My Resound hearing aides connect via bluetooth directly to my iPhone without any other device. I can adjust the volume and select different hearing programs from my phone. When talking on the phone or listening to music the sound can be sent through the aides, although listening to music really eats up the batteries.
I wondered if I could connect to my PSEngineering panel but based on previous posts it doesn't seem so.
I too have profound hearing loss, its a daily challenge. So far the best solution I have found for flying is no hearing aids and the original Lightspeed Zulu 1 or the Sierra 1, and just turn up the volume.
Yes there are air traffic controllers with voices that are difficult to understand on aircraft radios, but they did prior to my hearing loss too.
(My hearing loss was antibiotics induced so it took less than a week to go from normal to profound hearing loss.)
You are right, the app is acting like your Soundgate. I thought they would just connect so as a test I turned off my phone, restarted the aides and tried to connect to my iPad (no app installed.) No joy. The iPad didn't even discover them.
I fly with two Phonak CIC hearing aids and they work fine with my Zulu 2s. I can also hear just about as well when flying w/o the Phonaks and just the Zulu 2s. As such, there is no reason for me to try the Bluetooth thing.
Most of my flying is with the Phonaks, however, because I forget to take them out before launching.
Mark, Thanks for jumping in on the thread.We have just begun shipping the new PMA8000G and the PMA450A, both supporting the optional PS Streamer.
The PS Streamer streams, via Bluetooth, all audio that the pilot goes to the pilot's headset. It pairs to all sorts of dongles as well as GoPro cameras.
The really great thing is that the pilot is able to adjust the volume of the streaming audio!
While we have not had any direct experience with a pilot using it to pair to his hearing aid, we would be glad to send as a loaner, the PMA8000G with the PS Steamer installed if that pilot already has installed the GMA340. It is a plug n play with the GARMIN audio panel.
If you qualify, please let me know and we will get started.
Sincerely,
Mark Scheuer
PS Engineering
I too am getting by with removing my aids and using the Lightspeed PFX and the extra features it provides. I also stream my home TV and I hard wire the radio in my truck as well.I have an Octicon streamer that works pretty well with my hearing aid. The issue I see is that there is no way my hearing aid alone would keep enough noise OUT of my ear to make in-airplane streaming work as well as removing it completely and using over-the-ear ANR headsets.
I called PS Engineering today and they said that the PMA 450A and the PMA 8000G would Bluetooth directly to Bluetooth compatible hearing aids. You do have to install the streaming board option with these audio panels.
I would guess that you would have to use a noise cancelling headset maybe just a shooters headset and a mike separate from the aids.
Mark, Thanks for jumping in on the thread.
I did not see any explanation of how this works on your site and you did say it is new so I will ask here for all to learn from, as I am learning as well. There may still be some unknowns as this is evolving technology.
Optional PS Streamer: It pairs with all sorts of dongles. ??? I have googled dongles and still don't know exactly what it connects to.
Ok, I have Bernafon Aids and a third party Soundgate with Bernafon label. I am assuming my Soundgate is a dongle.
Resound aids can use a APP on a Iphone to convert their phones to a dongle?
I would like a direct connection from the audio panel or intercom to the aids themselves. Clearly there will need to be some electronics to do this, maybe the PS Streamer?...but I doubt it.
My audiologist has to pair my Soundgate to my hearing aids. I can not "pair" it myself. This is a hard wired temporary connection while pairing.
I have read threads that other brands might pair via Bluetooth and gives me hope that at some point we may be able to pair directly to the source. But I am thinking this might be proprietary coding at this point in time.
I welcome your comments.
Thanks