Hearing Aids - Auracast Receivers
Yeah I know how you feel… It’s a bummer to need hearing aids! Luckily for us, Auracast is changing our options! For the past couple of years Auracast hearing aids have been rolling out! Audiologists know the term, but no one talks about what Auracast is or how we can benefit. Help us change that by asking for Auracast at your gym, church, theater, or any other public venue that could have an Auracast transmitter. Talk to a manager or decision maker about the importance of Auracast. Consider donating a transmitter to your favorite venue. With your help, Auracast will be available so that everyone can benefit!
Do your hearing aids support Auracast? Open your hearing aid app and search for things like: Auracast, Broadcast, Search, and … menu. If you can’t see anything, search or ask online if your hearing aid brand and model supports Auracast today. Some models just need firmware updates and/or app updates to make them work.
When you need new hearing aids: Insist on Auracast hearing aids that are working today! You won’t regret it!
Not all Auracast hearing aids support the same audio sample rates. Many hearing aids support 24 kHz or Standard Quality (SQ) or Hearing Aid Compatible mode, while some newer models also support 48 kHz or High Quality (HQ) mode, which can provide higher-quality audio. An Auracast transmitter broadcasting only at 48 kHz may therefore not connect to some 24 kHz only hearing aids. When choosing an Auracast hearing aid—or an Auracast transmitter—verify the supported sample rates. “Auracast compatible” alone does not guarantee that every Auracast broadcast will work. All public venue Auracast broadcasts should always be 24 kHz. If a theater wanted to provide a 48 kHz high quality broadcast, they should have a second 24 kHz broadcast to support everyone.
Most major hearing aid manufacturers are doing all they can to promote Auracast. WSA, WS Audiology, makers of Signia, Widex, and Rexton are unfortunately taking a wait and see approach even though they have provided Audiologists with Auracast demos at headquarters, they still aren’t shipping! They aren’t wrong there aren’t many Auracast transmitters in the wild, but we can change that! If you own one of these models, please let them know it’s time. Once you experience Auracast on your TV with your hearing aids, you won’t go back!
Please verify before purchasing. Product features and compatibility can vary by model, region, and software version. Please do your own research and confirm that the specific product you purchase supports the features you need.