years.

Has anyone seen this issue and how do I fix it?

Any and all assistence will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

...Gary

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Aug 24, 2026 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 24, 2026 4:01 PM in response to GaryWillett

Phonak has generally not done the heavy lifting required to connect the hearing Aid input using MFI Hearing Aid rules.

That suggests your diagnosis of the issue is likely EXACTLY correct -- that the Hearing Aid microphone is not being picked up as an appropriate input for Phone calls. You can hear the caller, but you need to TALK into the butt end of your iPhone.

Many older MFI Hearing Aids worked that way as well, but more recent ones allow you to use the Hearing Aid microphone for calls -- but ONLY after signaling your intention to do so at the Hearing Aid. On mine (Resound Vivia) you double-tap the Hearing Aid (or your ear) to provide that signal. The built-in accelerometer sees that as the signal.

This feature does require that the Hearing Aid maker provide some way to complete the connection from the Hearing Aid microphone to Bluetooth back to the iPhone in some fashion, AND a way to say NOW is the time to send the microphone data out over Wi-Fi. Otherwise you become walking Wi-Fi broadcast booth.

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Answer 2

MrHoffman

Level 10

161,345 points

Aug 24, 2026 3:55 PM in response to GaryWillett

GaryWillett wrote:

No, 26.6.1 did not help.

I have not contacted Phonak support yet, as I went here first.

I'd think the hearing aid vendor would know their own products best, and would know if there are any relevant issues in their hardware or software, or issues or workarounds in iOS.

I've not seen widespread reports of Bluetooth audio reports around here, and the Bluetooth gear I'm familiar with is working without issues. There are a couple of reports of Phonak, but no clear cause.

Many of these Phonak models appear to be Bluetooth audio devices — and lots of gear around uses Bluetooth audio — while other Phonak models require a third-party app.

https://www.phonak.com/en-us/support/knowledge-base/articles/connecting-phonak-hearing-aid-to-an-iphone

Restarting everything might clear some issues with Bluetooth, and un-pairing and re-pairing is also a common troubleshooting technique.

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