iPhone now reducing the sound in earbuds /earphones

Spanish Eyes · 26-11-2020 07:09PM #1

Getting a notification every half hour or so that the volume of my Bluetooth earphones is being reduced to protect my hearing, then bam down it goes and I can hear nothing.

This function CANNOT be changed by the user.

I am partially deaf so use one bud in the good ear. This is doing my nut in, and I don’t know if there is a solution.

Message is from Sounds and haptics, has anyone else this issue?

I think it came with the latest IOS release. Fed up isn’t the word. Sigh.

sdanseo · 26-11-2020 07:11PM

I mean, it's protecting your hearing. I've actually found this feature helpful although I hadn't noticed it reduces, have just been looking at the exposure reports / dB levels.

Without being smart at all, don't you want to preserve the good ear?

26-11-2020 07:14PM

sdanseo wrote: »

I mean, it's protecting your hearing. I've actually found this feature helpful although I hadn't noticed it reduces, have just been looking at the exposure reports / dB levels.

Without being smart at all, don't you want to preserve the good ear?

This is EU wide, not just Apple phone's, Android phones are also affected, it is an EU directive unfortunately...

Not sure is it possible to flash with some kind of US firmware on an Apple phone to get around it?

sdanseo · 26-11-2020 07:16PM

Fieldog wrote: »

This is EU wide, not just Apple phone's, Android phones are also affected, it is an EU directive unfortunately...

Not sure is it possible to flash with some kind of US firmware on an Apple phone to get around it?

Oh, that puts a slightly different twist on it. Thought it was an Apple innovation.

All the EU seems to be good for is playing Mary Poppins to the masses.

Spanish Eyes · 26-11-2020 07:27PM

Thanks for info folks. The volume auto reduces. But that negates the convenience of Bluetooth as I have to rummage in the backpack when out walking and listening to get to a level I can hear the damn podcast/music etc.

I’ve been using earphones for donkeys years and recent tests show no deterioration in good ear yet.

Anyway TMI. MY AHEM, rights are affected.. must contact my MEP. &#55357;&#56841;

Spanish Eyes · 26-11-2020 07:30PM

sdanseo wrote: »

I mean, it's protecting your hearing. I've actually found this feature helpful although I hadn't noticed it reduces, have just been looking at the exposure reports / dB levels.

Without being smart at all, don't you want to preserve the good ear?

I can’t hear anything when it auto reduces. It’s different when you have deafness like I have.

Thanks for your concern, it is just SO different for those with normal hearing.

Spanish Eyes · 26-11-2020 07:39PM

Fieldog wrote: »

This is EU wide, not just Apple phone's, Android phones are also affected, it is an EU directive unfortunately...

Not sure is it possible to flash with some kind of US firmware on an Apple phone to get around it?

I did a search there and found that there are max decibel levels.
Well if the volume is auto reduced as it is for me, I may forget it sadly.. I am a very miffed at this but grateful for the info.

Gwildor · 26-11-2020 10:12PM

Like you, Im hearing impared but in both ears. I have a Hong Kong dual sim iPhone and it doesn't reduce the volume on me. My hearing aids have Bluetooth, which is what I use when I'm out and about, but I do use BT headphones at home.

geminiman63 · 26-11-2020 10:32PM

Not only phones, its across all devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VPaXdQoKXs

:rolleyes:

Gekko · 27-11-2020 12:50AM

My hearing is better in one ear than the other.

I actually suspected this had happened - the volume having been limited below what it had been - when I was using my earphones on a plane (where there’s obviously a certain amount of background engine noise) in March.

Now at least I know why it did.

Perhaps decent over the ear full headphones would improve things a bit...

Gregor Samsa · 27-11-2020 02:37PM

I don't have any hearing issues, but my experience is that active noise cancelling headphones certainly let you reduce the physical volume quite a bit an still hear the audio loud and clear, even in noisy environments (like on a plane), which certainly reduces ear fatigue.

I don't know if this would help those with impaired hearing or not, though.

iPhone now reducing the sound in earbuds /earphones

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