What is Telecoil, the T setting?

A small copper coil built into many hearing aids that picks up a magnetic signal rather than a radio one. It predates every Bluetooth protocol by decades and is completely independent of any phone or operating system. Whether any particular hearing aid supports it is a manufacturer specification for that model rather than something that follows from the brand, since support changed substantially between device generations.

Which phones support Telecoil, the T setting?

On iPhone: not applicable, it works without a phone. On Android: not applicable, it works without a phone. Where support is described as depending on the device generation, that is because the capability is hardware rather than software, so an older handset running a current operating system version may still lack it.

Do I need this specifically?

Only if you want audio from a phone delivered directly into your hearing aids. Plenty of people never stream at all and use their aids purely for amplification. If you do want it, the route available to you is decided by your hearing aids first and your phone second, in that order.

What is the fallback if this is unavailable?

An intermediate streamer, which receives ordinary Bluetooth from the phone and relays it to the hearing aids on a manufacturer specific short range link. It works with practically any phone and any reasonably recent hearing aid, at the cost of an extra device to carry and charge. It is the reliable answer for older devices.

Will this still work in five years?

The platform specific protocols are expected to converge on Bluetooth LE Audio over time, so anything tied to one platform is the more likely to be superseded. A telecoil is the outlier: it has worked for decades, is independent of any phone ecosystem, and will keep working with induction loops regardless of what happens to Bluetooth.

Telecoil, the T setting

Quick answer

A small copper coil built into many hearing aids that picks up a magnetic signal rather than a radio one. It predates every Bluetooth protocol by decades and is completely independent of any phone or operating system. On iPhone: not applicable, it works without a phone. On Android: not applicable, it works without a phone.

Related equipment Premium OTC hearing aids

Jabra Enhance

Jabra Enhance Select 700

FDA regulated OTC hearing aid

$1,995.00

A receiver in ear device sold as a package with remote audiology support rather than as hardware alone, which is the single clearest difference between this tier and a boxed OTC aid. Jabra publishes Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast support and hands free calling on compatible phones.

Check before buying: The listed price spans a wide range depending on the support package and configuration chosen at checkout. Confirm what level of audiology support is included before ordering, because that inclusion is most of what distinguishes this from a cheaper device.

FDA device class: OTC hearing aid
Fitting method: Remote fitting with audiology support
Labeled for: Perceived mild to moderate loss, adults 18+
Wearing style: Receiver in ear (RIE)
Power source: Rechargeable
Bluetooth: Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast

Check price on Amazon

Jabra Enhance Select 700 published specifications

Prices change often. Every figure shown is the manufacturer's own published specification, and the labelling on the device you receive is what governs.

What Telecoil, the T setting is

A telecoil is the most durable connectivity a hearing aid has, because it is not brand specific and it outlives a change of phone and a change of hearing aid. Any neckloop works with any telecoil equipped aid. The two catches are that not every device has one, and that on many devices which do, it has to be enabled by whoever programmed the aid.

Published figure From a named standards body, regulator or professional classification. Reproduced here, not derived by us.

iPhone: Not applicable, it works without a phone. Android: Not applicable, it works without a phone.

Telecoil, the T setting by platform
Platform	Support	Detail
iPhone	Not applicable, it works without a phone	Not applicable, and that is the point. A telecoil works with an induction loop or a neckloop regardless of what phone you own or whether you own one at all.
Android	Not applicable, it works without a phone	Not applicable, for the same reason. This is the one option that is entirely outside the phone ecosystem.

This describes the protocol and the platform. Whether a particular hearing aid supports it is a specification published by its manufacturer for that model.

How it compares with the other routes

Published figure From a named standards body, regulator or professional classification. Reproduced here, not derived by us.

Six routes, with very different requirements and very different lifespans.

Every streaming route
Route	iPhone	Android
Made for iPhone (MFi)	Supported	Not supported
ASHA, Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids	Not supported	Supported
Bluetooth LE Audio	Depends on the device generation	Depends on the device generation
Auracast broadcast audio	Depends on the device generation	Depends on the device generation
Telecoil, the T setting	Not applicable, it works without a phone	Not applicable, it works without a phone
Classic Bluetooth with an intermediate streamer	Supported	Supported

A telecoil is marked as not applicable rather than unsupported, because it works without a phone at all, which is precisely why it outlives every other option here.

Common questions

What is Telecoil, the T setting?: A small copper coil built into many hearing aids that picks up a magnetic signal rather than a radio one. It predates every Bluetooth protocol by decades and is completely independent of any phone or operating system. Whether any particular hearing aid supports it is a manufacturer specification for that model rather than something that follows from the brand, since support changed substantially between device generations.
Which phones support Telecoil, the T setting?: On iPhone: not applicable, it works without a phone. On Android: not applicable, it works without a phone. Where support is described as depending on the device generation, that is because the capability is hardware rather than software, so an older handset running a current operating system version may still lack it.
Do I need this specifically?: Only if you want audio from a phone delivered directly into your hearing aids. Plenty of people never stream at all and use their aids purely for amplification. If you do want it, the route available to you is decided by your hearing aids first and your phone second, in that order.
What is the fallback if this is unavailable?: An intermediate streamer, which receives ordinary Bluetooth from the phone and relays it to the hearing aids on a manufacturer specific short range link. It works with practically any phone and any reasonably recent hearing aid, at the cost of an extra device to carry and charge. It is the reliable answer for older devices.
Will this still work in five years?: The platform specific protocols are expected to converge on Bluetooth LE Audio over time, so anything tied to one platform is the more likely to be superseded. A telecoil is the outlier: it has worked for decades, is independent of any phone ecosystem, and will keep working with induction loops regardless of what happens to Bluetooth.

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Last updated 2026-09-17.