How to Connect Hearing Aids and Amplifiers to Bluetooth: A Step-by-Step UK Guide
How to Connect Hearing Aids and Amplifiers to Bluetooth: A Step-by-Step UK Guide
To connect hearing aids or amplifiers to Bluetooth, charge them first, switch on Bluetooth (and, for many hearing apps, Location Services) on your phone, put the devices into pairing mode, then connect through the maker's app or your phone's Bluetooth settings, whichever your manual says. Most connection problems come down to one of those steps being missed.
This guide walks through each step in plain English, shows how JD Health Tech's app models connect to the ForSound app, and explains what to try when one ear will not connect or the app cannot find your devices.
One thing up front: JD Health Tech sells personal sound amplifiers. They are not hearing aids or medical devices. We use the phrase "hearing aids" here because it is what many people search for, and the pairing basics are similar for both.
Before you start: what does your device's Bluetooth actually do?
Bluetooth on a hearing device does one of two jobs: it lets an app adjust the sound, or it streams calls and music from your phone, and some devices do both. Knowing which yours does saves a lot of frustration, because people often try to pair for a feature their device does not have.
Here is how it works across the JD Health Tech range.
| Model | App | What Bluetooth does |
|---|---|---|
| Cantara Pro RIC (formerly Clarity Pro RIC) | ForSound | App adjustment, plus phone calls and music streamed from a paired mobile phone |
| Cantara Pro Micro CIC (formerly Clarity Pro Micro CIC) | ForSound | App adjustment only. It does not stream calls or music |
| Clarity CIC range, Cantara Micro CIC, Cantara Elite Micro-CIC | None | No Bluetooth. There is nothing to pair |
The Cantara Pro RIC streams from a phone only. It cannot connect to a television or smart speaker. Every JD Health Tech amplifier amplifies the sound in the room, including the TV, rather than receiving it wirelessly. Our guide to hearing the TV more clearly covers the options.
If your model has nothing to pair
If you own an app-free model, you do not need a phone at all. You take the amplifiers out of the case, they switch on, and you adjust them with the button. For many people that simplicity is the whole point. If you would like to understand the trade-off, our guide to app and app-free setup explains who each suits.
How to put hearing aids and amplifiers in pairing mode
On most Bluetooth hearing devices, pairing mode starts for a short time when the device is switched on or lifted out of its charging case. That is why the usual advice is to take them out of the case and start connecting straight away, rather than wearing them for a while first.
The exact method varies between makes and models, so your manual is the final word. A few habits make it work first time far more often.
How to connect hearing aids to Bluetooth: the general steps
For most app-controlled hearing devices, you connect through the maker's app rather than the phone's Bluetooth list. These are the steps that apply to the majority of devices.
Some hearing devices, particularly prescription hearing aids, pair through a hearing devices section in the phone's accessibility settings instead. If your manual says so, follow that route rather than the normal Bluetooth list.
On an iPhone
Hearing apps often need Location Services as well as Bluetooth, even though they are not tracking where you are. For the ForSound app, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Location Services, turn it on, and set ForSound to "While Using the App". Menu names can differ slightly between iOS versions.
On an Android phone
Open Settings, then Location, and turn it on. If the app still cannot see your devices, close it fully and open it again once Location is on. Wording varies a little between phone makers.
Connecting JD Health Tech app models to the ForSound app
The Cantara Pro RIC and Cantara Pro Micro CIC both connect to the free ForSound app, and each ear connects separately. That second point catches most people out, so it is worth knowing before you start.
Calls and music on the Cantara Pro RIC
The Cantara Pro RIC can also stream phone calls and music from a paired mobile phone, a little like wireless earphones. Follow the streaming step in your in-box guide, and if it will not connect for calls, contact our UK support team rather than resetting everything.
Streaming uses more battery. The RIC gives up to 15 hours per charge with up to 52 hours more from the case, and continuous streaming reduces that, so disconnect Bluetooth when you are not using it for calls or music.
Hearing aid Bluetooth not connecting? Common fixes
Most connection problems have a simple cause, and it is worth working through these before assuming a fault. Start with the one that matches what you are seeing.
The app cannot find my amplifiers
On Android, this is usually Location being switched off. Turn it on in Settings, then try again with the amplifiers freshly out of the case.
The iPhone says "Turn on Bluetooth" when it is already on
This message usually means Location Services is off for the app, not Bluetooth. Set ForSound to "While Using the App" under Location Services and reopen the app.
Only one ear connects, or one ear keeps dropping out
Because each ear connects separately, one side can connect while the other has not. Check both are charged, put them back in the case for a few seconds, take them out and connect each in turn. Some customers have told us about one ear dropping out mid-use. If that keeps happening after these steps, contact us so we can look at it properly.
Also check the settings on both ears. If one ear is set differently, or sits in a mode that does not amplify, it can feel as though that side is not working when it is connected perfectly well.
