Improved Access Through New Consumer Technology: Broadcast Audio

In June 2022, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the release of  a specific broadcast audio, a technology that will enable consumers to receive input from an unlimited number of nearby Bluetooth audio transmitters.

With this new technology, those devices using Auracast transmitters including smartphones, laptops, televisions, or public address systems can broadcast audio to an unlimited number of nearby Bluetooth audio receivers, which in the future, will include our patient’s hearing aids and other hearing assistive devices.

Once hearing technology manufacturers make this technology available in hearing instruments, our patients may enjoy improved connectivity to multiple audio sources including access to remote microphone transmitters, audio from public address systems (e.g., flight or school announcements), and silent televisions in public places (e.g., waiting rooms, airports, gyms). This potentially moves towards a more ubiquitous solution to improving signal-to-noise ratio related to important communication signals in the environment. 

The Academy and Academy past presidents Catherine Palmer, PhD, and Angela Shoup, PhD, have dedicated time to being part of this conversation with Bluetooth SIG over the past year. Often monitoring the discussions, the Academy was there to ensure the opportunity to provide and guide audiology/audiologist input about the needs of our patients and the providers who will be supporting the patients.

Reference

Business Wire. (2022) Bluetooth SIG announces Auracast™ Broadcast Audio (accessed June 13, 2022).