Summary
A consumer magazine report on telecoils and hearing loops, with recent figures on how many hearing aid models and owners have a telecoil.
Key findings
- Citing the Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids, reports that 59% of the prescription hearing aid models listed in its 2026 issue had a manual telecoil (standard or optional), down from 79% of listed models in the 2016 issue. Participation in the guide is voluntary.
- In Consumer Reports' 2023 survey of members with hearing aids, 10% said their prescription hearing aids had a telecoil.
- Says over-the-counter hearing aids typically lack telecoils, and that telecoils which switch on automatically work only with telephones, not with hearing loops.
- Reports two advocates' explanations for the decline: makers market smaller aids, which can sacrifice the telecoil (Wynne Whyman, Center for Hearing Access), and new product lines often launch with a small flagship model without a telecoil, with telecoils more common in later models (Juliëtte Sterkens). Experts also say many buyers are never told telecoils exist.
- Reports experts' view that Auracast is five to ten years from wide availability, that Auracast assistive listening standards are not expected until 2027, and their advice to choose a hearing aid or cochlear implant with both a telecoil and Auracast at the next upgrade.
Limits
Journalism rather than research. The 59% and 79% figures are shares of models listed in a voluntary guide, not of hearing aids sold or in use; the 10% figure is self-report from Consumer Reports members, some of whom may not know whether their aids have a telecoil. The article does not give the sample size behind the 10% member-survey figure (section on barriers to telecoil and loop use). Most experts quoted are loop advocates.
Read the original
Cited in
- Which hearing devices can receive which systems?Open
- Auracast, hearing loop, infrared, RF or Wi-Fi: which suits which room?Disputed
- How many listeners carry a telecoil, an Auracast-capable device or a smartphone?Disputed
- What do listeners prefer, and how often do they use venue systems?Partly answered
- Are telecoils switched on and set up well enough for loops to work?Not reliable yet
- Should a venue keep its hearing loop when it adds Auracast, and can one system serve both?Partly answered
- What reaches a cochlear implant user in a venue, and how well?Partly answered
- Do neckloops give telecoil users good sound from FM, infrared, Wi-Fi and Auracast receivers?Not reliable yet
Cite this source
Roberts C. A Telecoil is One of the Best Hearing Aid Features. Many Still Aren't Using It. Consumer Reports. 7 May 2026. https://www.consumerreports.org/health/hearing-aids/one-of-best-hearing-aid-features-many-still-arent-using-a4102935824/ (accessed 13 October 2026).
Every finding here cites its source, and who funded each source is labelled. This site does not recommend products. Found an error or a missing study? Suggest a correction.