Cochlear Implants With Bluetooth Connectivity: A Guide to Wireless Streaming

Can You Use Bluetooth With a Cochlear Implant?

Yes! Bluetooth® technology is a great way to get the most out of your cochlear implants. Streaming music. Listening to phone calls. Watching films. All of that is made possible using Bluetooth connectivity.

Wireless Cochlear Implant Streaming

With the SONNET 3 audio processor, wireless cochlear implant streaming is integrated directly into the audio processor. No other devices are needed. It works just like a pair of Bluetooth headphones: Sound is sent directly from your phone, tablet or TV to your audio processor.

You can also stream wirelessly using the RONDO 3, SONNET 2, and SONNET audio processors. You just need the AudioStream Adapter for RONDO 3 or the AudioStream cover for SONNET/SONNET 2.

How Can You Connect a Cochlear Implant to an Android Phone?

It’s incredibly simple to connect SONNET 3 to an Android device. Just follow these five simple steps:

1. Turn your SONNET 3s off and place them within 3 cm of your phone. Turn them back on.
2. Enable Bluetooth on your phone.
3. Scan for Bluetooth devices
   (this may be under Settings > Bluetooth or Accessibility > Hearing Devices, depending on your phone).
4. Your SONNET 3 processors should appear. Select them to start pairing.
5. If pairing fails, move the processors closer to your phone and try again.

After pairing, you can use your phone for calls or music. The sound will go straight to your SONNET 3s.

You’ll need AudioStream or the AudioStream Adapter to stream sound to your RONDO 3, SONNET 2, or SONNET audio processors. Check out these videos to find out how:

1. Pairing AudioStream With Android
2. Pairing the AudioStream Adapter With Android

How Can You Connect a Cochlear Implant to an iPhone?

Connecting SONNET 3 to your iPhone or other iOS device is easy. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Turn your SONNET 3s off and place them within 3 cm of your phone. Turn your audio processors back on.
2. Enable Bluetooth on your phone.
3. Go to “Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices” and let your phone scan for devices.
4. Your SONNET 3 processors should appear. Select them to start pairing.
5. If pairing fails, move the processors closer to your phone and try again.

Once your phone and SONNET 3s are paired, you can make phone calls or listen to music with ease. The sound will be streamed automatically to your SONNET 3s!

To connect AudioStream or the AudioStream Adapter to your iPhone, check out these videos:

1. Pairing AudioStream With an iOS device
2. Pairing the AudioStream Adapter With an iOS device

Can You Use Bluetooth With a Hearing Aid and a Cochlear Implant?

Yes! If you have a hearing aid on one side and a cochlear implant on the other, you can send sound to both your ears. This is called bimodal streaming. It works with the following devices:

• SONNET 3 audio processor (integrated streaming)
• SONNET 2 and SONNET (via AudioStream)
• RONDO 3 (via the AudioStream Adapter)
• Android devices (with ASHA-equipped hearing aids)
• iOS devices (with Starkey’s Edge AI and Genesis AI hearing aids)

This bimodal streaming article has detailed instructions and videos showing you how it works.