Oticon Companion App Detailed Review

[@Wunderpus-photogenicus]

With the advances in technology and in this 21st century, I do not think that we as users of the HA and its app are asking for over-expectation reliability of the app. You cannot give the excuse that "the manufacturers are focused on the hearing aid technologies, and they are not concentrated in the app reliability". Both the HA and its app(s) should come in a seamless package.

[@obleter]

This new app is a piece of crap, the old one was so much better.

[@MyBlisters]

you are 100 percent right,and it was crap too

[@truthseeker8399]

Dr. Cliff, I alternate between Dr. Cliff and Dr. Olsen… a bit confused! Thank you so much again for your detail explanation of the Companion app ! I am one of those people who is frustrated with this application! It has a whole lot of inconsistencies and as you said the delay also is a big problem! one side will connect, but not the other side and vice-versa. And at times the program button won’t work! I was actually better off with the original app. With Companion , I found myself turning my phone on and off at all times! Truly frustrating! At the same time , I kind of imagine the kind of vast programming that is needed! By the way, I now mostly use my controls from the main setting of the phone! Well, thank you so much for all you do for me!🙏🏽

[@pennywhitemusic]

My Companion app on iOS doesn’t have all the features you are showing! But I have the same latest version. Weird! I find it frequently disconnects and is generally much more frustrating to use than the old app.

[@pasqualeagnone2788]

I agree. I do not see the same features as described on the video. Using an iPhone. It would also be nice if this app was fully accessible for blind people using voiceover.

[@pasqualeagnone2788]

Just purchased a new Apple Watch. Are the Oticon hearing aids compatible with the watch? Meaning having a phone call or music stream to the hearing aids?

[@lynnmccarthy8612]

Also text is so tiny i need a magnifying glass, frustrating

[@jeremyglasspool8662]

Good God man ,slow down ! You are speaking like a fox caught in the headlamps ,take a breath. Some folk are hard of hearing you know .

[@TheSanthalVlogger]

My Oticon Companion 1.3.0 , is it latest than Dr Cliff showing in video ?

[@gordonshewan5566]

Hopeless with my Samsung GALAXY 20. Have had to reconnect several times a day. Have given up and gone back to previous app. It is fine on my iPad.

[@1div2PIfc]

Thank you for your review. It's helped me better understand the features the app offers. One small complaint about the app itself, I wish it supported landscape orientation on the iPad the way the old version did.

[@Sigma-n5m8d]

If you have iOS 17 this app may not full work

[@chrisacezam]

I have a fitting appointment for Oticon Real CROS next week & being undecisive with the the brand after watching reviews mentioning Bluetooth connectivity issues to Android devices. I have 92% hearing on left ear and 0 on right, but I'd like to hear surround sound to react quicker to hazards (falling boxes on my deaf side or people warning me in soft voices) in a warehouse environment while also having reliable bluetooth pairing to music & audio books 10hrs of my shift daily. Would a Phonak Lumity CROS be better to achieve this in my case since I have an Android device? I'd appreciate feedback as I'd rather not lose $500 after a 30-day trial period (my audiologist's trial policy) & switch brands because of Bluetooth connectivity issues. I heard Oticon is awesome with Apple, but I am not buying an iphone just to have better pairing with all my Android devices. Thanks so much if you could advice me with this concern.

[@rexbasham5089]

Dr Cliff - I have version 1.3.1 of the iPhone App. Why don't I see the Equalizer (Bass, Mid, Treble) option/button?

[@Raytheon65]

When will Oticon serve the people who believed in the brand, and solve connection problems with Android phones? Saying that the Oticon works better with iPhones does not solve the problem for those who use Android, unless the intention is to sell iPhones.

[@druqir]

Previous iPhone user here, I was able to pair my two oticon hearing aids without an issue and able to use it as my media output such as headphones or any sounds coming out of my old iPhone, now I am on the newest Android phone, there no options to do this at all other than using the app. The app does not have any functionality of telling my hearing aids to turn on as media output or such. Any way to do this instead of having my hearing reprogramming just for this android phone?

