This has been a huge year for consumers with hearing loss. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued a landmark (and highly controversial) report on the state of the hearing healthcare industry, with a focus on access to care, and hearing aid affordability. The Institute of Medicine (IoM) also held a four part “Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults.” The FDA’s regulation of affordable hearing aid alternatives was a hot topic of discussion at the IoM, and PCAST called for the deregulation of over-the-counter basic hearing aids. Meanwhile, the FCC is in the process of revising its Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) rules for mobile phones. Tech giant Apple has even become involved, asking the FCC to remove the telecoil requirement. Read more
In a recent submission to the FCC, Apple argues that the current HAC compliance rules do not assess how well handsets and hearing aids actually “work together for consumers” and that the FCC should perform “qualitative assessments” to ensure handset usability for hearing aid users. Further, Apple proposed that the Commission should recognize solutions such as Made-For-iPhone (MFi) as viable alternatives to current hearing aid compatibility (HAC) compliance. Read more
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss, invites you to attend Convention 2016, being held June 23-26, 2016 at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C. The Convention, now in its 31st year, features an extensive educational program and exhibit hall and trade show for people with hearing loss as well as their families and professionals who work with them. Read more
The Bragi Dash is one of the most talked about in-ear wearables (aka "hearables") to ever to hit the market. After raising over 3 million dollars through an extremely successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter (in early 2014), Munich-based Bragi went on to raise 22 million dollars in venture capital from a group of unidentified global investors (in Nov. 2015). In the most simple terms possible, the Dash can be described as a rechargeable wireless earphone that has the capability to store and play music files, stream bluetooth audio, track fitness stats (heart rate, step counter, etc), and provide two-way communication with a smartphone. Read more
Jacoti, a Belgium-based hearing software research company recently emerged from stealth mode and has already won the prestigious 2016 CES Innovation Award for their smartphone-based Jacoti Hearing Suite. By leveraging the widespread availability of consumer devices with high quality audio capability, Jacoti seeks to make hearing assistance normative and ubiquitous, encouraging many more people to use professional audiological services earlier. Read more
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) published a new Qualified Listing yesterday for a “Samsung Bluetooth Hearing Aid,” from member company “Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.” The listing was first reported by Android Headlines who also reported that Samsung “applied for the Earcle trademark in South Korea and included references to hearing aids in this product documentation.” Read more
Is Apple secretly planning to launch an Apple-branded hearing aid? According to Apple Insider, there is fresh speculation that Apple is planning to sell "accessibility products" directly to consumers (via online and retail outlets) "sometime in early 2016." Details are still unclear, but Apple Insider and Ubergizmo have both speculated that Apple may be planning to sell Made for iPhone hearing aids along with other products, like Braille displays. Read more
Today, the Federal Communications Commission took major steps to ensure greater access to wireless communications services and handset devices for the tens of millions of Americans with hearing loss. New rules and proposed rules passed today reflect a consensus-driven approach to foster accessibility for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing while promoting innovation and investment by the wireless industry. Read more
The Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) applauds the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) for its focus on using technology to remove barriers to care for the millions of Americans with hearing loss. ADA members are audiologists who have spent their professional lives evaluating, managing and treating patients with hearing and balance disorders. ADA is cognizant of the significant health implications of untreated hearing and balance disorders, and ADA wholeheartedly agrees that hearing loss is a public health issue that requires prompt attention. Read more
With January rapidly approaching, the countdown to the International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES) for 2016 is on. With each CES conference comes another round of CES Innovation Awards in categories like Wearable Technologies, Headphones, and Tech for a Better World. “Best of Innovation Awards Honorees” were announced earlier this week, and while no hearing loss tech was awarded the coveted “Best of” designation, there were plenty of interesting Honorees. Read more
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