It was only a matter of time before major hearing aid manufacturers started finding ways to integrate with Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone, especially after Apple initiated its “Made-for-iPhone Hearing Aid” partnership program in 2012.
In the past several months, three of the “Big Six” hearing aid manufacturers have introduced their own Made for iPhone products:
- GN ReSound was first out of the gate in February with its introduction of the ReSound LiNX and Beltone First hearing aids, the first to provide connectivity and compatibility not only with Apple’s iPhone but also the iPod Touch and iPad Tablet. By receiving wireless low-power Bluetooth audio directly from a smart device, they were the first to eliminate an intermediary streamer.
- Starkey Hearing Technologies last week introduced its Halo Made for iPhone hearing aids. Like the GN ReSound product, it receives wireless transmission direct from Apple smart devices, enhancing phone, music and FaceTime communications while enabling control of the hearing aids from the iPhone.
- And this week, Oticon announced it will make all its wireless hearing aids — an installed base of more than two million units — compatible with the iPhone through a new intermediary streamer that enables wireless control and adjustment of the hearing aids using the phone.
All three companies’ products include apps that work on the iPhone to provide wireless control of the hearing aids, enabling treble, bass and volume adjustments and activation of program settings for various listening environments. The Starkey and GN ReSound products also utilize the geo-location capabilities of the Apple products to provide a “find-my-hearing-aid” function.
It’s all very cool stuff — unusual for the normally staid hearing aid industry — making manufacturers optimistic that teaming with one of the hottest consumer products and best-known brand names on the planet will take the edge off the social stigma hearing aid wearers still confront. And the cool comes at a price of upwards of $3,000 per hearing aid, depending on the configuration.
What’s next? Watch for “Made for Android” hearing aids enabling the Big Six to tap into an even larger pool of mobile digital consumers around the world.