[@Sigma-n5m8d]

It’s a great review. I downloaded the app and only basically got the volume control. I deleted the app and redownloaded it following the instructions again. Same issue.

[@DrCliffAuD]

That doesn't make any sense. I would reach out to your audiologist for them to figure out what is going wrong.

[@LyndaSakai]

Why do I have to always turn my phone off be for my hearing aids connect. I have I phone 13 mini

[@smartboy20070]

Non of those options is available on Android. The new app is just the same as the older one , just different colors and sorting . All what we can do is turn the volume up, down ot mute 😡

[@lauriewickenheiser2971]

How can I set up my Oticon Companion on my Chromebook Laptop

[@alchance662]

Is there an option to create and save custom programs to be able to go back to and choose later on, like so many other brands have? If so, how many are allowed?

[@eaglepass5170]

Great review!!! Thank you!! One thing Oticon changed with the new app is they removed the “landscape” mode for the iPad???? Not a show stopper but highly annoying lol as someone who switches between iPhones and iPad regularity.

[@bevintx5440]

I agree as I almost exclusively use my iPad in landscape mode.

[@dezmar7144]

The iPhone iOS has improved a lot for Bluetooth hearing aids. It would be very beneficial do a similar review

[@danielcampbell7201]

Can you change the volume, of the streaming music, in the my music program?

[@v8pilot]

I just don't understand why hearing aid manufacturers have such a problem creating a properly tested and bug-free bluetooth app for smartphones. I can only assume they give the job to signal processing engineers who are not trained or experienced in designing friendly user interfaces for consumers and they make the great mistake of having the designers themselves test the app, rather than a panel of independent users. Whatever is the explanation, there is a serious problem that the hearing aid industry needs to face up to and deal with. It seriously impacts their customers in a negative way.

[@brianbenedict757]

A review of the app is fantastic. In the smart phone workld, it is key to to selecting which aid I want.

[@anitakeller1752]

This app is garbage. Unfailingly unstable.

[@kseyffert]

An app may be best in Class but still for from What it should be!

[@paulasnively2174]

Please slow down a little! Difficult to follow along as a newbie!!

[@TheSanthalVlogger]

What is the use of Open booster & live listen ? Please do tell me any…I’m helpless…

[@jorgequiroz881]

Dr Cliff, how are you excited for the new ACT test ???

[@TraceyWhitehead-j2l]

I have great success with remote adjustments

[@Sam-bl7qi]

Very helpful. Any insight to if and when the oticon real and companion app will support using real mics for phone calls in Android. I have Samsung S22 and so far so good as far as connectivity. Any updates greatly appreciated

[@kdossjojo]

At 6:20 on the screen that shows Program / General, I see two side arrows and one down arrow. However, on my iPhone I don't have that option to scroll sideways or to the bottom. Is that Android specific?

[@stevez6499]

Mine is the same way on my IPhone. It just indicates “General”. I’m thinking the audiologist has to add the different programs for it to have the arrows. I believe with my new Intent aids it switches modes automatically. I’ve only had them two days now. I’d like to make sure I get the Speech in Noise program because that is where I have the biggest problem. So far I think it is working. But I haven’t been to a restaurant yet to see what it is capable of. I do have the Speech Booster button selected.

[@NancyJudge]

I have watched several of your tutorials on Oticon Hearing aid and how to pair them with Apple Watch. I have paired my Oticon hearing aids to my Apple Watch and want to wear my watch to the gym to listen to music, but NOT have to take my iphone with me. Is this possible? Everytime I walk away from my iphone (with my watch and hearing aids with me) I lose the ability to hear the music.

[@rks2543]

upgrading HA leads to decreasing hearing ability ??? As once i upgrade to new HA, i feel like old HA feels underpower , kindly share your opinion on this p.s

[@johntyler4222]

The reason for the low ratings must surely be that the app doesn’t connect with the aids most of the time. I’ve only had them a day and I have to restart them every time I want to use the app so that they will connect. If they did connect reliably the ratings would be much higher. You only have to read the reviews to see that’s the case. As someone said they have removed many features from the app which is a shame.

