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Cochlear Ltd, Lone Tree, Colo, has announced that its implants will now offer Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) support on compatible Amazon Fire TV devices. This is reportedly the first time a smart TV device streams sound directly to a hearing implant sound processor.
Cochlear has configured direct streaming from Fire TV to Cochlear Nucleus® 8, Nucleus 7, Nucleus Kanso® 2, and Baha® 6 Max Sound Processors. With ASHA, sound processors connect with the Fire TV device at the system level, so customers can enjoy audio from their favorite streaming apps, use Alexa, listen to music, navigational sounds, and more. Amazon's ASHA-enabled Fire TV devices include: Fire TV Omni QLED Series, Fire TV Omni Series, Fire TV 4-Series, Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), and Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen).
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“We're delighted by our customers' response to the innovations we've made in the entertainment space for people with hearing loss, even as we continue to build solutions that make entertainment more enjoyable for all customers,” said Amazon Director of Accessibility for Devices Peter Korn. “Now, by working with Cochlear, we're thrilled that more people will have a simple way to enjoy their favorite TV shows, movies, and more. Entertainment should be accessible to everyone. This is one more way to help make that goal a reality.”
To pair compatible (see above) hearing implant sound processors with a Fire TV device, customers can:
For more information, go to the Accessibility Features for Fire TV page.
The announcement comes just before International Cochlear Implant Day. CI Day has been celebrated every year on February 25 since 2009, and helps raise awareness of hearing implants while celebrating the achievements of people using the technology. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.5 billion people globally live with hearing loss.1 By 2026, more than half (51%) of all households worldwide are predicted to own a smart TV.2
1. World Health Organization. World Report on Hearing. Geneva: WHO; March 3, 2021. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240020481
2. Strategy Analytics' Connected Home Devices service. Global Smart TV Forecast for 88 Countries 2011-2026. Available at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210720005976/en/Strategy-Analytics-Global-Smart-TV-Household-Ownership-to-Exceed-50-by-2026