Assistive Listening Knowledge Base
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Why Auracast broadcast audio needs to coexist with current assistive listening technologies

From https://assistivelisteningknowledgebase.org/evidence/bluetooth-sig-2023-als-coexistence/ · record checked 9 October 2026

  • Sabin C, Drullman R, Thomas A
  • Bluetooth SIG (blog)

Trade body (Bluetooth SIG marketing material; the SIG is an industry association funded by its member companies and owns the Auracast trademark. Written by Chuck Sabin of the SIG's market development staff, Rob Drullman, an independent researcher who is secretary of the technical committee of EHIMA, the European hearing instrument manufacturers' association, and Andrew Thomas of the loop and assistive listening maker Contacta Systems, chairman of the International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association)

Summary

A SIG blog post, co-written with hearing-industry representatives, arguing that Auracast should be added alongside loops, FM and infrared rather than replace them for years to come.

Key findings

  • Describes venue FM as a transmitter sending to receivers worn by listeners, heard through headphones or a neckloop with a telecoil, in regional licence-free frequency bands.
  • Quotes the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People as foreseeing that "FM, IR, and hearing loop systems" will function "for the foreseeable future" alongside Auracast systems, and calling for all assistive listening systems, hearing aids and implants to be Auracast plus telecoil compatible.
  • States that the overlap before Auracast reaches full market potential "could take years, maybe even a decade", and that until it is more available to users than other systems it should be offered as an additional option.
  • Reports that some industry experts recommend that makers add Auracast while keeping telecoils and loop installations, and warns that dropping telecoils or loop support at once could isolate current telecoil users.
  • Says an international installation standard for Auracast, similar to IEC 60118-4 for loops, will be essential.
  • Written by Andrew Thomas, market development director of the loop maker Contacta Systems; says Auracast's availability "exceeds the availability of other systems (e.g., telecoils)".

Limits

Marketing material from the trademark owner, co-written with representatives of hearing-aid and loop makers; it reports no data on use, cost or performance, and its timescale is an estimate.

Read the original

www.bluetooth.com/blog/why-auracast-broadcast-audio-needs-to-coexist-with-current-assistive-listening-technologies

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Cite this source

Sabin C, Drullman R, Thomas A. Why Auracast broadcast audio needs to coexist with current assistive listening technologies. Bluetooth SIG (blog). 22 June 2023. https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/why-auracast-broadcast-audio-needs-to-coexist-with-current-assistive-listening-technologies/ (accessed 9 October 2026).

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