[@anitakeller1752]

You are right. This app is terrible. It will be the reason why I won't purchase the Intent that I am trying out now. If I spend that kind of money I expect everything I pay for to actually work.

[@Raytheon65]

I use oticon apn 1 and I can't make calls with the Galaxy S24 Ultra that I recently bought. I searched the internet for a solution, but I only read reviews and no solution. I don't know what oticon plans to do about this very serious problem for oticon users, as it is a vital necessity. I was already starting the process of replacing the oticon apn1 with the Oticon Real, but I am starting to strongly consider a change to Phonak. Will the solution come in time or will I just march to Phonak? P.S. - Of course I have the Oticon Companion app installed but it is only used to see the status of the batteries.

[@MrOWarfield]

My wife Denise (first time hearing aids, not amplifiers) Monday, October 23, 2023. The best rechargeable. OTICON/Real with Smart Charger. The phone she will be using. The software on is Apple, 11 Pro Max. We have already ordered a new phone the Apple, 15 Pro Max but it was delayed delivery. We won’t have it until March 3, 2023. There should be a little difference I will be the one setting them up 81 years old a little knowledge but not a lot Thank you, Owen

[@davidmccarthy6061]

I suspect as AI comes in stronger in aids the apps may get better too. I'm leaning strongly towards Oticon so I hope Android support improves.

[@HOHguy]

My hearing aids won't connect to my tablet, it's in paired, but still says connect to this hearing aid, and never says connected, I want to stream to my tablet and samsung phone to my hearing aids, can anyone help?

[@judylou2099]

I have these hearings aide

[@italoleitao-sc1091]

The worst app ever

[@bevintx5440]

I only use my Oticon HAs with my iPad, so that I don’t have to disconnect and reconnect them all of the time. On my iPad I don’t see a battery time left and I wonder how accurate the battery percentage is.

[@gerardweber3733]

Great video Cliff as always! Does the app look different depending on model of i-Phone do you know b/c yours looks different than mine as I don’t have the three dot layout that you have and my version is 1.2.2 which is the latest and greatest I believe?

[@tbolt2039]

Hmmm. My expectation is that the app works at least the majority of the time. It's not just delays in connecting. I could put up with that. I have to turn my phone off and on, turn the aids off and on, etc. each time I try to use the app, in other words, many times a day. The time tracking feature stopped working and the app runs my phone battery down quickly. I am in a trial period of Real 1s and wish I could at least hear from Oticon that they have a plan for fixing these issues. The Sony OTC aids I tried connected flawlessly, as do my AirPods.

[@anitakeller1752]

5 months after your comment I'm in a trial with the new Oticon Intent. The Companion app is horrible. If Oticon hasn't fixed the connectivity issue since the problems were first noted, they aren't going to. That will be the deal breaker for me. If I pay thousands for a pair of high tech hearing aids I want all the features to work. That is a given.

[@newengland8126]

Wake me when there's a 16 or 24 band equalizer.

[@pjk]

I just started wearing the oticon real minirite this past monday 2/12/24. Absolutely life changing. I did not appreciate how bad my hearing had gotten. The worst part of it all was the mental exhaustion from straining to hear what was said. Also, I know that I was speaking very loud especially when on the phone. I do have one major concern and wondering if you have any suggestions. I am an amateur musician who plays the acoustic guitar. When I was playing my guitar throught the general setting on the app, the sound of the guitar was bizzare. It had a shimmering electronic effect on it. I called my audiologist who made some adjustments and told me to use the "my music" setting on the app. This took away the shimmering electronic effect, but the guitar still does not sound natural. It is very tinny with an emphasis on the treble register. I used the equalizer to boost the low end to the highest possible and reduced the high end all the way down. This helped a little, but the guitar still does not sound natural. Any suggestions??? Thanks!

