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Apple Says Hearing Aid Sound Issues With iPhone 12 Models Will Be Fixed in Future Software Update

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In a new support document, Apple has acknowledged that users might experience sound quality issues with some Made for iPhone hearing aids/devices. Apple says that it is aware of the issue and will provide a fix in a future software update.

made-for-iphone-hearing-aid.jpg

Apple says some hearing aids/devices connected to the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max may exhibit unexpected noises, including loud static, interrupted or intermittent audio, or garbled audio. These issues have been reported by users in various online forums, including the Apple Support Communities and Reddit.

Apple has not specified which software version will include a fix. The first beta of iOS 14.3 was seeded to developers and public testers earlier this week.

(Thanks, Aaron!)

Article Link: Apple Says Hearing Aid Sound Issues With iPhone 12 Models Will Be Fixed in Future Software Update
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/14/apple-to-fix-iphone-12-hearing-device-sound-issues/
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Not specifically hearing aid related, but more Bluetooth (I assume that’s how they connect), but my iPhone 12 Pro would show it was connected to my Powerbeats Pro but would not play through it and wouldn’t show the device as a choice. However, turning the Bluetooth off and restarting the phone fixed it. Obviously there are a few small bugs out there which I'm sure they will fix over time.
 
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robjulo said:
Right. Unless your hearing impaired.
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Yea, which I am, but mainly in one ear. I’ve found if I just go with one aid, I don’t get the sound problem (audio output from whatever phone app) but do with both of them in. Even with two in though, whatever app you use to control the sound quality of the outside world into the hearing aids still works.

BTW, I appreciate that Apple has this special area in their settings for some hearing aids; my recently replaced Google Pixel 3 didn’t have anything like this, just a straight Bluetooth setup.
 
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Gasu E. said:
Are you hearing impaired yourself?
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I am. And so are many people around the globe. Unfortunately we, a minority group, often taken lightly by some of those who don't have hearing problem. I depend on my hearing aid when it comes to phone calls. It was all good with my previously XR, and now I can't hardly use my hearing aid since upgraded to iPhone 12 because of the loud static noise. Next week I have a yearly appointment scheduled with my kidney doctor, and due to pandemic it will be a phone call this year. I'm already worry how the call quality will be. It is really affecting life quality for some of us. For those who can't relate, pls ask yourself, if you can only see the world with one eye since upgrading to the new iPhone, wouldn't you hope Apple engineers fix this with highest priority?
 
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btrach144 said:
This seems like a critical issue that deserves a hot fix ASAP. Like engineers should be working on the weekend to hot fix this.

If you’re going to dip into the market of assistance devices, you better be ready to respond quickly.
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As someone wearing hearing aid and am having this exact problem with the new iPhone 12, I really appreciate your comment and can't agree more!
 
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I depend on my hearing aids (Oticon OPN1) every day. This has been a serious issue for several weeks now. HIDEOUSLY loud bursts of static in one or both ears.

When you depend on hearing aids not just for daily conversation, but to conduct business, this is a huge problem.
 
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This is not limited to hearing aids and not limited to iPhone 12 models and not purely Bluetooth related. There's a significant intermittent audio defect for the past several iOS releases that affect all phones with those versions of iOS. They really need to get on this ASAP for people & organizations that rely on audio connections on iPhones.
 
wchangch said:
I am. And so are many people around the globe. Unfortunately we, a minority group, often taken lightly by some of those who don't have hearing problem. I depend on my hearing aid when it comes to phone calls. It was all good with my previously XR, and now I can't hardly use my hearing aid since upgraded to iPhone 12 because of the loud static noise. Next week I have a yearly appointment scheduled with my kidney doctor, and due to pandemic it will be a phone call this year. I'm already worry how the call quality will be. It is really affecting life quality for some of us. For those who can't relate, pls ask yourself, if you can only see the world with one eye since upgrading to the new iPhone, wouldn't you hope Apple engineers fix this with highest priority?
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I don't have hearing problems but I do think this should have been fixed right away.
I wholeheartedly agree with your post but I do have a minor point...
Your one eye doesn't make sense, I see 100% with one eye, the other around 20-30%, I can still see perfectly fine with one eye, you on the other hand can't hear well when this issue occurs, better example would be if you wear glasses and they fog up, or have visual migraine.
 
