Bluetooth LE and Auracast Enhance the Listening Experience for People with Hearing Loss

Michele DiStefano, Director of Hearing Services

Michele DiStefano, AuD, CCC-A

I'm happy to share news about an exciting, new technology that can help people with hearing loss experience improved connectivity and better hearing in a variety of listening situations.

Bluetooth LE with Auracast, while not readily available just yet, is expected to be integrated into certain consumer electronics by the end of 2024 or early 2025. Public spaces and entertainment venues will be adopting the technology as well, but we don't yet have a clear timeline for this yet. Once the rollout gets underway, we expect its impact to be widespread and transformative for people with hearing loss.

Bluetooth LE, also known as Bluetooth Low Energy, offers numerous benefits for people with hearing loss. One of the most exciting developments is Auracast, a feature that allows for seamless audio streaming to multiple devices simultaneously.

Bluetooth LE and Auracast together are making the following listening situations a reality:

• Public Broadcasts - Auracast allows venues like theaters, airports, and museums to broadcast audio directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants. Users can connect their hearing devices to these broadcasts for clearer, more direct sound.

• Personalized Listening - Users can select specific audio streams, such as choosing to hear a tour guide at a museum or an announcement at an airport, improving accessibility and comprehension in noisy environments.

• Social Sharing - Auracast lets people share audio from their devices with others nearby. For example, someone can share music or a podcast with a friend who uses hearing aids, enhancing social interaction.

• Easy Connectivity - Auracast makes it simple for hearing aid and cochlear implant users to connect to multiple audio sources without complicated setups, providing seamless transitions between different environments and audio needs.

  
  

This technology is now being integrated into certain hearing aids and cochlear implants, as well as electronics like televisions and computers from which users will stream audio.

If you're currently looking to purchase hearing devices, consider discussing Bluetooth LE with your audiologist. We would never recommend that you delay treatment of a hearing loss in anticipation of new technology down the road. Product launches are often subject to delays.

If you're among the early adopters who have used the technology firsthand, we'd love to hear from you. Use the button below to share your experience with us. Or submit any question you might have about this new technology.

So good to report this important advancement in hearing access.

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About the Author

Michele DiStefano, AuD, CCC-A, is Director of CHC's Shelley and Steven Einhorn Audiology Center and Berelson Hearing Technology Center. Dr. DiStefano joined CHC in 2017 with expertise in pediatric audiology honed at Beth Israel Medical Center, Clarke Schools, and New York Eye and Ear. A graduate of the audiology program at CUNY-Brooklyn College, Dr. DiStefano sees children and adults at CHC with a focus on comprehensive diagnostic testing, fitting of amplification/FM systems, post-fitting counseling and Early Intervention.

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