Auracast™ is growing. Public advocacy is helping it get there.

Auracast™ is beginning to appear in more and more public spaces around the world.

Airports. Theatres. Museums. Conference venues. Even cinemas.

It’s part of a new generation of Bluetooth technology designed to allow hearing aid users to connect directly to public audio streams - clearly, discreetly and with far less background strain.

If you’ve heard us mentioning Auracast recently, you might be wondering:

“Will my hearing aids work with it?”

The answer is: increasingly, yes. But the rollout is still evolving. We’re keeping tabs on which public venues are coming onstream.

The rate of adoption by venues is going to be driven by public demand, and we can all influence that. If you’d like to confidently advocate for Auracast implementation in venues that are important to you, listen to this informative webinar by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) which is the international standards development organization responsible for Bluetooth® technology.  

Some smartphones are already compatible, particularly newer Android devices.

Apple iPhone compatibility is still in “watch this space” mode - for now.

The same applies to hearing aids.

Some brands are already well positioned for Auracast connectivity. Others are still in development or awaiting firmware updates. The latest Oticon hearing aids including Oticon Intent and Oticon Zeal for example are already compatible (with a firmware upgrade) via their Companion App as are the latest Starkey and ReSound hearing aids, and Widex say that their latest Allure hearing aids are now Auracast ready, whereas Phonak, say that this is still “in development”.

In practical terms, this means that in compatible public spaces, sound can stream directly to your hearing aids, helping you hear announcements, presentations, films or public audio more clearly and comfortably.

A small tip for today - how to connect to Auracast using compatible Oticon devices:

• Ensure your hearing aids are updated and paired to the Oticon Companion app

• Open the App and select the Auracast icon

• Scan the venue QR code, or select an available nearby broadcast

• Adjust volume directly within the app

Simple once set up, and something we’re very happy to help patients with in clinic.

We believe Auracast will become an increasingly important part of accessible public listening in the years ahead.

And for people living with hearing loss, easier connection to the world around them matters enormously.

If you’d like help checking whether your hearing aids or phone are compatible, and need assistance with setting it up, please get in touch.