User profile for user: cbrazil
cbrazil Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

iPhone Hearing Aid audio quieter than normal ones volume

My 92 year old father has hearing & sight issues & has never had a smartphone - but I persuaded my family to club together to get him an iPhone 14 Plus iOS 18.5 for his birthday so that he could stream phone calls to his hearing aids and use some accessibility features.


We easily paired and Connected the Rexton Reach R Li T 80 hearing aids to the iPhone 14 Plus.


My father took a phone call, the hearing aids were connected and he was able to hear the other person. However he said their voice was really quiet.


So I adjusted the two microphone sliders in the IPhone settings - Accessibility - hearing devices settings. The sliders were on 53 when I started and I adjusted them up, first to about 75 and then to 100.

He said that 100 was better than 53, but that the audio was still much quieter than he would expect compared to the volume he hears people talking in the room through his hearing aid.


So next I connected to the Rexton app to see if there were any settings would help.


The volume slider was on 8 on a scale of 0 to 15 when I first opened the app. 


I tried increasing it up to 12 and then to 15 but he didn’t think that helped much - he still said that voices were indistinct via the hearing aid.


He said “now I’ve had to put it on max volume and this is much worse than before”. He said he doesn't normally have to turn up the volume to maximum.


He thought the phonecall had been better before we tried the Rexton App- but he wasn’t 100% sure. 


I exited the Rexton app and reset it so that it un-paired from the hearing aids (and the app would need setting up again from the start later).


Then we sat down to have a cup of tea and birthday cake with 4 people.


My father then said he couldn’t hear us well, and that it was much worse than the audio than normal. He was really upset, saying that he couldn't hear us nearly as well

as normal since we had connected to the iPhone.


I felt terrible, like I had caused his hearing aids to go wrong. He definitely couldn't hear us well. 


We were not using the phone, just talking face to face at this point. 


NB The phone and hearing aids were however still connected. So whilst we weren't streaming audio from a phonecall, could the fact the devices were still connected have affected his hearing aid volume??


So then I had to disconnect the phone from the hearing aids completely, as clearly it had not been a success and I just wanted to help him get his hearing aid back to normal. By this point he was too upset for me to to test anything else or for him to be able to tell whether his audio was back to normal.


Before I try again I need to understand what the issues where and fix them in advance.


My questions are:


1) Do people find that iPhones give out quieter audio to the hearing aid than the user would hear talking to someone face to face?  

2) I would expect that turning up the iPhone microphone to 100 should have got to the point where my father found it was as loud as his normal hearing aid volume? Is that a reasonable expectation? 

3) Surely the iPhone hearing aid microphone setting should have more adjustability than this.

 Is there anything I can do to increase the output volume from the iPhone to the hearing aid?

4) Do people need a special iPhone programme for their hearing aid?

5) Can adjusting the settings in the Rexton app mess up the general hearing aid settings? I only adjusted volume control. 

6) We were having a face to face conversation, but the phone and hearing aids were still paired. Is it plausible that because right from the start he said the iPhone audio was quiet, that even when he wasn't on a phonecall, the iPhone being connected was affected the volume his hearing aids for face to face?


I'm really upset that after researching hearing aids and iPhones in detail, and spending a lot of money on an iPhone, this attempt to use them together went badly, not just for the phonecall aspect which was manageable, but because it seemed to affect my father's hearing aid behaviour when he wasn't on the phone.


Any suggestions VERY gratefully received!


Thanks a lot



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Hearing aid audio when connected to iPhone is quieter than normal hearing aid volume, even on max microphone level and max volume. Hearing aid volume remained lower whilst connected to the iPhone but not streaming a call. Help needed!

iPhone 14 Plus

Posted on Jun 15, 2025 9:30 AM

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10 replies
User profile for user: brbo
brbo
User level: Level 8
37,819 points

Jun 15, 2025 9:07 PM in response to cbrazil

Hi cbrazil

Welcome to this Apple (user-to-user) Community. Thank you for your post, and for all your efforts to assist your father ... he is fortunate to have your help :-)


Re: "Hearing aid audio when connected to iPhone is quieter than normal hearing aid volume, even on max microphone level and max volume. Hearing aid volume remained lower whilst connected to the iPhone but not

streaming a call. Help needed!"


Am no expert in the hearing-aid tech. field, however your request to the community deserves some response.

