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Will equipment bought today meet the standards that follow?

From https://assistivelisteningknowledgebase.org/questions/future-proofing/ · updated 13 October 2026

  • Affects venues, installers, hearing professionals
  • 18 sources
  • Updated
  • First published

Technologies: Auracast, Hearing loops, Shared

In brief

Key standards and specifications are still in development, device behaviour changes with firmware, and several hearing devices are sold as Auracast Ready with the function promised later. Advocacy statements from 2024 and 2025 call for keeping loops and telecoils for periods ranging from at least 5 to 15 years.

Why it matters

Several requirements are still in development, while tests already show firmware changing compatibility and latency. The cited roadmap and tests do not establish which installed products can meet future requirements1,2,3.

What the evidence shows

  • Standards are still coming. IEC TC 29 lists IEC 60118-17 with the date November 20271; the SIG lists extended-coverage, capacity and discovery projects2 and has announced a deployment guide4. An independent University of São Paulo review, supported by FAPESP and a PIBIC scholarship and published in 2026, included 17 documents found through April 2025; several tie wide adoption of Auracast assistive listening to IEC 60118-175.
  • Firmware changes behaviour. In Pro Audito's independent bench and hall series, with 51 pairs in the main reception comparison and equipment lent free by makers but no manufacturer funding, a firmware update appeared to fix an earbud compatibility problem, with further testing still needed, while a newer firmware version raised one transmitter's latency at 16 kHz by 30 ms3.
  • Hearing devices are moving too. Some models have Auracast hardware but cannot connect yet6. Manufacturer WS Audiology states that Signia's Pure C&G MaX launched in August 2026 as Auracast "Ready", with full function promised by a firmware update by March 20277; manufacturer Widex's Allure page still described Auracast as a future 2026 update when read on 9 October 20268; manufacturer Cochlear describes the Nucleus 8 processor as ready for Auracast but gives no date for the update9.
  • Not every capable device has a telecoil. A Swiss list dated 31 August 2026 shows at least four Auracast-capable hearing device lines with a telecoil, while three capable or ready lines have none10. EFHOH reports that some makers have removed the telecoil, and in April 2026 its members asked that publicly procured hearing aids and implants be required to include both telecoil and Auracast11.
  • Transition estimates, dated 2024 and 2025. In February 2025 RNID expected the full Auracast rollout to take up to 10 years and asked venues to keep testing and maintaining hearing loops for at least five years, potentially nearer 1012. In May 2025 the Swiss centre for barrier-free architecture expected the move from induction to Auracast to take up to ten years, because hearing aids are kept six years or more and it expected Auracast to reach cochlear implants later than hearing aids13. In October 2024 EFHOH asked makers to keep telecoils for at least the next decade and held that loop access would be needed in Europe for at least 10 to 15 years14.
  • US phone rules keep both links. Under US rules, from 14 December 2026 at least 85% of a manufacturer's handset models must still meet telecoil coupling and at least 15% must have Bluetooth coupling; the rule covers phone calls, not venue broadcasts15.
  • Older assessments of 2.4 GHz systems. A January 2022 ETSI report on hearing loops, written for spectrum regulators, states that "Emerging technologies such as Bluetooth® Low Energy do not offer a practical alternative to HLS in most cases" (HLS: hearing loop systems), citing latency, the need to pair and short battery life, and adds that even if these problems are solved, the large installed base of hearing instruments with telecoils will benefit from loops for many years16. Bavaria's planning guidelines, at their 2019 status, list unresolved problems with 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and WLAN systems compared with loops: power consumption, a strongly limited number of users, excessive audio delay, unsatisfactory range and no uniform standards17.
  • Earlier transitions. A 1999 report to the US Access Board says a proposal to standardise FM and infrared transmission was not taken up for fear of stifling innovation, and its authors called instead for a "universal" receiver covering FM, infrared and loops18.

Where sources disagree

The cited advocacy statements call for retaining loops and telecoils for different periods: RNID asked in 2025 for at least five years of loop upkeep, potentially nearer ten, while EFHOH asked in 2024 for 10 to 15 years of loop access. These are dated recommendations, not measured adoption forecasts12,14. How much of the coming requirements can be met by firmware remains unresolved in the cited specification roadmap and product promises2,7,8,9.

What would settle it

Publication of the standards and manufacturers' statements on which installed products will be updated to meet them would resolve what the current project scopes and product promises leave open1,2,7,8,9.

Planning while it is open

  • Record firmware versions at handover and re-test after updates, because one update appeared to fix a compatibility problem and another raised latency3.
  • Keep existing hearing loops tested and maintained during the transition, as advocates recommend12,14.
  • Confirm that the required update has shipped and enables broadcast reception before counting an Auracast Ready device as able to join; a manufacturer's promised date alone does not establish that it can connect7,8,9.

