myPhonak Reviews

by HazeLyons

Several issues with myPhonak but lets talk about Blue Tooth connectivity. It worked for awhile and then I had frequent issues with the connectivity. First I’d be driving down the road and the phone would be switching back and forth from the car’s blue tooth phone connection to the hearing aids when I was on a phone call. It should be noted that I use the car’s speaker phone rather than my paired blue tooth hearing aids.

Next the connectivity from my hearing aids to my cell phone not will say “connected” for 5-10 seconds and then “not connected.” I asked one of your customer service people how to fix the problem and was very displeased with the answer which was “Well when Apple sends out updates it does this and you have to delete myPhonak , reload it from myPhonak store and then go through the process of pairing the device, etc, and redo your settings. I must have done that at least 15 times, five with the latest trouble which still hasn’t been resolved. I have multiple apps on my IPhone and this is the one where I have problems. Why doesn’t Phonak send out updates and fixes?

I won’t even begin to tell you about the issues I’ve had, when myPhonak is actually working, with it kicking me off my personal the settings on the volume.

by 19710922

The response is nonsense - a cut and paste response with no resolution. Get with times and get this fixed. The problem is worse now than before the settings won’t stay no matter what- as soon as the phone screen times out myPhonak reverts back to auto. It doesn’t matter if you get a notification from another program or app. it always revert back to Auto.
I have seen the same issues with the default back to Auto after receiving a call. Also very annoying to see the pop up that nothing is playing on my iPhone 12. The thing that bothers me the most is that the hearing aids seem to have a mind of their own. They either requiring a manual reconnecting via Bluetooth or connecting to Bluetooth when I have it set to speaker or when I’m on a call via my Apple Watch. Seems to always do the opposite of what I wanted.
On the positive side the ability to remotely adjust and add custom settings is nice.

by Blueline Wolf

I have the Phanak Marvel Hearing aids which are awesome! First time user and have had them for a month and a half. The Phonak app has major issues. My audiologist has preset personal settings for me. The Phonak app will change them to a default setting where all the settings line up in a row. I can tell because noise like wind, ac vent noise, or traffic are so loud it sounds like a hurricane of white noise.

It does this daily, and the only fix is to delete myPhonak , reinstall myPhonak , and re- pair my hearing aids. It will then have my personal preset setting back in place until it wants to reset them back to a default setting again. Even if I manually adjust them close to my saved personal setting or hit comfort, it will only stay if I leave myPhonak open. As soon as I close it, it goes back to a default setting. Also if I leave myPhonak open and I receive a text, it will go back to the default settings.

After a month and a half I’ve only had my personal settings last more than one day twice without having to delete and reinstall myPhonak . TODAY I HAVE HAD TO DELETE myPhonak , REINSTALL myPhonak , AND RE-PAIR MY HEARING AIDS 5 TIMES in a 8 hour period ! This was during a Law Enforcement Negotiator training session. Luckily it was not an emergency call out! However, at this rate, it’s just a matter of time.

by ShortShrift

Started the new year with complete failure of this historically shameful software. Deleted myPhonak and re-downloaded (and have spent an entire day trying everything I can think of to regain functionality). No icon visible on my iPhone. If I go into App Store and search, it comes up showing I have it, and I can open it from there, but it is non-functionsl. My P-90’s have the latest hardware update but that hasn’t helped. These 1 year old aids are now no more functional than the cheap Eargos I had before them. Took the chance when I purchased that Sonovo would improve the software. That turned out to be a bad $6000 gamble. The ineptitude of this company is legion. Can’t wait to dump this brand. They have had years to improve this software and they still show no respect for their customers. Stay away!

by Ladybugbbr

I really wish I had read reviews and rating before making a major investment to improve my quality of life. I am hearing impaired due to neurological event and not age. I say only to emphasize how important this is to me. I have had my phonak aids for 17 days now and don’t anticipate keeping them. This program has completely failed me and so far no help. When I set the program where it works for me even before I can save changes it reverts back to default settings. It will create programs but each and every one converts back to default so you wind up with many different names of the same settings. I have contacted customer service who were very courteous and tried to be helpful but couldn’t fix it. I have emailed customer service who sent a lengthy reply but no help. The aids are incredible for phone calls, for streaming, and for use not involving real life. They can’t be programmed for restaurants, church, noisy environment or any type living situation. All because myPhonak doesn’t work. I have never done a review like this before but this effects people’s lives and it’s not a game. If you are looking please make another choice. I will certainly make another choice.

by TheBarbaraBrady

I just got new Bluetooth hearing aids, and I am very happy to be able to use them with my iPad to watch and listen to streaming media. That is, once I get through the half hour to 45 minutes to figure out how to get it to be fully functional on the iPad without defaulting to the iPhone.

