At Eko, we understand that every hearing experience is unique. This guide walks you through the steps to stream live auscultation sounds through your phone to your Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants — and offers alternative options that connection isn't working for you.
⚠️ Hearing Aid Connection Notice
Eko devices connect to the Eko App, and your phone or tablet then sends the audio to your hearing aids or cochlear implants.
If your hearing aids are already compatible with your phone or tablet and properly connected, you should be able to hear stethoscope audio through them. Because this connection is managed by your mobile device and hearing aid settings, your phone and hearing aid configuration play the biggest role in the experience. Eko has not tested or vetted any particular brands of hearing aids for this use case.
If you're unsure about your setup or sound quality, your audiologist can help ensure your hearing aids are optimized for listening to heart and lung sounds.
How to enable Wireless Listening
To stream live stethoscope audio to your hearing devices through the Eko App, follow these four steps:
- Pair your stethoscope. Launch the Eko App and connect your digital stethoscope.
- Connect your hearing device. Ensure your hearing aids or cochlear implants are connected via your phone's Bluetooth settings. Tip: For stronger connection, keep the number of active Bluetooth devices connected to your phone to two or fewer.
- Toggle audio on. In the Eko App, select the Listen tab and confirm the Speaker icon in the lower left corner is turned ON.
- Begin auscultating. You should now hear body sounds through your connected hearing devices. Adjust the volume using your phone or the volume buttons on your Eko device.
Made for iPhone (MFi) Hearing Aids
If you are using Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids, iOS requires a specific setting to be enabled so that stethoscope audio streams correctly to your hearing devices.
Popular MFi brands include: ReSound, Starkey, Oticon, Widex, and Signia.
Navigate to: Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices → Play All Audio (ON)
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to Accessibility > Hearing Devices
- Select your paired hearing aids.
- Turn on Play System Sounds (or Play All Audio, depending on your iOS version).
This ensures live audio from the Eko App is prioritized and streamed correctly to your MFi hearing devices during auscultation.
Accessibility & Sound Settings
If you are using an Android device and audio is not streaming correctly, you may need to adjust your accessibility settings to allow third-party apps to stream audio.
Enable Hearing Aid Support
Navigate to: Settings → Accessibility → Hearing enhancements → Hearing aid support
- Open your phone Settings
- Navigate to Accessibility > Heating enhancements
- Select Hearing aid support
- Toggle on Hearing aid compatibility to optimize audio for your devices
- Tap Pair new hearing aids if your devices are not listed
ℹ️ Not seeing these options?
Android menu names can vary slightly depending on your phone manufacturer and Android version. If you can't find "Hearing enhancements," try searching for "hearing" in your phone's Settings search bar.
Alternative Connection Options
If a direct Bluetooth connection through the Eko App isn't working for you, the following alternatives may help.
The Eko CORE 500™ features a removable earpiece with a TRS jack. You can plug a Bluetooth transmitter directly into the CORE 500™ to send audio straight to your hearing aids — no app required.
If your hearing aids are not compatible with direct Bluetooth streaming, many clinicians find success using high-quality in-ear Bluetooth headphones — such as AirPods or Bose earbuds — worn alongside or in place of their hearing aids during auscultation.
💡Tip - We recommend in-ear headphones over over-ear headphones for clearer reproduction of low-frequency heart and lung sounds.
Tips for the Best Results
Use Your Hearing Aid Manufacturer's App
Most major hearing aid brands offer their own companion app (e.g., Phonak, Oticon, Signia). These apps can help you:
- Increase speech focus
- Reduce environmental noise
- Switch to a "Speech-in-Noise" mode, which can improve clarity for heart sounds
We recommend exploring your hearing aid app's settings before auscultating to find the configuration that works best for you.
Work with Your Audiologist
We understand that every clinician works under unique circumstances — there are many types and degrees of hearing loss, and a wide variety of hearing aids on the market. We recommend consulting your audiologist to find a setup that works best for you.
An audiologist can help you:
- Build the right hearing aid system for clinical use
- Tune your hearing aids to a specific stethoscope frequency channel
- Create custom-molded stethoscope eartips to fit over in-ear hearing aids
📌 Eko's Recommendation
Eko recommends working with your audiologist to fine-tune your hearing aids so they pick up low-frequency heart and lung sounds effectively.
Ask specifically about creating a dedicated FM (frequency modulation) channel for stethoscope use — adjustments will differ for each individual.