For me, the first thing to check was the Rexton Reach R Li T 80 Hearing-Aid's compatibility with the iPhone.


Hearing Aids listed in Apple Support's Linked List below can use many iPhone settings and features for hearing.

List of Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support

Eg: says: Rexton

  • ADORE
  • BiCore B-Li M Rugged*
  • BICORE B
  • BICORE CUSTOM LI*
  • BICORE R-LI*
  • BICORE R-LI T*
  • BICORE R312*
  • BICORE SR*
  • EMERALD M
  • EMERALD S
  • M-CORE B-LI
  • M-CORE R-LI
  • M-CORE R312
  • M-CORE SR
  • MOSAIC M
  • MOSAIC P
  • STELLAR M
  • STELLAR RIC
  • STERLING ITC
  • STERLING ITE


So, sorry to say this, yet it seems your father's hearing aids would not be iPhone compatible. They may need to rely mainly on the iPhone's Bluetooth connection, and whatever controls are available in the app.

______________

The Hearing-aids themselves may or may not need a firmware update. The Rexton's app may have a way to check for app and / or firmware updates. Else there may be details about updating the firmware in the hearing-aid's manual, or the manufacturer's website. Another avenue may be your father's hearing-professional.

____________________

When actually on a phone call on iPhone, you can switch the audio to the hearing-aids & adjust the audio.

See Apple Support's online article: While on a call on iPhone - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"Adjust the audio during a call

To change the volume, press the volume buttons on the side of iPhone.

Or swipe down on the call banner, then do any of the following:

  • Mute: Tap the Mute button.
  • Put the call on hold: Touch and hold the Mute button.
  • Talk handsfree: Tap the Audio button, then choose an audio destination. (ie: hearing-aids)


I will try answering your numbered questions separately below, as the post is too long for acceptance otherwise.

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User profile for user: brbo
brbo
User level: Level 8
37,819 points

Jun 15, 2025 9:07 PM in response to cbrazil

Re: 1) Do people find that iPhones give out quieter audio to the hearing aid than the user would hear talking to someone face to face?  


It may depend upon the combination of iPhone model, iOS Software, Hearing-aid model, and if there's an app.

Also, whether or not the audio has been directed to the hearing-aids.


Seems audio routing can cause issues like this ...( ie: where was the audio being directed when on the call ?)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

2) I would expect that turning up the iPhone microphone to 100 should have got to the point where my father found it was as loud as his normal hearing aid volume? Is that a reasonable expectation? 


Wondering if the iPhone audio was switched to the connected hearing-aids while actually on that call.


There are additional iPhone controls that compatible Hearing-aids can use:

See how to: Use Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support

________________________________________________________________________________

3) Surely the iPhone hearing aid microphone setting should have more adjustability than this.

 Is there anything I can do to increase the output volume from the iPhone to the hearing aid?


Seems hearing-aids can receive the iPhone's audio on calls, but do not have a microphone to speak from.

Whereas the iPhone does have both the necessary audio output and input.


If you want to: You can try automatically directing the audio of phone or FaceTime calls to a hearing device.

It may help to: Route and automatically answer calls on iPhone - Apple Support

and

If needed: You can end phone calls with Siri

Change Siri accessibility settings on iPhone - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"End calls with Siri

You can have Siri end phone and FaceTime calls.

  1. Go to Settings  > Accessibility > Siri, tap Call Hangup, then turn on Call Hangup.
  2. Note: Available in select languages and on iPhone 11, iPhone SE (2nd generation), and later. Requires download of speech models.
  3. To end a call, say something like: “Siri, hang up.” (Participants on the call will hear you.)"


You can also ... have Siri announce and answer calls."

____________________________________________________________

4) Do people need a special iPhone programme for their hearing aid?


All hearing-aids generally need firmware updates to keep up-to-date with current technology.

Seems people would need to use either the iPhone's settings and features (compatible hearing-aids)

or

Rely mostly upon the manufacturer's app.


Apple also provides other useful means of hearing assistance for iPhone users:

Eg: See: Accessibility features for hearing on iPhone - Apple Support

____________________________________________________________________________

5) "Can adjusting the settings in the Rexton app mess up the general hearing aid settings? 

I only adjusted volume control." 


Sorry I don't know. I am not familiar with the Rexton app ... (eg: where was the audio being directed.)