But the worst thing is that the sound quality of the streaming media through the hearing aids is just absolutely terrible. That is, of course, a hearing aid problem. But there are settings within myPhonak that I might be able to improve that. However, when I listen to streaming media over the hearing aids, the Phonak app defaults to the “Bluetooth and streaming media settings” and in that setting I have only volume and right left valance options. The more sophisticated tunings are in another setting. But when I change to that setting, the program pauses, and when I turn it the programming back on myPhonak defaults back to the “Bluetooth and streaming media” setting where the sound quality is horrible and not adjustable with myPhonak .

myPhonak would be much improved if the Bluetooth and streaming media settings included some of the more sophisticated options

by Lionheartlev

myPhonak, at least developed so far, is a disaster, - a factor that should be considered before springing thousands of dollars for any Phonak aids. Connection between app and the aids is spotty at best. Even if and when connection is established, the alternative programming for different settings (restaurant, music, etc.) are unstable. Choosing one of the alternatives often knocks out the entire app-to-aids connection.

I must often remove my aids when listening in particular situations - e.g., performing or practicing piano - where the only sound I get is ugly distortion of otherwise piano sound.

So myPhonak is worse than worthless.

My salespeople (“consultants”) have been unable to help with these problems

For an expensive supposedly top of line product like these Phonak aids, myPhonak is an utter disgrace. A ‘joke’ except tha a good app is an important element of the hearing aids’ usefulness.

I see here other app users rare it poorly. No surprise. I’ve never encountered any kind of app fir any purpose that fails as thoroughly as this.

Maybe a new upgrade will improve this min not betting on it. This situation is BAD, and Phonak has this far seemed inept.

I’d consider avoiding Phonak products entirely - even if your salespeple like mine push Phonak.

by Ad Portas

The hearing aids are great, but myPhonak is absolutely terrible. Like >50% of reviewers, I do not want myPhonak to revert to AutoSense after any/every Bluetooth interaction. FIX THIS.

In the same vein, the “mute” feature on myPhonak is worthless if you use your iPhone to do anything. If you mute your aid(s) in the Phonak app and *anything* comes in via Bluetooth, the aids … you guessed it… revert to AutoSense (UNmuted). If you want to see how ridiculous this is, try muting your aid(s) in myPhonak and then opening Google Maps. Are you surprised that it’s now unmuted? Yeah, me too. Okay, now switch back to the Phonak app and mute the aids again. Go back to Google Maps. Unmuted, again? Yep! Don’t bother trying 50 more times (like I did). Same result: Every. Single. Time.

Note to Developer: please don’t reply with a canned message (e.g., a cut/paste of another reply already posted). I identified specific flaws, so I’m looking for specific solutions. (A specific solution is providing me with the date by which I can expect a software update to fix the flaws.)

by ShayneShayer

I am 39 and a tech junkie. So when I needed hearing aids I went with the paradise 90’s $6,000 dollar top tech top of the line hearing aids. They are buggier than a swamp in July. Phone call quality is terrible for some reason (constantly cutting out) but streaming sounds ok. The double tap to answer a call works maybe 10 Percent of the time and I look like an idiot tapping my ears saying hello, hello hello. Then when I answer from my phone or my watch I have to manually switch to the hearing aid. My previous marvels you could push the volume button and it worked every time. myPhonak does absolutely nothing. When you change your hearing aid settings it works until you get a notification or type or stream then defaults to the absolutely awful auto sense 4.0 Wich I wish I could delete.

