My hearing device is connected, but HeardThat doesn't see it

HeardThat needs a connection to the phone (usually Bluetooth) that can stream audio. If your device is connected:

• can you hear media audio (for example, YouTube) from your phone?
• can you make a hands-free phone call?

If so, then HeardThat should be able to use that connection. If the answer to both those questions is "yes", send a message to support@singularhearing.com and let us know what make and model of listening device you have, as well as the make and model of your phone. We'll try to help you get it working.

Note that many hearing aids and cochlear implants can connect to an app on the phone that lets you control the device. That is not enough for HeardThat—you need to be able to hear streaming audio.

Be sure that your Bluetooth connection is for phone calls as well as general audio. If you can hear phone calls through your connection, you should be able to use HeardThat.

Directional mode is not available

Directional mode is supported on many phones but not all. Also, even if the phone can use Directional mode, sometimes a particular choice for the microphone in Settings > Recording device can result in it not being available. (This is unusual, but it can happen.)

We are working to expand support for Directional mode to more phones, so if you don't have it on your phone watch for future updates.

What does the Configure HeardThat button do? (Android)

You would not normally use this unless requested to do so by Tech Support. If HeardThat is working correctly on your phone, there is no need to press this button and we recommend you don't.

Because of the wide variety of different phones, HeardThat sometimes does not correctly determine how it should work on a particular phone. Pressing Settings > Configure HeardThat causes the app to run a few tests to try to correct any problems. It only takes a few seconds to run.

When would I use Switch Directional mode orientation? (Android)

In Directional mode, only voices on one side of the phone come through. Normally you would point the top of the phone toward the people you want hear, and away from yourself.

If HeardThat is picking up voices from the bottom of the phone instead of the top, or if you want to change what direction is used for some other reason, you can use this button, which is on the Settings page.

I hear a delay or an echo. What can I do about that?

A delay in the sound, which can cause an echo, is most noticeable when using a Bluetooth connection. Its severity can vary a lot depending on the phone model and the capabilities of the hearing device. It is less noticeable in a noisy environment.

The following suggestions can reduce this effect:

1. If you are using hearing aids or cochlear implants, turn down their microphones so that the sound you hear is mostly from HeardThat
2. Similarly, if you are using earbuds or headphones that have noise cancellation, turn that on and make sure "ambient sound" is turned off.
3. Turning up the volume of HeardThat can help.
4. Make sure you are reducing the effect of your own voice (as discussed here). Using Directional mode can help a lot.
5. If you have an iPhone, you will get the least echo when using MFi hearing aids or AirPods.
6. If you have an Android phone, make sure you are on the latest version of Android. Most phones and Bluetooth headsets work quite well, but the newer the phone, the less echo there is, in general.
7. Listening to TV? Put the phone near the TV speaker and turn the volume down a bit so you don't hear as much of the direct sound.
8. Use wired earbuds or headphones if that's an option

As is often the case with hearing assistance, it gets better when you get used to it, especially if you have followed some of the steps above.

My own voice is too loud

Use Directional mode

Watch video about Directional mode

1. Click the image on the home screen to choose Directional mode
2. If the bottom of the phone is pointed toward you, you won't hear your own voice

General advice

1. The farther the phone is from you, and the closer it is to the person you want to hear, the less you will notice your own voice

I still hear noise

If you are using hearing aids or cochlear implants, turn their microphone(s) down (or off). See the instructions that came with your hearing device for how to do that.

Here is some general information for all hearing devices. HeardThat separates speech from noise and delivers just the speech to your ears. This increases the speech signal relative to the noise, but it doesn't cancel out the noise in the environment and that may still be reaching your ears directly.

If this is a problem, you may want to consider using HeardThat with noise cancelling earbuds or headphones. Some users wear such headphones over their hearing aids or implants.