You may want try asking Rexton Support or browsing thir website.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

6) "We were having a face to face conversation, but the phone and hearing aids were still paired. Is it plausible that because right from the start he said the iPhone audio was quiet, that even when he wasn't on a phonecall, the iPhone being connected was affected the volume his hearing aids for face to face?"


iPhone has a feature that can be used so it acts as a microphone for clearer face-to-face communication:

NB: This may or may not work with the Rexton Reach R Li T 80 Hearing-Aid

See how to: Use Live Listen with Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support


All the best! :-)

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User profile for user: cbrazil
cbrazil Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 16, 2025 12:15 AM in response to brbo

I think I had all the iPhones setting correct . The call was definitely routed to his hearing aid.


So the issues are


  • How can we make the hearing aid volume higher by default when connected to the iPhone and streaming a cal


  • Why was the hearing aid volume still affected negatively when not in a call and with no other audio being streamed?


Re 6) we were not using Live Listen. I’d like to try that as the hearing aid company said it would work


but we need to sort out the general volume issue and also why the volume is affected whilst not in a call.


i assumed that if there is no audito being streamed from the phone then the hearing aid is not affected by being connected but I think it is affected?


so in fact it may all be one issue relating to the volume the iPhone defaulted to when it connected to the hearing aids?


We can check the firmware. The hearing aid is 9 months old.


any more thought would be helpful!


thanks a lot



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User profile for user: cbrazil
cbrazil Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 16, 2025 1:26 PM in response to cbrazil

Thanks for the suggestions and I just wanted to let anyone else with Accessibility issues know that you can actually get through to Apple Accessibility Support on the telephone.


And the Apple lady even offered to have a call with my dad screensharing to go through the settings with him.


He wouldn’t be able to cope with that without me there, which won’t be for a few weeks, but it is good to know that Apple are helpful and you can speak to a real person.


Who to Call for accessibility support 


Use these numbers to contact Apple Accessibility Support by phone. You can also dial them using the telecommunications relay service of your choice.

  • United States: 1-877-204-3930 (English only)
  • United Kingdom: 0800 048 0754 (English only)
  • Australia: (61) 1-300-365-083 (English only)
  • China mainland: 400-619-8141 (Mandarin only)

You can also chat online with a representative or schedule a phone call.


What I found out today was that the microphone slider in the Hearing Aid settings - which I thought adjusted how loudly the iPhone picked up and passed on the call audio - was actually adjusting the level of my father’s voice for the other caller.


Separately I have found out that Rexton had a firmware update in the last few months which includes LE Audio which us important for hearing aids, and my hunch is my dad needs that firmware update. That can’t be done by me, there has to be a visit to the Audiologist.


Finally Apple told me that most people adding hearing aids to iPhones do it when sitting with their audiologist,

who adjusts the streaming settings to the hearing aid.


So the Apple instructions “Just pair your hearing aid and you are ready to go” are misleading!!


I’m hoping that going to the audiologist and having a firmware update and setting up the phone with them adjusting the hearing aid settings may solve the issues.


It is still a mystery to me why my dad could not hear us well through his hearing aids when sitting together after disconnecting from the streamed call. He could hear us perfectly well through the hearing aids earlier in the day.


A search on Google AI claims that even when you are not on a call, it can affect your hearing aids if they are still connected to the iPhone. However whenever I click on the links given by Google AI I can’t find any info saying this. So goodness knows where the AI gets that from, as it isn’t clear.


It maybe that Google AI is correct and the iPhone IS controlling the hearing aids even when not on a call.


It is kind of logical that if the hearing aids aren’t hearing the phone properly as they aren’t properly optimised yet, and they are still connected even if you aren’t streaming, it could reduce the audio to the level you heard in the call? Or maybe not?


If anyone has any info on that I’d be very interested to know more.


Thanks very much!

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User profile for user: cbrazil
cbrazil Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 16, 2025 12:02 AM in response to brbo

hi,

Thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it.


The Rexton Reach website says it is MFI https://www.rexton.com/en-ca/hearing-aids/reach/r-li/


I’ll look through your other answers in detail!


But he definitely had the call audio routed to the hearing aid.


My daughter was on the phone elsewhere and I was standing by next to him and I couldn’t hear the audio at all.


thanks a lot

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iPhone Hearing Aid audio quieter than normal ones volume

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