WeBee3D said:
This is not limited to hearing aids and not limited to iPhone 12 models and not purely Bluetooth related. There's a significant intermittent audio defect for the past several iOS releases that affect all phones with those versions of iOS. They really need to get on this ASAP for people & organizations that rely on audio connections on iPhones.
Click to expand...

I too think there's more to it, I had a few calls with no or really bad audio, I dropped my phone a few times last week but it is in a case and fell on wood/softer material, pretty sure it's iOS and not me dropping the phone.
 
There seems to be an issue with audio of any kind in iOS 14.2 on my iPhone 12. There is a significant delay on any audio - videos, games, keyboard. Restarts and resets will resolve it for 3-5 minutes, and then the issue returns and the delay gets progressively longer. The delay is there through the internal speakers, AirPods or car audio (wired or BT).

I have gone back to using my X, and I really wish I hadn’t bothered upgrading now.
 
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MacRumors said:


In a new support document, Apple has acknowledged that users might experience sound quality issues with some Made for iPhone hearing aids/devices. Apple says that it is aware of the issue and will provide a fix in a future software update.

made-for-iphone-hearing-aid.jpg

Apple says some hearing aids/devices connected to the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max may exhibit unexpected noises, including loud static, interrupted or intermittent audio, or garbled audio. These issues have been reported by users in various online forums, including the Apple Support Communities and Reddit.

Apple has not specified which software version will include a fix. The first beta of iOS 14.3 was seeded to developers and public testers earlier this week.

(Thanks, Aaron!)

Article Link: Apple Says Hearing Aid Sound Issues With iPhone 12 Models Will Be Fixed in Future Software Update
Click to expand...
I spent 100 minutes on an Apple chat support on 11/13/2020. They had me wipe the phone, run it without restoring my data, etc. A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME.

I am very upset with Apple for not properly testing the new phones, and for wasting my time by not acknowledging that this was a known issue.

I have ReSound GN Lynx 3D hearing aids. Worked perfectly with my older iPhone and still work perfectly with my iPad.
 
Terry57 said:
I depend on my hearing aids (Oticon OPN1) every day. This has been a serious issue for several weeks now. HIDEOUSLY loud bursts of static in one or both ears.

When you depend on hearing aids not just for daily conversation, but to conduct business, this is a huge problem.
Click to expand...
Basically unusable for voice calls through my Resound GN Lynx 3D hearing aids. They worked perfectly with my older iPhone and still work just fine with my iPad Pro (running iOS 14.2). Apple had me on a 100 minute chat support call 11/13 where they put me though endless waste of time hoops
 
LeslieM said:
I spent 100 minutes on an Apple chat support on 11/13/2020. They had me wipe the phone, run it without restoring my data, etc. A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME.

I am very upset with Apple for not properly testing the new phones, and for wasting my time by not acknowledging that this was a known issue.

I have ReSound GN Lynx 3D hearing aids. Worked perfectly with my older iPhone and still work perfectly with my iPad.
Click to expand...
They shouldn’t have had you run through the wipe, given all of the other problem reports out there. Hope they patch it quickly. tcook@apple.com
 
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Terry57 said:
I depend on my hearing aids (Oticon OPN1) every day. This has been a serious issue for several weeks now. HIDEOUSLY loud bursts of static in one or both ears.

When you depend on hearing aids not just for daily conversation, but to conduct business, this is a huge problem.
Click to expand...
Terry, Have you tried power-cycling the effected aid? I have been having this problem with my OPN1s (but only in one or the other at a time, so far, not yet both at once) since getting my iPhone 12 Max on Friday and this morning when it happened on a call, I power cycled the one that did it (the right aid) and when it was done turning back on it was fine. (the call was fine on the left aid throughout, in this case)
 
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