Philips HearLink at Work and in Meetings

One workday, many listening situations

At work, your hearing goes through several tests in a single day: a phone call with a client, a video meeting, a discussion around the table, and a noisy kitchenette at break time. No single setting suits all of these.

So before the fitting appointment, it helps to write down a typical workday: how many phone calls, how many meetings, where you sit, and what tires you out the most. A list like this helps set up the hearing aids for what actually happens in your day, not for an average workday.

Phone calls at work

The manufacturer's page for the HearLink 50 miniRITE lists Bluetooth LE Audio and hands-free calling. The technical document also lists MFi, Apple's connection, and ASHA, a connection method found on Android phones. For the HearLink 50 miniBTE R, the technical document also lists LE Audio, MFi and ASHA.

According to an expert hearing aid technician, all HearLink models support calls with Android phones, but on some phones the phone's own software does not support it. So the key test is with your phone, not just with the hearing aid. Bring your work phone to the appointment, and if you have two, bring both.

What to try when the connection drops in the middle of the workday: according to the same technician, turn Bluetooth off and on again on your phone, restart the hearing aids, and connect again. On Samsung phones, he recommends opening the hearing aid settings within the Bluetooth settings and switching the connection from LE to ASHA.

If that does not help, there are detailed guides: Philips HearLink won't connect to iPhone and Philips HearLink won't connect to Android.

Video meetings: Teams, Zoom and the like

A video meeting is different from a phone call. The sound comes from an app, sometimes on your phone and sometimes on your computer. How the sound from the meeting app reaches your hearing aids, and whether you can connect them directly to your computer, depends on the model, the phone, the computer and the software versions. We do not promise in advance that it will work in every combination. We check it at the fitting appointment, and if possible with the phone or laptop you work with.

Tips that do not depend on technology:

• Ask participants to turn on their cameras. It is easier to understand when you can see faces.
• Ask people to speak one at a time, and to mute when they are not speaking.
• If your meeting software has captions, try turning them on.
• Before an important meeting, do a one-minute check: hearing aids connected, volume comfortable.

Meetings in the room: AudioClip

In a meeting around a table, the speaker is sometimes far away, or talking toward the screen rather than toward you. AudioClip is a Philips accessory that works as a remote microphone and as a headset. You place it near the speaker or clip it to their clothing, and their voice goes straight to your hearing aids.

If most of your meetings are open discussions with many participants, mention this at the appointment and check together whether AudioClip suits the kind of meetings you have. More about the accessory: Philips HearLink AudioClip.

Open-plan office and background noise

Air conditioning, keyboards and conversations all around. Philips HearLink has technology for processing sound in noise, and it has its own page: SoundMap 3. If you want a separate program for meetings or for noise, ask for it at the fitting appointment. What can be set up on your model is checked there.

• Sit with your back to the wall, away from a door or the air conditioner.
• In a meeting, choose a seat where you can see most of the participants.
• According to an expert hearing aid technician, you can change the volume yourself in the app. See the HearLink 2 app.

A long workday: charging or batteries

If your hearing aids are rechargeable, the simple habit is to charge them overnight. Charger Plus is a portable Philips charger, and according to Philips it holds enough power for three full charges of two hearing aids. You can keep it in your work bag.

According to an expert hearing aid technician, choosing between a rechargeable hearing aid and one with batteries is mainly a matter of peace of mind: what is easier for you to remember and manage on a busy day. More about charging: Charging Philips HearLink.

Should you tell people at work?

It is a personal decision. Some people prefer to tell their team, because it makes it easier to ask "please face me when you talk" or "please turn on your camera". Others do not. A behind-the-ear hearing aid is small, and you can make the decision a few weeks later, too.

What to ask at the fitting appointment

• Will the hearing aid connect to my work phone? Can we check it now?
• How will the sound from my video meetings reach the hearing aids?
• Can I have a separate program for meetings or for noise?
• When is AudioClip worth using, and how do I use it?

Frequently asked questions

Can I hear a phone call in both ears?

When the hearing aids are connected to your phone over Bluetooth, the call audio reaches both of them. If the connection is not working, see the iPhone and Android connection guides.

Can I connect directly to my work computer?

It depends on the computer, the model and the software. We check it at the fitting appointment, and there is no promise for every computer.

My hearing aid disconnected from my phone in the middle of the day. What should I do?

Restart Bluetooth on your phone and restart the hearing aids, then connect again. If it keeps happening, get in touch with us.

Will my hearing aids last a full workday?

It depends on the model, the settings and how much streaming you do. We check it based on your workday.

Let's check it together

Tell us what your workday looks like, and we will check what suits you. A hearing test and demonstration, with no obligation. Service is by appointment, depending on your area and the type of request.

Phone: 055-3333338 · WhatsApp

G-Sound is an authorized marketer of Philips hearing aids.