Auracast™ Broadcast Assistive Listening Systems*

Audience with using Auracast via ear buds, hearing aids, bone anchored device or cochlear implant. To the right is a graphic of a device with the words "

Auracast broadcast audio can be used in two very different ways:

  • Auracast broadcast audio for Audio Sharing (no live sound). ​
    Examples: Sports bar TVs and personal sharing audio. Audio sharing transmits from one smartphone or laptop computer to multiple Auracast compatible wireless earbuds, with friends and family. ​
  • Auracast streamed assistive listening (AL)* (live sound). ​
    Examples: theaters, lectures, and meetings. By broadcasting to many, Auracast has the potential to provide part of an assistive listening system (ALS) for people with hearing loss.

*The full technical name is “Auracast Broadcast Audio used as part of an Assistive Listening System (ALS)” ​and is simply identified as “Auracast streamed assistive listening (ALS)” on this website.​

FAQ

Yes, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60118-17 Standard is scheduled to be released in December 2027, will include latency limits, sound quality, connectivity requirements, and more. While manufacturers are now developing new equipment, until IEC 60118-17 is published, it cannot be known if any product or installation will meet its requirements.

Visit the IEC TC 29 Dashboard for the “IEC 60118-17 ED1, Electroacoustics – Hearing aids – Part 17: Assistive listening system for hearing aid users based on 2.4 GHz audio streaming.”

It is too soon to say if each installation can meet the ADA; one contributing factor is that the international standards are not expected until late 2027.

Resources: ADA Standards for assistive listening systems (this website)

Yes, you can. Auracast broadcast assistive listening installations are beginning around the world. Bluetooth SIG Auracast Location Profiles.

Since the international standard is not finished and 95% (estimate) of users do not have hearing instruments with Auracast capability, a workaround is required until the technology matures and devices become common.

Thus, early systems are more equivalent to infrared or FM/RF assistive listening system, rather than the ease of a person using a hearing loop. Users will likely use the Auracast streamed ALS the same way as an infrared or FM/RF ALS with. Workarounds include:

  • Manufacturer Auracast receivers and headphones (those without hearing aids or without telecoils) and
  • Manufacturer Auracast receivers and neckloops (those with telecoils). All about neckloops (this website)

How to connect?

Furthermore, without international standards and practical, reputable third-party proof of concept testing, site and user equipment may be incompatible, may not fully work, users may need to use equipment differently, and other unforeseen problems may present themselves during this time.

These fully “Worldwide Access” hearing instruments critically require:

  1. Both telecoil and Auracast connectivity embedded in the hearing instruments, and not merely offered in an accessory device. Buying hearing aids in the next 5-7 years? Here is a list of devices: “Worldwide Access” Hearing Instruments List  
  2. At some point, having Auracast in your hearing aids and cochlear implants can “future-proof” them with the developing Auracast technology. Hearing instruments are typically purchased every 5-8 years.
  3. However, it is not necessary to have Auracast built into your hearing aids if your current devices include telecoils; you will still be able to benefit from Auracast since the facility must offer an Auracast neckloop.

    Resources: ADA Standards for assistive listening systems (this website)

Furthermore, the Center for Hearing Access advocates for 

  1. A single push-button access (direct-to-hearing instrument connections) for both telecoils and Auracast. No intermediary device to be required, at least for connection to the dedicated assistive listening stream. To date, no hearing aid nor cochlear implant has this Auracast ability. This capability exists with telecoils and hearing loops.

More details

See Auracast-consumer guide (1 page)

Each manufacturer must qualify their products through the Bluetooth Qualification Process to be licensed to use the Auracast™ trademarks. But there are many unknowns to be able to use them for assistive listening. A few examples:

  1. Different types of receivers and their antennas will have different operating (reception) ranges. Dedicated Auracast receivers, hearing aids, cochlear implants, earbuds, and headphones may all have different capabilities. Can a person, with or without hearing loss, with any type of device, from any manufacturer, sit anywhere in the room or space and be able to receive a quality audio stream?
  2. Facility constraints: placement of transmitter, line of sight, facility design, other physical interferences.
  3. Presence of competing transmissions and interference (e.g. Wi-Fi, general RF noise floor, etc.).

Caution-Buyer beware

  • No requirement to change. No site owner/operator will be required to change systems from hearing loop, FM/RF, and infrared to Auracast streamed ALS.
  • Pros and Cons. Eventually, Auracast streamed ALS will be another option. Each current and future ALS has its own strengths and weaknesses.
  • Coexistence. All assistive listening systems (hearing loops, FM systems, IR systems, and future Auracast streamed ALS) can and will coexist for years.
  • Dual systems. Auracast streamed ALS can be added to existing ALS.
  • ADA compliance.  It is too soon to say if installations meet the ADA, as the international standards are not expected until late 2027.

    Resources: ADA Standards for assistive listening systems (this website)

Yes.

To connect to an Auracast stream, an Auracast-compatible hearing device or receiver needs to scan for an Auracast transmission, and then specific steps need to be followed, dependent on the device, to ‘connect’ to the stream.

With a neckloop (FM/RF and infrared) and hearing loop, the telecoil in the hearing aid doesn’t have to ‘find’ the transmission – the magnetic signal is just there, ready to use.

  • Intermediary devices add complexity for people with limited technology skills, dexterity, or cognitive limitations.
  • Since there is an intermediary device, there is no single button access (e.g., no direct hearing instrument connectivity).
  • In contrast, a telecoil has a direct-to-hearing loop connectivity. No intermediary device. Easy.

That’s why the Center for Hearing Access is advocating for improvements to hearing aids with Auracast capabilities.

International: What Consumer Nonprofits are Saying

To ensure access for all assistive listening systems, it is critical that both Auracast and telecoils be included in hearing instruments (and not merely in an accessory) for at least the next decade and probably longer.

Declarations and Position Statements (this website)

Handouts-Consumers

How the hyperlinks work:

  • image or title -> opens a new webpage with more information
  • download icon at bottom -> direct download or website

Articles-Studies

Please contact the Center for Hearing Access to request addition research papers, articles, and studies be added.

Handouts-Facility Staff 

What Professionals are Saying

Having an Auracast assistive listening system compatible hearing aid today – is comparable to having an electric vehicle but not having any charging points anywhere in your state, except for the charger that came with your car. It will take a decade – if not longer – before the adoption of Auracast Assistive Listening transmitters will become commonplace. Users will not only need new hearing aids and cochlear implant processors but require a complete Auracast ‘ecosystem.’

Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD. professional advisor for hearing loop and other assistive listening technology with HLAA. Read Juliëtte’s full comments in Response To Consumer, Regarding Regret Not Having Auracast in Hearing Aids (1.5 pages, pdf)

Auracast Assistive Listening Systems are not going to be available for quite some time (The IEC 60118-17 standard for it is scheduled for late 2027). Loops and Tcoils will be needed for at least 10 years – assuming Auracast Assistive Listening Systems actually delivers what the Hard of Hearing (HoH) and hearing aid/cochlear implant user need – which is too early to say at this stage. But potentially we have an interesting future technology on the horizon.“

Dr. Peter Mapp, Assistive Listening Design Consultant

Resources

QR Code for Auracast and assistive listening systems webpage