iOS 11 does not work correctly with MFi hearing aids and Apple MUST fix this ASAP, right?

I purchased new Resound hearing aids days after I upgraded to IOS11 and iPhone 8....they have never worked correctly and it makes phone integration less than useless as performance is totally unpredicable. I thought 11.1 would help, nope, then 11.1.1, nope, then 11.1.2 still a problem. I agree this is a major problem and one would think that Apple could solve this problem for those of us with hearing issues......

BobPort,

First off, I would like to thank you for your service.

Secondly, I am saddened to hear that you're unable to use your hearing aids with your iPhone. Since none of us in the Apple Support Communities work for Apple, we can't change the software ourselves.

I would recommend that you submit a feedback to Apple directly using the following link: http://apple.com/feedback/ .

Hope this helps,

Richard

I have the Resound Linx hearing aid and it works perfectly with my iPhone X and iOS 11.2. I've had this since I got my iPhone 7, and have gone through all of the iOS updates. Are you using the Resound Smart app on your iPhone? I would suggest that you remove the device from the phone and start the paring process via Accessibility all over again. Your audiologist should be able to assist you in doing that, or you can contact Resound support.

Nice to hear it's working for you, yes, I'm using the Resound Smart app, but I have not removed the device and add it back, I'll give that a try. I'm using the Resound hearing aids sold by Costco. I'll also make a point of checking to see if there are any firmware updates for my devices. Too bad they are not installed via the Resound Smart app!

To be honest, they were very easy to install by going to Settings>General>Accessibility>MFi Hearing Devices. When you got the devices, your audiologist should have taken you through pairing the devices to your phone. If they didn't, then time to look for a new audiologist. Mine would not let me leave until all of that was set up, tested phone calls, and adjustments with the app.

I'm hoping the remove and add back will make the iOS integration more reliable. It will be easy for me to notice any improvements as soon as I get my first phone call, or listen to a podcast. If this works, I'm going to feel rather stupid, as I really should have tried this after EVERY OS update. I suppose with the strange behaviors I've notice in iOS 11 and 10.13.x I just assume it's an Apple issue rather than some oddity of my system. FYI I'm using an iPhone 8+ would have gotten the X but I didn't want to wait, will pick one up next cycle.

It isn't unusual for Bluetooth devices to not always work well when you get a new phone and restore that new device from the backup of an older one. Things can hang over and cause the issue, the identification of the Bluetooth devices doesn't match, and other things. It should work for you after that. I had to do that once with my older phone after an update, and it never caused a problem again. You should be fine, but if you do have a problem, either your audiologist, or Resound support should help.

I'm both registered blind and have hearing loss. I have ReSound Linx 9 hearing aids which I purchased nearly three years ago. In the early days, I was frustrated with performance issues in iPhone connectivity with the hearing aids but these eventually settled down and I have become increasingly dependent on the combination of VoiceOver (the talking iPhone interface for the blind) and my Made For iPhone (MFi) hearing aids. I'd expected maybe a minor problem or two with iOS 11. Blind users had to wait for iOS 11.1 to fix serious bugs in VoiceOver, but I'm incredibly disappointed now that even after iOS 11.2.1 is released, my hearing aids still don't connect either fast or reliably with my new iPhone 8 and that I'm having to turn off Bluetooth and avoid using the MFi feature in order to use my iPhone with VoiceOver at all. I think it would be fair to say that performance with iOS 11/iPhone 8 is the worst it has ever been. Ironically, the hearing aids still work fine with an old iPhone 5 running iOS 10. The iPhone 8 and ReSound Linx are premium products and I think it's reasonable to expect them to work. Apple seem to have scant regard for the MFi hearing aids community and we are obviously way down their priority list for bug fixes. I reported several bugs along with Bluetooth system logs, but I suspect that was a waste of time because Apple were probably already well aware of the issues. In desperation, I've asked my audiologist to order a ReSound Clip, the device which uses standard Bluetooth to talk to the iPhone and then speaks to the hearing aids with the low energy Bluetooth that the MFi standard uses. I'm hoping that this will bypass Apple's awful support for MFi hearing aids since it will be using the same kind of connectivity that Apple Airpods use (at least I think that's the case), and I'm guessing that Airpods are higher on Apple's bug fix priority list. I'll report back if this works. If I go down this route, it will cost me several hundred pounds sterling in order to avoid using the MFi direct connection between my iPhone 8 and my hearing aids. In view of Apple's apparent lack of interest in supporting those with hearing loss, I'm beginning to wonder if we would all be best avoiding MFi hearing aid products altogether. Apple's incredibly skilled software teams seem to be directed by management to pay much more attention to animating piles of poop for launch demonstrations than to ensuring that their products continue to work for users with disabilities. Maybe it would be best if Apple withdrew the MFi hearing aid standard if they're not prepared to devote resources to making it continue to work. I've always been an ardent supporter of Apple products but the company's increasingly sloppy software quality control in so many fields is leading me to reevaluate my brand loyalty. Rant ends ;-)

