At Physicians Hearing Care, we understand technology can be frustrating. However, it’s often easy to forget that even tech giants such as Apple still haven’t quite figured things out.

With each new software and model update, Apple appears to encounter several troublesome bugs and faults – leading users to question whether the devices they connect to their iPhone are broken.

The same goes for those who pair hearing aids with their iPhone since many users have reported Bluetooth connectivity issues with the latest iPhone 12.

Since the latest software update (iOS 14) has simultaneously become available with the newest Apple device, many users are unsure where the issue originates.

However, most users on the Apple discussion forum highlight that they are not experiencing issues with their hearing aids on the iOS 14 update when they have an iPhone 11 Pro or older – which leads to substantial blame on the iPhone 12.

Is the Sound on Your Hearing Aids Distorted?

In several reported cases, the Bluetooth connectivity issues cause hearing aids to drop out and have “a lot of static and in general a touchy connection where one or both ears will cut sound.”

While other users on the forum report interference with phone calls, uncomfortably loud disrupted noise and intermittent distortion from the sound of their hearing aids.

Understandably, it’s easy to blame the hearing aids in this instance – and a few of our patients have already been in touch to report such issues with their devices.

Rest assured, if you have recently upgraded to an iPhone 12 and are too experiencing issues with sound and connectivity, the problem is most likely not with your hearing aids.

Similarly, during fall of last year, the iOS 13 update caused an array of Bluetooth connectivity issues specifically for hearing aid wearers. Consequently, we received many calls from our patients who believed their devices to be broken.

When Will it be Fixed? 

With each Apple update comes a myriad of subsidiary updates to fix bugs and faults. One user on the forum was told that the issues would be resolved on the most recent iOS 14.2 update; however, they report that the problems persevere.

Apple is aware of the current issues experienced on the newest generation of Apple products when paired with Made for iPhone hearing devices and plans to address these issues within the future updates.

Others have commented on this disappointing upgrade by saying, “this is a lesson for us all not to be the first upgraders when we depend so much on this technology.”

We agree that Apple should undoubtedly address the issues in their software before releasing it to a community that widely depends on the technology’s functionality for such a fundamental ability as hearing.

We’re Here to Support You

While unfortunately, we cannot solve the problem on Apple’s behalf. Our team at Physicians Hearing Care has the experience and equipment to help both current patients and non-patients with their hearing devices.

If you require advice on troubleshooting common hearing aid problems or would like to speak to our team about hearing aid cleaning and repairs, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We have various appointment options available during this time, including Express Patient Care and Tele Audiology consultations for little-to-no contact service.

We sincerely hope Apple fix this problem as swiftly as possible so that you can continue to enjoy the sounds you love.

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Dr. Kalyn Bradford Au.D.

Dr. Kalyn Bradford is the director of hearing aid services here at Physician's Hearing Care. She completed her externship with Physician's Hearing Care in 2013 and subsequently joined the practice in 2014 after graduating with her doctoral degree in audiology from Louisiana Tech University. She joined PHC as a clinical audiologist, where she performed comprehensive audiological exams and specialized in helping patients to hear better using the latest hearing aid technology available. She has carried that experience into her current role as director of hearing aid services, where she does an excellent job managing the audiologists to ensure that all patients are treated with the best hearing care possible.