If Phonak fixes these issues I will update this. Until then go for a real Made For iPhone hearing aid. They are way way better.

by Texas Carrier

Like so many others have stated, changing settings within myPhonak is great. Until it defaults to AutoSense. I’ve spent time tweaking the devices to exactly the way I need them only to have them return to default settings. All. The. Time. The aides seem like quality devices that could work really well - except myPhonak always gets in the way and makes them useable for only one setting, which is the default. I can’t figure out why developer would spend so much effort to make an app that has so many useful features and user-friendly settings only to have it all ultimately become useless. I’ll be opting for a different brand. These are good for using WITHOUT myPhonak , but for 2021 this is silly. Too many technical capabilities are available today to have to use high prices aides that have no function. Developer: please don’t respond with the canned “...clarify a particular behavior...” response. I’ve read it a hundred times- it is not useful. Useful would be to fix myPhonak . Just fix myPhonak .

by Cliffienj

I use the TV program frequently. Unfortunately, it consistently turns itself off and reverts back to automatic for no apparent reason. This also happens when I get a text, a phone call, or some other audible notification from my iPhone SE (2020), running IOS 14.2. I hate the fact that I am constantly having to reconnect my P70-R aids to myPhonak in order to hear the TV. I can’t think of any logical reason for myPhonak to work this way. Please fix it!

Later...
Sonova’s response was basically of no value. Turn off all my iPhone audible alerts (which I need) to keep myPhonak from switching back to automatic is crazy. I use the “TV” program frequently because I need it, but every time I get an alert on my phone (i.e., a text message or a calendar reminder) it switches back to automatic. I then have to open myPhonak , wait for it to connect to my aids and switch back to TV. Meanwhile, I’ve missed a minute or two of what I’m watching. Pain in the a**!!! Fix it!!!

by CeciTigre

There are a few idiosyncratic behaviors related to myPhonak ’s functionality that are quite annoying but the one that I continue to struggle with, is the one where the “CLARITY” setting causes the injection of static or white noise amplification making it more difficult to hear with the PHONAK Audeo P-R (T-Coil) and the ‘PHONAK Audeo M 90 R’. I have a lot of issues with this sudden presentation of static/white noise while I am walking, driving, sitting, etc... I will have cristal clear hearing then suddenly this static/white noise presents itself as I’m doing nothing with myPhonak and not even holding the iPhone. Nothing I’ve tried, within myPhonak , has addressed or corrected this intermittent issue. I have no idea as to the probable or possible cause or causes of this issue could be. It happens on ‘Auto’ and ‘Bluetooth’.

by EUROPS

It is very annoying when myPhonak continuously returns to the automatic mode. I can not be in a meeting and continuously keep having to change the settings. I can’t use my calendar or check a message without having to reset my hearing aids. There is no comfort button now in the restaurant mode. Being able to block out the background noise was one of the reasons I upgraded to my new hearing aids. When a company gets numerous complaints about a problem they should fix it. To be told to take my hearing aids in and have my audiologist set the phone Bluetooth connections for me is not an acceptable response. I do not want all my notifications deleted. I want my hearing aids to respond in the way all your literature and web page stated they would.

by Mango Birkie

I’m only two weeks into using myPhonak. The user interface is pretty intuitive - no real complaints. But there are two things that I find very annoying. The first is that each time I use myPhonak , it takes almost as long to establish a link with the hearing aids as it does to initially pair with them. The second is that you have to disconnect the streaming Bluetooth connection (different from the Bluetooth connection used for remote control) in order to make or change a custom program. Otherwise you will get an internal error message. I couldn’t find this documented anywhere in myPhonak user guide. I learned about it through Reddit. UPDATE: It seems that the latest update 4.0.5 has fixed the issue of having to disable the streaming Bluetooth connection in order to create or change a custom program. This is a welcome improvement.

by Jawboner

While nearly every other hearing aid manufacturer has elected to provide an Apple Watch program that partners with their main iPhone app it is inexplicable why Phonak has not taken this on. myPhonak on the phone has certainly improved over the past year but it is simply impractical in most cases to pop your phone open if you wish to select a custom program for the occasion. That fact renders myPhonak nearly useless on numerous occasions when it would be most useful. Turning your phone on in the theater, opening myPhonak during a night out for dinner with others, and in typical instances when you are likely to want to tweak your hearing experience is just not simple or practical. Using your watch to change to a custom program, tweak the volume, or mute the microphones should seem like a no brainer for the developer. It is hard to understand why this hasn’t yet been undertaken by the developer and/or Phonak who makes some of the most advanced hearing devices in the world.

by Jamsegs

My iPhone 12pro with iOS 14.2 displays a message on the locked screen that the R-Phonak hearing aid is not playing. I can tap the message and then select iphone but that is only a temporary resolution as the message will popup again for the R-aid. It nevers displays the iPhone is not playing, only the R- aid. It did this on 14.1 too. My XS did not show this message with iOS 14. The R hearing aid is Bluetooth connected and works like normal for phone calls and music. When music is playing through the aids the locked screen shows the R aid is selected for the music, which is fine but not necessary as the user will already know that but when music play is not actually selected, the “not playing” message on the locked screen is redundant and annoying.