[@GadgetyRon]

As a guitarist of 52 years and an Oticon More wearer, I may be able to help explain. I was having a similar issue with my Oticons, whereas I never had the issue on my previous Phonak Marvels. I described it to my audiologist as a warble, or kind of like speaking through a fan. My audiologist couldn't hear it or understand. After much online digging, I learned that Oticon achieves feedback suppression by taking the pitch it hears, and alternately raising and lowering the pitch by 10hz. In other words, a sustained note (like plucking a single string on a guitar for tuning, for instance) would rapidly alternate between 440hz, then 430hz, then 450hz (for an A=440 note, as an example). This resulted in a horrible warbling effect, which nearly drove me insane. I bought a NoahLink Wireless interface, downloaded the Oticon Genie software, and turned off the feedback suppression for my Music program. Like magic, the warble was gone. Feel free to print or copy my post and show to your audiologist, and maybe they will understand. As for the tinny sound, your audiologist should be able to make adjustments to better balance the frequency response - at least for your music program, if not for all of them. Good luck, and be persistent! They should fix these issues for you.

[@pjk]

@@GadgetyRon Hi Ron. Can't thank you enough for your comment! I love the Oticon hearing aids. They have radically changed my life. But as playing the guitar is an important part of my life, not being able to wear them when I play the guitar has been frustrating. My audiologist did make some adjustments. I even brought my guitar with me to her office and played while she was adjusting. While it was better, the acoustic guitar still sounded as if it was being played through a phase shifter. The weirdest thing is that with the adjustments, when I use the my music setting on the iphone app, music I listen to over a sound system sounds fine. It is only when playing my guitar that I have these problems. I have cut and pasted your comment and will show it to my audiologist.

[@nfig477]

Thank you. Didn’t know I could do all was there 🙏

[@Defmusicman1]

Can I use an Oticon TV streamer to stream audio from the sound mixer to my hearing aids in a live music performance setting?

[@DrCliffAuD]

Can you gain access to the sound mixer with RCA, 3.5mm headphone jack, or optical audio port?

[@Defmusicman1]

@@DrCliffAuD Yes. I assume that those cables are included with theOticon 3.0 tv streamer?

[@DrCliffAuD]

@@Defmusicman1 yeah they are, you should be good then!

[@Defmusicman1]

@@DrCliffAuD Great! Been trying to come up with a solution to live music performance. In ear monitors won’t work for me as my hearing loss is too severe, or so I’ve been told. I’m the musician.

[@DrCliffAuD]

@@Defmusicman1 already using fully occluding earmolds I presume?

[@Wunderpus-photogenicus]

I do not have the drop-down menu in GENERAL, where you can select "Program". Any idea why?

[@DrCliffAuD]

Because your provider never gave you any additional programs to switch into.

[@dmclucas]

​@@DrCliffAuD I have the same issue. (Andriod) I can control the aids volume but I can't use them with my phone for calls or music or anything. So basically this app is worthless as far as using it for phone calls? How does a person get the programs installed that you show under "General"?

[@DrCliffAuD]

@@dmclucas you should be able to use a "compatible" Android device for calls. The additional programs under general have to be added by your hearing care professional.

[@brookegray2533]

Same. And I have 3 additional programs as I watched the Audi put them in. They do not show up on the apps drop down menu on my Android phone. They work on my remote and push buttons

[@barbaraperry2796]

I needed that, thank you!

[@davidwaters621]

Spy

[@mrdeafman]

Hello Dr Cliff I have a set of Oticon’s xceed 1 BTE UP 675 and I would like to have those features speech booster on my phone and unfortunately I can’t get because my hearing care provider is not familiar with that program and that it would be best that someone mention it to me to see if they could help me and unfortunately the oticon customer service line said that they can’t do anything because my hearing care providers have to add that program to my app which they won’t do until I guess other people start questioning them about it and I see that you’re pretty much familiar with that feature so where can I get help on that if my hearing care provider not gonna help me on it?

[@dezmar7144]

The companion app is slow. I use iPhone shortcuts. Much better than the app.

[@MyBlisters]

please share how you do that,,

[@dezmar7144]

@@MyBlisters just swipe down on the iPhone and then press the ear icon. You will be able to switch programs and volume etc. you don’t have to wait for the app to connect

[@MyBlisters]

thank you

[@caznden]

Hey Doc Cliff, What is the Purpose of the “MODE “ Button, on the Oticon TV Adaptor ? Dennis.