Unequivocally Advocating for Changes to Access ADA Assistive Listening Systems
We unequivocally advocate for the manufacturing and fitting of “ADA-Access-Ready” hearing instruments that connect to ADA assistive listening systems via telecoil (hearing loops, FM, and infrared), and in the future, potentially Auracast technologies. These fully “ADA-Access-Ready” hearing instruments will require:
- Both telecoil and Auracast connectivity embedded in the hearing instruments, and not merely offered in an accessory device.
- Direct-to-hearing instrument connections for both telecoils and Auracast. No intermediary device shall be required, at least for connection to the dedicated assistive listening stream.
The following documents are being distributed to hundreds of users; advocates; hearing instrument manufacturers; audiologists and hearing instrument providers; professional organizations for audiologists and other hearing instrument providers; assistive listening system manufacturers; assistive listening system installers; and miscellaneous businesses and organizations.
See also
- 16 years of international declarations produced by several organizations are available on the Declaration webpage. (this website)
Essential reading
How the hyperlinks work:
- image or title -> opens a new webpage with more information and Word documents
- download icon at bottom -> direct download or website
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(3 pages) Two lists of hearing instruments that are ADA-compatible devices: 1. Current need: Telecoils create connectivity to ADA-compliant assistive listening systems (hearing loops, FM, infrared), now and years into …
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(1 page, pdf) Changes Needed to Access ADA Assistive Listening Systems. Includes a) quotes from frustrated users with hearing loss b) quotes from frustrated audiologists c) summary of “ADA-Access-Ready Hearing …
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(5 pages) To guide the critical changes needed, the Center for Hearing Access has issued a new 2024 United States Declaration, “ADA-Access-Ready Hearing Instruments: Auracast™ and Telecoils.” This timely statement …
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Cover Article. Auracast has certainly been in the news lately, making it seem ready to deliver. Over time, users/patients will benefit from built-in Auracast in those same hearing devices as …
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Feb. 11, 2025. It took 25 years to learn about assistive listening systems, which started my advocacy. I have found that people with hearing loss are shockingly unaware they have …
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(1 page) “ADA-Access-Ready” Hearing Instruments Recently, some providers are erroneously telling patients they don’t need/no longer need telecoils – “Auracast is coming.” Auracast is promising, but it will take time before …