IAHA

02/11/2026

Five major hearing aid manufacturers now offer devices that support Auracast broadcast audio: Starkey, Sonova, Demant, GN and WS Audiology.

Bluetooth SIG estimates that these manufacturers account for around 90% of the global hearing aid market.

Read more, via Technobezz: https://buff.ly/z1BSA7u

All five major hearing aid manufacturers now offer devices supporting Auracast™ broadcast audio, according to Bluetooth SIG, giving users of compatible devices a way to receive public venue audio dire...

30/10/2026

“IAHA very much aligns with the aims of the Alliance which are to ensure that people have timely access to services and support, knowledge and information and communication support to fully participate in public life."

We've joined the Hearing Loss and Deafness Alliance!

The Alliance seeks to represent the needs of children, young people and adults with hearing loss, deafness and tinnitus across the UK on issues related to audiology, hearing services and public health.

Find out more: https://buff.ly/dnwTLXy

29/10/2026

"For many disabled people, deciding whether to visit a church involves practical questions. Will there be step-free access? Is there a hearing loop? Will I be able to take part comfortably in the service? I believe that people shouldn’t have to arrive at church before finding out the answers."

St Paul’s Church in Chipperfield is using the Church of England’s accessibility icons to communicate features including its hearing loop, step-free access and accessible toilet. The symbols appear on its website, noticeboards and service sheets.

As Charli Conway writes for the Diocese of St Albans, clear information helps people make informed decisions about whether a venue meets their needs. It can also help organisations see where further improvements may be needed.

Find out more:

St Paul's Church, Chipperfield, has introduced Church of England accessibility icons to help visitors find clear information about access and facilities before they arrive. The simple change is making it easier for people to know what to expect and feel welcome at church.

28/10/2026

Providing an assistive listening system is only part of the job. People also need to know it’s there.

Assistive listening systems transmit audio that visitors can't necessarily see or hear without the appropriate equipment. If people don't know a system is there, they may miss the opportunity to use it.

Clear, consistent signage helps bridge that gap. It tells visitors where assistive listening is available and helps them recognise the relevant provision in different venues. It can also make it easier to ask about access or find out how to actually use a system.

Making provision visible is an important step towards making it usable.

Find out more about assistive listening signage, the different technologies available and how they work here: https://buff.ly/miuLYky

27/10/2026

"We know that if we are to deliver truly accessible healthcare, we must design services alongside the people who use them. The conversations were honest, constructive and insightful. We heard clearly about the importance of accessible information, interpreter provision, digital inclusion, staff awareness and the need to ensure care closer to home works effectively for deaf patients."

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust is involving people with hearing loss in its Fit for the Future strategy, including a dedicated event to discuss access to local healthcare services.

Co-designed with deaf people, the session covered interpreting, digital access and staff attitudes. The Trust says feedback will help shape improvements over the coming months.

Good accessibility starts with understanding what makes services difficult to use, and this kind of input matters when deciding what needs to change. Involving people with hearing loss in planning can help identify where changes are needed, from staff communication and information provision, to assistive technologies.

Find out more:

RECOGNISING a significant feedback opportunity, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust hosted a dedicated engagement event with members of the deaf and hearing loss community to share its Fit for the Future strategy and learn how local healthcare services can become more accessible and inclusive. Th...

26/10/2026

"A while back, I went to see a show at a small local theater. Its website said it provided hearing access, but once I arrived, nobody seemed to know where to find the devices or how to turn them on. Their intentions were good, but good intentions alone won’t help me hear."

Here, Shari Eberts shares her experiences of hearing access at theatres and explains why she welcomes the RNID's new Auracast for Theatres playbook.

A working listening system matters, but so does knowing where to find it, how to use it and whether it'll work when the performance starts.

Good read. Take a look at Shari's article here: https://buff.ly/kSTCaoc

23/10/2026

So what is a hearing loop?

A hearing loop is an assistive listening system that transmits sound directly to the telecoil in a compatible hearing aid or cochlear implant. This can help users hear speech and other audio more clearly, with less interference from background noise.

Hearing loops are used in a range of settings, including theatres, places of worship, reception desks and transport hubs.

Find out how hearing loops work, how to access them and where they can be used, with our explainer: https://buff.ly/h5IRydl

22/10/2026

RNID has published an evidence review examining employment among deaf people and people with hearing loss in the UK.

It examines barriers to getting into work and progressing in a career, including inaccessible working environments, workplace attitudes, reasonable adjustments and difficulties accessing the Access to Work scheme.

The review also identifies a clear need for robust UK research into employment experiences and effective ways to address these barriers.

Read RNID’s evidence review here: https://buff.ly/ldnQ2hk

21/10/2026

The Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers (ISCVE) has published its latest standards update, covering current standards work across the industry.

We’ve written quite a bit about the importance of standards in assistive listening. They help establish clear expectations for how systems should perform and support more consistent access for people who rely on them, and ISCVE’s updates are a useful way to keep up with the standards work currently underway.

Read the ISCVE update here:

An update from Anthony Morgan MInstSCVE, Chair of the ISCVE Standards Committee...

20/10/2026

Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility is hosting a webinar on 21 October, focusing on current developments in hearing technology and what to consider when choosing devices.

Hosted by Susan Marynewich, Acting Director of Audiology at Wavefront, the session brings together speakers from Bluetooth SIG, Phonak Canada, Oticon and WSA to discuss emerging Bluetooth capabilities and changes in hearing technology.

The online event will include a live Q&A, with ASL interpretation and live captioning provided. A recording will also be available afterwards.

October 21st, 4.30pm Pacific time (12:30–2:00 a.m. UK time on 22 October).

Find out more and register here: https://buff.ly/4jaSA2u