Will made for iPhone hearing aids soon be able to accept direct streaming from Apple TV and or MacBooks, etc?

I‘m considering a purchase of a made for iPhone hearing aid. As I understand it, iPad and iPhone can stream directly into the aid. It would seem like a major selling point to add that functionality to Apple TV and Macs. Any Apple Experts know if this is in the works? The aids aren’t cheap and I would like to make sure it’s worth the purchase. I own an iPad, an iPhone, an Apple TV, and a MacBook. I‘m grateful for the inclusivity to those of us with disabilities that Apple offers, which is why they get my money, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Thank you to any that take the time to read my question and respond.

Posted on Sep 30, 2018 1:09 PM

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7 replies

Oct 1, 2018 3:06 PM in response to anglbby77

I don't know the answer, but I stream direct from my TV and computer to my ReSound Enzo 9 3d MFIHAs with a permanently connected Resound TV Unite on the TV , and a ReSound Mini-Mic permanently plugged in to my computer.


I just have to select TV or Mini-Mic on the ReSound app on my watch or phone.


If the capability was going to be built in to the TV or computer we would be limited to choosing Made-For-Apple TVs or PCs, which would probably severely limit choice, but you can use the streaming devices with any TV or PC.

Oct 3, 2018 12:30 AM in response to anglbby77

I don't know anything about CostCo.....do they have in house audiologists? I think a key element in buying the right things and getting it all working is a good audiologist. You need one who keeps up to speed with latest developments in iPhone use. Not an old school one who thinks hearing aids are just hearing aids, and does not understand the extra capabilities now possible.

Oct 1, 2018 5:10 PM in response to mikebhm

Thank you for responding, Mike. Although I’ve been hearing impaired all my life I don’t really know how streaming devices work. If I understand correctly, they stream on the telecoil setting on the hearing aid. I have never purchased a streamer for this reason. When I use the telecoil setting to make a phone call I can hear the call but nothing else. I have young children so if I was say watching tv while they were having breakfast would I hear the tv show but not my children? This is what appeals to me about direct streaming. Maybe I’m understanding direct streaming incorrectly, but as I understand, it just streams. So I wouldn’t have to be on the telecoil setting and therefore able to hear more than just what’s streaming. I don’t watch much tv anyway but just thought maybe I would if I could have it stream directly. Captions, of course, are extremely helpful, but do require you sit there and read them. Not always possible for me. As a parent I’m also concerned about the content of the media my children watch. They’ve stumbled on not so great items, even on YouTube kids, and I’m totally unaware until my teenager or husband realizes this. If I could stream what my children are watching, I could make better decisions regarding their media usage. Thoughts? Suggestions? Sorry I’m a rambler 😞. Thanks again.

Oct 2, 2018 5:32 PM in response to mikebhm

You’ve given me so much great info, Mike. Thank you very much. A lot to look into. Costco has some made for iPhones at a very reasonable price. I’m considering one of those. I’m completely deaf in one ear and moderately severe to profoundly deaf in the other, so I only wear one aid. I’m a homebody so I think the Costco aid may be sufficient for me as I guess it’s a defeatured product made by a name brand. I believe there’s a mic and a tv streamer that can be purchased as well. Not sure if there’s a way for you to direct message me if there’s anything else you’d like to share that could be of assistance? Technology sure is a wonderful thing. Thanks again for all this wonderful information. 😊

Oct 14, 2018 4:19 AM in response to anglbby77

Yes the latest MFI hearing aids and iPhone are the most expensive route. Many of the same capabilities can be done much more cheaply (but less conveniently and automatically) on loop systems.


Some TVs have the option to control the headphone output and TV speakers separately so that it wouldn't cut out the speakers when your device is plugged in. You would have to poke around in your TV settings to find this. If you can't you will have to plug your streamer into the audio out socket at the back of the TV. You would probably need a simple adapter to be able to do this.

Oct 10, 2018 4:32 PM in response to mikebhm

There’s definitely a cost factor for me, Mike. I recently stopped working. After all your great info I decided to try the Clarity CE50 HearIt Mobile as reviewers on Amazon said they stream music etc through this device. Purchased on eBay for about $17.00. On my iPhone it did work for a test phone call, but not music or YouTube (maybe I did something wrong). On my Samsung TV it did stream Netflix into my telecoil but then I couldn’t hear anything else and no one else could hear the tv except me. There’s so much for me to learn about all this. I’m thinking of trying Costco mainly because of the price. According to what I read, it seems some locations have actual audiologists and others have “hearing aid professionals”. It looks like I also need a telecoil plus microphone setting which I currently do not have. I’ve never been choosy about a hearing aid, just took what my audiologist suggested. I’m only on my second hearing aid of my life. Both have been Siemens/Signia brand (motions model). Your information is such a great help and a great starting point for me to learn about all this and hopefully make a good choice. Thank you. angelinabliss@yahoo.com

Oct 1, 2018 11:52 PM in response to anglbby77

Made for iPhone Hearings Aids (MFIHAs) use a 2.4Ghz wireless connection to stream the sound from the TV, MultiMic or MiniMic to your aids, not the induction loop system. You have independent control of the volume of what is being streamed and what is coming into your ears through the hearing aid microphones. So if you want to watch TV and hear people in the same room talking you can do that, or if you want to shut out all background noise you can do that.


With TV it is also important that plugging in the TV Streamer does not turn off the TV speakers if you are watching with other people. You can plug it into the headphone socket if your TV allows independent control of headphone and speakers, or into an audio-out socket if it does not.


The TV Streamer works really well, and the MultiMic has transformed hiking, cycling and driving with my wife. She clips the MultiMic to her collar and I can hear her clearly. We can have a normal conversation in the car, where I choose to reduce the background noise.


I keep a second MiniMic plugged into my computer the whole time, so my computer works like the TV.


Music or phone calls streamed to your aids from your phone work similarly except these use bluetooth instead of 2.4Ghz wireless. Sometimes you want to block out all background noise and sometimes you don't. Making a phone call in a noisy place is where you would block out the background, but in normal phone use I do not to block out the background as it is disconcerting not being able to hear your own voice on a phone call.


The only time I ever use the loop is in theatres or public places where it is very rarely any help. A few churches I have been in have been excellent, but theatres and banks etc not.


Buying my first MFIHAs four years ago transformed life for me, but this whole subject is not simple or cheap, and it doesn't work well for everyone, as these forms testify. There is a lot to learn but it is very well worth while. When I bought my MFIHAs in 2014 I had an iPhone 6 on iOS 9 (think) and the HAs were first generation ReSound Enzo 9. I now have an iPhone X on iOS12 and third generation Enzo 9s and they work much better, but not perfectly. It is still new technology which is improving all the time.

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Will made for iPhone hearing aids soon be able to accept direct streaming from Apple TV and or MacBooks, etc?

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