Streaming Music Through Your Hearing Aids: A Guide

How to Stream Music to Your Hearing Aids

A brief guide

Overview    |    How streaming actually works    |    What you can stream    |    Considerations    |    Hands-free convenience    |    Compatibility    |    Who benefits?    |    Conclusion

Latest Hearing Aid UK Update:  31/10/2025

Overview

One of the genuinely brilliant features of modern hearing aids is the ability to stream audio directly from your phone, tablet, or other devices.

If you've never experienced streaming through hearing aids before, it's rather like having a pair of high-quality wireless earbuds built into your hearing devices - except they're also correcting your hearing at the same time.

We talk about how streaming audio through your hearing aids works and why this feature is now one of the best things about modern hearing technology.

If you want to make phone calls without using your hands, listen to music, or just make your hearing aids work better, knowing how to stream will help you get the most out of your devices.

How streaming actually works

Most modern hearing aids use Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly to your devices. Once paired, audio from your phone, tablet, or computer is transmitted directly to both hearing aids, creating a stereo sound experience that's crisp, clear, and personalised to your hearing loss.

The clever bit is that your hearing aids don't just pass the sound through - they process it according to your specific hearing prescription. This means music, podcasts, and phone calls are all optimised for your hearing needs whilst maintaining excellent sound quality.

Related reading:  Bluetooth technology

What you can stream

Practically anything that produces audio can be streamed to your hearing aids. Music from Spotify or Apple Music, podcasts, audiobooks, YouTube videos, television audio (with the right accessories), and phone calls all work brilliantly.

Many people find phone calls particularly transformative - hearing the conversation directly in both ears rather than holding a phone to one ear makes a genuine difference to clarity and comfort.

Sound quality considerations

Here's something that pleasantly surprises most people: the sound quality of streamed audio through modern hearing aids is genuinely impressive.

We're not talking about tinny, compressed sound - many premium hearing aids deliver rich, detailed audio that does justice to your favourite music.

The latest Bluetooth LE Audio standard, which newer hearing aids support, provides even better sound quality with lower power consumption.

This matters because streaming uses more battery than regular hearing aid use, though most rechargeable models will still comfortably last a full day even with moderate streaming.

Hands-free convenience

Perhaps the most practical benefit of streaming is the hands-free nature of it all. Answer phone calls without reaching for your phone, listen to walking directions whilst out and about, or enjoy a podcast whilst doing the washing up - all without juggling devices or worrying about whether you can hear properly.

For people who work from home or attend frequent video calls, streaming makes online meetings far less exhausting.

The audio comes directly to your ears at the right volume and clarity, eliminating the strain of trying to hear through computer speakers or standard headphones worn over hearing aids.

Compatibility matters

Most modern hearing aids work with both iPhone and Android devices, though it's worth checking compatibility for your specific model. iPhones generally connect directly to hearing aids using the Made for iPhone (MFi) protocol, whilst Android devices typically use the newer ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids) protocol.

Some older hearing aids might need a small streaming device that you wear around your neck to connect, but most newer models connect directly without any extra hardware.

Related reading:  iPhone-compatible hearing aids

Learning to use streaming

The actual process of connecting and streaming is surprisingly straightforward - usually just a matter of pairing your hearing aids to your device through the Bluetooth settings, much like connecting any wireless headphones.

Your hearing aids will likely come with a companion app that lets you adjust streaming volume, switch between audio sources, and customise your listening experience. Most people get the hang of it within a day or two, and then it becomes second nature.

Who benefits most?

Streaming is especially useful for people who like music or podcasts, work in places where they need to make phone calls or video calls, or just want to be able to talk on the phone without using their hands.

Streaming could really change your life if you often miss calls because you can't hear your phone ring or have trouble following conversations on regular phone calls.

That being said, not everyone needs to stream. If you don't use your phone for calls very often or listen to a lot of audio content, this is a nice-to-have feature rather than a must-have.

Battery life reality

It's worth being realistic about battery life when streaming. Whilst modern rechargeable hearing aids typically provide 18-24 hours of regular use, heavy streaming will reduce this.

Most people find that moderate streaming throughout the day - perhaps a few phone calls and an hour of music - still leaves plenty of battery life.

If you're someone who streams audio constantly, you might want to consider hearing aids with slightly longer battery life or the option to carry a portable charger for top-ups during the day.

The verdict on streaming

Streaming audio through hearing aids changes them from just tools for fixing hearing problems to really useful technology that you can use every day.

It's one of those things that looks nice but isn't really necessary until you start using it. Then you wonder how you ever lived without it.

It's definitely worth looking into if you're thinking about getting new hearing aids or want to know if your current ones can stream. Hearing correction and wireless audio connectivity work together to make listening both useful and fun.

Conclusion

Once you start using it, streaming audio through your hearing aids is one of those features that really makes your life better.

It turns your hearing aids from just medical devices into useful companions that make phone calls, listen to music, and other audio content clearly and easily.

The technology works well, the sound quality is great, and the fact that you don't have to hold anything makes everyday tasks a little easier.

You're missing out on one of the most useful benefits of modern hearing technology if your hearing aids support streaming and you haven't tried it yet.