If you noticed that only one of your hearing aids connects to your mobile phone through Bluetooth at any given time, you are not the only one! I had several calls in July and August from patients who could only connect one hearing aid to Bluetooth at any given time, which signalled me to write this brief.
Read through to learn about possible reasons why only one of your hearing aids can connect to Bluetooth at any given time.
Bluetooth connectivity of the hearing aids to the mobile phone has become a big part of hearing aid wearers' experience. Wireless connectivity with hearing aids enables the wearer to stream soundtracks, manage phone calls hands-free, connect to a TV streamer, or connect to an assistive listening device (ALD). But even before all the above applications, the wearer needs connectivity to both hearing aids to be able to use the amazing features provided by the hearing aids app.
Here are the common reasons why you can only connect one hearing aid to your mobile phone.
1 - Incompatible firmware
In 2024 almost all hearing aid manufacturers made updates to their hearing aids firmware (a little bit of software in your hearing aid) and their hearing aid apps so that the hearing aids can update their firmware automatically. Before this update, your audiologist would update the firmware of your hearing aids through your annual visit to the clinic. When the hearing aids update their firmware, you may notice that your hearing aids are switched off and on by themselves. Usually, a reboot is needed for the new firmware to be installed. While some hearing aid manufacturers are still in the process of debugging their system for this autopilot firmware update the end user may be in a situation where one hearing aid updates its firmware successfully while the other one may fail to do so. The result is that not both are paired to each other and your smartphone can connect to only one of them at any given time.
How to fix this problem?
You need to visit your audiologist or a local hearing care specialist so the hearing aids can be updated with their firmware and paired together again.
Alternatively, you can ship your hearing aids to the HearingNow clinic in London so we sort this out for you. Please find more details here.
2 - Faulty hearing aid
If only one of your hearing aids can connect to your mobile phone and the hearing aid app then there is a chance that one of the aids is faulty. In such a case you would notice that only the left or the right one can connect and the faulty one is always on one side (doesn't toggle).
How to fix this problem?
You need to visit your audiologist or a local hearing care specialist so the hearing aids can be updated with their firmware and paired together again.
Alternatively, you can ship them to the HearingNow clinic in London so we sort this out for you. Please see more details here.
3 - Low hearing aid battery
No matter if your hearing aids are rechargeable or battery powered they need a good charge of battery to be able to operate and handle Bluetooth signal. Usually, there is a low battery cutoff when the hearing aid can still work and amplify the sound for you but it does cut off the Bluetooth to save the operating battery for you. You can check the battery level of the hearing aid on the hearing aid app, or simply give it a good charge (or replace the battery with a new one). If after a full charge or a new battery, the Bluetooth connectivity is still not established then check other remedies provided in this article.
How to fix this problem?
Recharge your hearing aids, or replace the batteries with new ones if they are battery-powered.
4 - Everybody needs a reboot
It is recommended that your mobile phone be rebooted at least once a month. This can fix wireless or Bluetooth connectivity problems with your hearing aids. Often there is new firmware on the mobile phone that needs to be installed so that only a reboot can complete the installation process.
How to fix this problem?
Simply reboot your mobile phone and check the connectivity of the hearing aids with your mobile phone in the Settings section of the mobile phone.
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