Q: To stream or not to stream, that is MY question.
A: And it’s a question that I have pondered a lot lately, too. Wireless add-ons to hearing aids have realized a higher demand of late, primarily because our methods of communication have increased. We rely on telecommunications more and more to keep in touch with our families, friends and even our health care providers. The telephone, particularly the traditional landline, is losing ground as the major means of communication, mostly because it is so immobile. I think there will always be a place for traditional landlines, whichever provider you choose, however cellular phones have become a much larger part of our communication lately, particularly outside of the protection of our homes. Even for those who don’t wish to use a cellular phone as a primary line, many people carry them in case of an emergency. I visit retirement residences quite frequently and have seen many cell phones being charged, some are simple flip phones, and others are Blackberries and iPhones. All of them are equipped with Bluetooth which means they are capable of connecting to their hearing aids.
Other times I will walk by the rooms of residents and hear their televisions or radios, and even though the doors are closed I can make out every word of what’s being said on whatever program they are watching.
Hearing aids now have the ability to connect to all of these systems in such a way that the sound is directed to the processor and amplified like any other sound; custom tailored to that person’s hearing. There are two general methods that are used to accomplish this, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Firstly, there is the Bluetooth Streamer. This was the first method to be distributed and it relies on the client wearing a device called a “streamer” around their neck. In many cases the streamer doubles as a remote control, so when you’re not using it as a Bluetooth device, you still have full functionality of the RC features of the hearing aid. If you wear Phonak hearing aids and have something called a Pilot One or a iCube, then you have one of these. The Hearing aids have a coil inside that is designed to receive the signal from the streamer. The problem is, once you take it off from around your neck, the Bluetooth functions are no longer functional. Also, these systems tend to limit the frequency range which can make for less full sounding music and less clarity when you are watching older movies, but they are less encumbered by distance, allowing up to 50 feet of free distance between the transmitter and receiver. This limitation is a function of the Bluetooth system, which has gained a wide acceptance worldwide, but uses rather large components and can’t be modified without permission from the originating designer.
Manufacturers like Widex, GN Resound, Starkey use a different system, particularly for the Television function. Rather than using Bluetooth they use a very high frequency FM type signal to transmit sound from the television to the hearing aids. This causes a problem because with this system you are limited to a radio or television, but you still have to rely on a streamer to connect to a Bluetooth enabled cellular phone or any other device that connects using the Bluetooth platform. In this case you would purchase a separate streamer for the Bluetooth devices, but it would not be necessary for the television. Again, the telephone receiver acts as a remote control, (or CAN act as one), but it has to be clipped to an article of clothing when using for this purpose. It’s not just a function of keeping it in a purse or pant pocket.
The fact that the company which developed the Bluetooth system has made such a large impact on the wireless devices community speaks highly to their marketing and desire to standardize wireless communications. The problem is that the technology has limited itself to a small bandwidth which all products that are licensed by Bluetooth must use. Going outside of that system means either more or different equipment, or a limit to your connections. In order to get both telephone and television requires more expensive equipment, but if you are an audiophile or a lover of old movies, it may be worthwhile to spend the extra money on the supplemental equipment. If you use a cellular phone and want the television connection, then it may be better to go with the neck worn streamer; it is not the most convenient method, but the all in one aspect makes it a lot easier to use.