The lights flash while I am wearing the Cantara Pro RIC
Flashing lights while worn mean the amplifiers are trying to reconnect to a phone they were paired with before. It is not a fault. Either connect them to the phone by Bluetooth and then disconnect them in the phone's own Bluetooth settings (not in the app), or take them out of the case and leave them for about five minutes without wearing them. Our guide to beeps and flashing lights covers the other patterns.
Nothing else has worked: reset the app connection
A factory reset in ForSound clears settings and gives you a fresh start. Charge the amplifiers to at least 50%, pair as normal, tap the four-square icon at the top right of the Home screen to open More, choose Reset and confirm. Then put the amplifiers back in the case for a few minutes, take them out and pair again.
Is a Bluetooth model right for you?
A Bluetooth model is worth it if you are comfortable with a smartphone and want to fine-tune the sound, or take calls through your amplifiers. If you would rather switch on and go, an app-free model will usually be the easier daily companion.
It is fair to say the app adds steps. You need a compatible phone kept charged and nearby, permissions set correctly, and a little patience the first time. For some people that is a small price for more control. For others, especially anyone who finds small screens or fiddly settings tiring, it is a reason to choose a simpler model.
App models also cost more than our app-free models, so it is worth paying for the app only if you expect to use it. If your main goal is clearer conversation at home and the TV in the room, an app-free model may suit you just as well for less.
Remember, too, what any amplifier can and cannot do. App settings can make everyday sound more comfortable, but they will not turn a personal sound amplifier into a hearing aid, and they are designed for mild to moderate everyday listening challenges.
Buying for a parent or partner
If you are setting up an app model for someone else, do it together on their own phone, at home, in a quiet room. Let them do the reconnecting while you watch, so they are not stuck the first time the app needs them. Our guide to buying for an elderly parent has more pre-order checks.
Orders placed on our website come with a 30-day home trial counted from delivery, with free UK returns on all items except clearance items. If an app model turns out not to suit you, you can return it and our support team can help you choose an app-free alternative.
When to stop and get help
If you have worked through the steps above and your amplifiers still will not connect, stop and contact us rather than repeating resets. Our UK support team can check the model, the app and the phone with you, and arrange a replacement if there is a genuine fault.
And if you find that even a well-connected device is not giving you the clarity you hoped for, that is worth taking seriously. Significant or worsening hearing difficulty should be checked by a qualified hearing professional. Our free online hearing check can help you think about your everyday listening, but it is not a medical test.
Frequently asked questions about connecting hearing aids and amplifiers to Bluetooth
On most Bluetooth hearing devices, pairing mode starts for a short time when the device is switched on or taken out of its charging case. Charge the devices first, take them out of the case, then start the connection in the app or your phone straight away. If the window passes, put them back in the case for a few seconds and try again. Your manual gives the exact method for your model.
Common reasons include a low battery, Location Services switched off for the app, the devices having left pairing mode, or an old connection getting in the way. Charge the devices, turn on Location Services for the app, put them back in the case for a few seconds, then try again with the phone close by. If it still fails, contact the seller's support team before assuming a fault.
For the ForSound app used by JD Health Tech's app models, yes. Bluetooth pairing needs Location Services enabled on both iPhone and Android. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Location Services, and set ForSound to While Using the App. On Android, open Settings, then Location, and turn it on.
Not with any model in the JD Health Tech range. The Cantara Pro RIC can stream phone calls and music from a paired mobile phone, but it cannot connect to a TV or smart speaker. All of our personal sound amplifiers amplify the sound in the room, including the TV, rather than receiving it wirelessly.
No. Many personal sound amplifiers have no app and no Bluetooth at all, including the Clarity CIC range, the Cantara Micro CIC and the Cantara Elite Micro-CIC. You switch them on, adjust them with a button and wear them. A smartphone is only needed for app models such as the Cantara Pro RIC and Cantara Pro Micro CIC.
Yes. Continuous Bluetooth streaming uses noticeably more power than everyday listening, and higher volume does too. The Cantara Pro RIC gives up to 15 hours per charge, and streaming reduces that. Disconnecting Bluetooth when you are not streaming helps the charge last longer.
No. A Bluetooth hearing amplifier is a personal sound amplifier for everyday listening that happens to connect to a phone. A hearing aid is a medical device, usually fitted after a professional hearing assessment. Both may use Bluetooth, but they are different products for different needs.
With the ForSound app, the left and right amplifiers appear and connect separately, so one side can connect while the other has not yet. Make sure both are charged and out of the case, then connect each one in turn. If one side keeps dropping, put both back in the case for a few seconds, try again, and contact support if it continues.
Yes, within the trial period. Orders from our website come with a 30-day home trial with free UK returns on all items except clearance items, counted from delivery. If an app model is not right for you, our app-free models may suit you better, and our UK support team can help you decide.
Yes, and it often helps. Install the app on the phone the wearer will carry, because that is the phone the amplifiers will connect to. Set it up together at home, in a quiet room, so the wearer knows how to reconnect and change settings on their own afterwards.
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