by Mzomax

First of all, I would like to say that this hearing aid, the Phonak Marvel, has by far the best T-coil sound I have used. I am a pharmacist and spend a lot of time on the phone. However, this review is about myPhonak not the aid. The ability to adjust the volume on the external microphone in t-coil is no longer available and after contacting Phonak support directly I was told that it could be adjusted by manually tapping the hearing aid buttons. This works well and has helped much. I would like to see that function return to myPhonak control. Also, I am another patient that would like to be able to change programs from my iWatch. I looked at the remote and the draw back there is that you have to toggle through all the programs to get from one mode to another. Another suggestion for Phonak, make the remote like the first Phonak hearing aid I bought in 2003. It had a separate button for TV, t-coil, normal mode, as well as a volume button. I jump back and forth from normal to t-coil probably 3-4 times an hour at work.

by Jacob.b.smith

App is okay for what it is, and has good controls.

I think the program switching back to automatic after bluetooth is a function of the hearing aid device rather than that of the iPhone app.

It's really missing an Apple Watch companion app though! It would be very nice to have these controls available on my wrist instead of fishing out my phone every time I gets phone call, and being able to change the active program would be a good workaround for the previously (and frequently) mentioned program switching issue! Not perfect, but good for people like me who bought an Apple Watch specifically as a companion device to the bluetooth function of my hearing aids.

by Minion F

I recently bought Costco KS 9 and was told to use myPhonak. It replaces a KS6 (ReSound) app that I had previously used. myPhonak is definitely a step up but I cannot see battery status (despite it showing on screen shot in App Store). Resound app had lost hearing aid location- that would be nice in myPhonak. Third I can create and save custom settings but cannot delete them if I create a mess. Finally there are several settings that I can see but not use. For example there is TV + left mic and TV plus right mic, but I cannot manually select either. I have search app user guide for the answers to these questions and concern but either overlooked or did not find answers.

by Flashoflight

I purchased Kirkland 9.0 hearing aids at Costco. The tech, Kim, said “what’s most important to you - in order?” Hearing quality followed closely by iOS compatibility. “We can help with the first, but unfortunately smart phone operating systems are not always friendly with hearing aids”. I quickly heard the advantage on the trial pair at the store and decided to not worry about myPhonak . When I picked the hearing aids up and wanted to talk about myPhonak Kim said “one thing at a time. You can try myPhonak when you get home”. I expected nothing. But...
When I got home and connected the this app app, it just worked. I was surprised because the reviews for hearing aid apps are nearly universal at 2 stars and terrible.
My phone rings, I can take the call with iOS 14.1. The aids connect automatically. I couldn’t be happier. Best of all, I no longer say huh? 9 times out of 10 when my wife talks to me. The hearing aids are great! This is my first go at HA at 60. Glad I made the decision to get them.

by Dpteague

I originally had difficulty staying connected to the hearing aids, went back to the audiologist. She connected me with the hearing aid supplier.
Said I need to update myPhonak , who knew?
Still after deleting myPhonak numerous times trying to get both aids to connect, not happening. After reading many of the other reviews, I’ll not repeat all the other disappointments that are the same as the other users have experienced

by T Ladd

Terrible app. Seems to offer alot but needs update to allow to save setting when you change volumn it reverts back to the orignal settings. When i vhange to a different parameter such as restaurant for an example. If you turn the screen off it’ll revert back to the auto sense parameter. If you change the volumn to clarity or comfort it’ll revert back to orignal settings. Right now my hearing aids will not connect to myPhonak . It is connected via bluetooth to my phone and taking phone calls. But it is shoeing up error not able to connect. Like i said it has alot to offer but needs more work. I have shut down and deleted myPhonak amd downloaded myPhonak it has same issue. My phone is updated to the latest OS. I will update my review when myPhonak changes.

by Rloschy

I am currently trying out the M70 hearing aids with the removable batteries. I love the hearing improvements from them!! However my decision to purchase this brand is dependent on it’s ability to stream music and podcasts with my iPhone X. Streaming works great when I am indoors but cuts out when outdoors. I have seen many posts by others with same issues. I’ve reloaded app as per recommendations and even removed phone from case with no improvement while I do see routine app updates being posted, I need assurance from this vendor that they are working on this issue and can fix it before I will purchase from Phonak. I hope they can as I love it when it’s working.

by Jmiff348

I love it that we now have an app that provides the ability to fine-tune settings to any environment. However, the built-in programs and custom programs only work while myPhonak is up on your phone. If you close your phone (or receive a text, phone call or any audible notification), the hearing aids disconnect from myPhonak and the settings revert back to the default program. When you pay $7,000 for hearing aids, you expect better. Sad.

by Faraday3

The previous version at least would connect to the hearing aids. This version fails. Restarted iphone, restarted hearing aids. Nothing helps. Makes myPhonak useless.