Bob, you're right to expect your iPhone 8 and hearing aids to work correctly together. We should all keep pressing Apple to support their users with disabilities better. I'm pretty confident that this is an Apple issue and that is confirmed by my audiologist. I suggest that you also email accessibility@apple.com to let them know your individual story. It's important that we all let Apple know that we feel they have let us down badly. With best wishes, Brian

It looks as if Apple won't be fixing issues with MFi hearing aids before 2018 now. As I mentioned earlier, I need excellent iPhone connectivity so that I can use my iPhone with VoiceOver, the speaking interface for the blind. I decided to experiment with Resound's phone clip, which sits between the iPhone and the hearing aids. This device clips on to clothing and is paired with the Resound hearing aids using low energy bluetooth so that the low energy bluetooth connection is between two Resound devices. The important thing is that the clip talks to the iPhone using standard bluetooth and this avoids depending on Apple's buggy low energy bluetooth code. I have the clip on approval, but I think I'm going to keep it since, using it, iPhone connectivity to my Resound Linx hearing aids is now near perfect again. It was wonderful to get it back, but it's going to cost me £200. I would definitely have preferred Apple to fix the bugs much earlier. If others are still experiencing problems, then please let Apple know by emailing accessibility@apple.com . It seems that we won't get Apple to prioritise our issues unless they know it's a big issue for many of us.Seasons Greetings to you all.

I am glad I finally took the time to google this. I thought it was an iPhone X issue but it’s iOS. That doesn’t make it better but now I know it’s not just me. I’m looking for a job and I hear best through my phone paired hearing aids. This lost connection is so frustrating. After years of reliability I’m struggling. I hope Apple fixes this and soon! I have Beltone HA. So sorry I upgraded my phone, but my 6S battery wasn’t making it through the day and we have all heard that story...

Yes, it's very frustrating. I've reported several hearing aids bugs via accessibility@apple.com and I recently requested a progress report. I was told that Apple are working on these issues but can give no date for a fix. To be honest I think we are low down the priority list, especially given all the other issues that Apple are having to deal with right no. Error reports from a few more of us to accessibility@apple.com could do no harm and may persuade Apple to give us some more priority. The hardware fix that I purchased for my Resound Linx hearing aids gives me reliable, if slightly sluggish, connection and I've been surprised just how much I've come to rely on the hearing aids connection to the iPhone and how wonderful it is to have it back. Let's hope we don't have too long to wait, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Bob, if you're as desperate to get your hearing aids working properly as I was you may be able to purchase a relatively inexpensive device like the one I bought from Resound. It wasn't cheap, but it was a lot cheaper than the hearing aids. Anyway, new hearing aids probably won't help because the bugs are Apple's. I suspect that hearing aid manufacturers are keeping quiet about this because they wouldn't want to be shouting from the rooftops that their products don't work properly - even if it's not their fault. It might be worth checking if a similar device is available for your hearing aids. Actually, it's likely, I think, that a device from any manufacturer would work. Mine talks to the iPhone via standard bluetooth just like any bluetooth phone headset and then relays the signal to the hearing aids via low energy bluetooth, the way the iPhone should if iOS worked properly still. My device cost me £200 her in the UK and I appreciate that's not cheap, but it does work and it will come in handy if Apple reintroduce these bugs assuming they are eventually fixed. Good luck!

BobPort,

I understand the hearing loss. I am a MARINE and between the A-4's, F-4's, A-6 AND working on very loud NHRA race cars and many others over the years I decided to bite the bullet last year and bought a pair of OTICON hearing aids. I have an iPhone 8 plus with IOS 11.2.2 and they work great. So well that I even bought the adapter for TV's so I don't end up fighting with my wife about the volume of the TV. One thing I would like to include here is THIS! Does anyone out there have a solution for tinnitis? I really have it bad in both ears.

I am assuming that you bought your hearings through the VA. I have no idea as to the level of competency is for your Audiologist, and I'm not dinging them in any way, but if I remember correctly she ended up tweaking then. I'm pretty sure she had to upgrade the BIOS on mine along with other changes. I don"t know where you are located (I live outside of Kansas City, KS) but I would look up a private practice and. talk to their Audiologist. Explain your Issues and hopefully they can help you with little to no charge.

Good Luck to you and All Veterans

For any Marines out there: SEMPER FI