Bimodal Streaming: Enjoy Sound With Your Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid

Cochlear implant audio processors and hearing aids are getting smarter and smarter. One of the smarter innovations in hearing technology is direct streaming. This sends sound from your phone directly to your hearing device, making it easier to enjoy phone calls and music.

This direct streaming is built into our latest audio processor, SONNET 3. It also works with SONNET and SONNET 2 via AudioStream and RONDO 3 with the AudioStream Adapter. Likewise, hearing aids such as the Starkey Genesis AI offer direct streaming.

And the great news is that you can even stream sound to your hearing aid and your cochlear implant at the same time!

Bimodal Streaming With Starkey Hearing Aids and iPhone

Thanks to our new bimodal streaming partnership with Starkey, DualSync technology enables simultaneous streaming from Apple® devices to a MED-EL audio processor and Starkey hearing aid.

Which Devices Does It Work With?

DualSync technology is available with the Starkey Edge AI as well as the Starkey Genesis AI hearing aid. You’ll also need an audio processor that offers streaming: SONNET 3 offers integrated direct streaming, whereas SONNET, SONNET 2, and RONDO 3 offer streaming with AudioStream.

You’ll also need an Apple device with iOS 16 or higher. Take a look here for up-to-date compatibility information.

How Do I Start Streaming?

Streaming to your Starkey hearing aid and MED-EL cochlear implant is effortless because your iPhone recognizes them as a pair. This is what you need to do:

1. Open the accessibility menu in your iPhone settings and pair your hearing aid.
2. In the AudioKey 3 app, select “Connectivity Options.” Follow the steps in the app.
3. Start streaming audio to both your devices!

Bimodal Streaming With Android

Bimodal streaming works with Android devices too! You just need to make sure that your hearing aid is equipped with a technology called Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA).

What Devices Are Compatible?

Several brands offer ASHA-enabled hearing aids, including Starkey. You can find a list here.

You’ll also need an audio processor that offers streaming: SONNET 3 offers integrated direct streaming, whereas SONNET, SONNET 2, and RONDO 3 offer streaming with AudioStream.

Lastly, you’ll need a smartphone with Android 12 or later which allows you to stream to multiple audio devices at the same time. The phones on this list here have been specifically tested and confirmed by MED-EL to be suitable for bimodal streaming.

Start Streaming With Android

1. First, make sure your SONNET 3 or AudioStream is configured and paired.
2. Head to your phone’s Bluetooth settings and pair your phone with your hearing aid.
3. Start streaming.