Update. Decided to delete myPhonak one more time and download 3.0.2 from myPhonak store. After having done this a few times I did not expect it to behave any differently.

Started app snd went through the initial setup steps and shazam! Hearing aids connected.

Now will it continue to be successful tomorrow? Next week?

12/17 update: app loses connection to hearing aids. Need to “forget hearing aids” the go through the discovery and pairing setup again ... and then again ... and yet again ...

the previous version stayed connected but dud not have the advanced sound options as myPhonak. Disappointed.

by Ruth 100

myPhonak works for after re-downloading for the remote control function, but won’t work for streaming or phone calls. It keeps disconnecting and can’t find the device. The new remote control features are good but the inability to use the hearing aids for phone calls and streaming makes myPhonak pretty useless. It worked before, so why not now?? Very frustrating.

by Cgswss

Love myPhonak... when it works! I have had it freeze many times and seems only way to unfreeze is to delete app and reload. Of course when you do that you loose your custom programs. Custom programs are fantastic!

This should be a Apple Watch program too. It is so much easier to just tap your watch then to have to pull out your phone. Still worth having

I have been using the resound app on resound aids and it ability to work with the watch is much nicer. Also their app is more reliable as it’s been out longer and has had the bugs worked out

I’m sure that this will have the programming issues worked out soon then will get at least a 4 maybe a 5 star rateing

by Cybergeorgie

All the customization is welcome, but when I lock the phone the autosense returns to normal settings. You can created profiles, but you lost them if you make myPhonak forget your hearing aids. And the worst, the pairing for two devices only work with myPhonak not with the Bluetooth audio (just like the old app) this stop me from using my iPad and iPhone with my hearing aids. ( the pairing and unpairing devices is too much trouble. }

by Average Joe312

An improvement over the very basic Phonak Remote app. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work in the background. If I use myPhonak to turn off or otherwise adjust my hearing aids, when I switch to another app they return to their default settings. That’s a big problem. Please fix it.

by Nehenak

I enjoy the improvement of myPhonak over the remote app. Nice customization. My hang up which results in the 3 star rating is probably due to IOS 13.1. myPhonak will not allow the menu in upper right corner to slide open to see additional information and options. Fixing this would be extremely helpful. Thanks.

by Raisin Nuts

When I connect the hearing aid with myPhonak , I can use the functionality of myPhonak but not stream audio or take phone calls. When I connect directly using the Bluetooth setting on my phone I can stream and take calls, but the hearing aid will no longer sync with myPhonak .

by ValdAlucard

I really enjoy using myPhonak with my hearing aids. It would be a 5 star if could fix the Bluetooth issue having to reconnect to use the Bluetooth option on my iPhone 11. At times it is fine and I can listen to music or talk on the phone.

myPhonak will not work at all at times when I have the Bluetooth on. It would be great to fix this connectivity issue. I had my hearing aids updated just the other day at the audiologists office. Not sure if that caused the issues or not. Everything worked good before the update.

by Cjracer51

I am a first time hearing aid user. I cannot believe how well I can hear in a variety of settings. myPhonak is fantastic. I have had no issues at all using myPhonak or controlling the hearing aids. The customization works well and I’m able to save any custom settings. Phone calls and streaming music is flawless. Using the variety of programs for different environments really does a make a difference. I highly recommend the Audeo M90 and myPhonak.

by W8MSP

First time I ever tried hearing aids. Wow! I can hear. myPhonak lets me check battery voltage on the rechargeable Marvels. It also lets me to adjust the volume, I can do that without myPhonak but have no way to see the level without myPhonak . Tweak settings and create my own files. Very useful.

by Doctorpm

myPhonak is great but with the IOS 13 update it did not work with Bluetooth streaming or call hand off. That has now been updated and also myPhonak has been too. Everything works perfectly now. All that was required after the updates was to do a new iPhone pairing which adds a second left ear connection in Bluetooth settings.