Hearing assistance device ear-to-ear communication using an intermediate device

A system for wireless communication, comprising:

• a first audio device configured to be worn in a first ear of a wearer;
• a second audio device configured to be worn in a second ear of the wearer;
• and
• an external device in wireless communication with at least one of the first device and the second device, the external device including:
• a wireless communication transceiver;
• and
• a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to:
• monitor communication between the first device and the second device;
• determine whether communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below a programmable threshold, wherein the programmable threshold includes a link margin threshold;
• and
• if communication between the first device and the second device has fallen below the programmable threshold, using the wireless communication transceiver to switch dynamically between direct communication and relay communication between the first and second devices, to improve link quality, latency and power consumption.