Sources

  1. IEC 60118-17 (in preparation): assistive listening system for hearing aid users based on 2.4 GHz audio streaming. IEC TC 29 WG 13. International Electrotechnical Commission, undated (read 13 October 2026). Standards body (International Electrotechnical Commission) ↩︎ https://tc29.iec.ch/tc-activity/standards-under-preparation/
  2. Features in development. Bluetooth SIG, undated (read 9 October 2026). Standards body (Bluetooth SIG, an industry association funded by its member companies, which owns the Auracast trademark) ↩︎ https://www.bluetooth.com/specifications/specifications-in-development/
  3. Auracast transmitter-receiver compatibility test (with data workbook). Pro Audito Schweiz, 6 October 2025. Independent (Pro Audito Schweiz, Swiss hearing-loss association; no manufacturer funding, test products lent free by manufacturers) ↩︎ https://pro-audito.ch/news/auracast-transmitter-receiver-compatibility-test/
  4. Auracast for public locations. Bluetooth SIG, undated (read 13 October 2026). Trade body (Bluetooth SIG marketing material; the SIG is an industry association funded by its member companies and owns the Auracast trademark) ↩︎ https://www.bluetooth.com/auracast/public-locations/
  5. Auracast and hearing devices: a scoping review on connectivity and accessibility for individuals with hearing loss in public environments. Gonçalves LM, Ortega AVM, Angelo TCS, Moret ALM, Lopes NBF, Jacob RTS. CoDAS 38(4):e20250241 (University of São Paulo), 6 July 2026. Independent (University of São Paulo; FAPESP grant and a PIBIC scholarship) ↩︎ https://www.scielo.br/j/codas/a/B6cCLqxHb3XwKcLPLtZfZ6p/?lang=en
  6. "Worldwide Access" hearing instruments list. Center for Hearing Access (The John G. Shedd Institute). Center for Hearing Access, 11 September 2026. Nonprofit advocacy (Center for Hearing Access, an initiative of The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts; it states that it accepts no donations from hearing-related vendors) ↩︎ https://centerforhearingaccess.org/wp-content/uploads/Worldwide-Access-Hearing-Instruments-List.pdf
  7. Signia Introduces MaX, Powered by Acoustic Intelligence: World's First AI Hearing Aid Platform with 4 DNNs. WS Audiology. WS Audiology press release, 24 August 2026. Manufacturer (WS Audiology / Signia) ↩︎ https://www.wsa.com/press-release/signia-introduces-max-powered-by-acoustic-intelligence-worlds-first-ai-hearing-aid-platform-with-4-dnns/
  8. Widex Allure AI RIC R D (product page). Widex (WS Audiology). Widex website, undated (read 13 October 2026). Manufacturer (WS Audiology / Widex) ↩︎ https://www.widex.com/en/hearing-aids/allure/ai-ric-r-d/
  9. Nucleus 8 Sound Processor (product page). Cochlear. Cochlear US website, undated (read 9 October 2026). Manufacturer (Cochlear) ↩︎ https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/home/products-and-accessories/cochlear-nucleus-system/nucleus-sound-processors/nucleus-8
  10. Hearing aids and implants with Auracast function (status 31 August 2026). Pro Audito Schweiz. Pro Audito Schweiz (in German), 31 August 2026. Nonprofit advocacy (Pro Audito Schweiz, Swiss hearing-loss association) ↩︎ https://pro-audito.ch/wp-content/uploads/Hoersysteme_mit_Auracast_260831.pdf
  11. Telecoil and Auracast functionalities should be standard requirements for hearing aids and other hearing devices eligible for public health procurement. European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH). EFHOH (position adopted by its members at the 2026 Annual General Meeting), 18 April 2026. Nonprofit advocacy (European federation; EFHOH states that its 2024-2026 publications are co-funded by the EU CERV programme) ↩︎ https://efhoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/EFHOH-Motion-Telecoil-and-Auracast-functionalities.pdf
  12. Auracast: a revolution in audio accessibility (RNID Auracast report). RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People). RNID, 11 February 2025. Nonprofit advocacy (RNID, UK charity) ↩︎ https://rnid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Final-Auracast-Report-110225.pdf
  13. Höranlagen heute und morgen. Was ändert sich mit der neuen Technologie Auracast? (Hearing systems today and tomorrow: what changes with Auracast?). Hindernisfreie Architektur, the Swiss national centre for barrier-free architecture, with recommendations from Pro Audito Schweiz. hindernisfreie-architektur.ch (in German), 19 May 2025. Nonprofit advocacy (donation-funded Swiss specialist centre) ↩︎ https://hindernisfreie-architektur.ch/fachinformation/hoeranlagen-heute-und-morgen-was-aendert-sich-mit-der-neuen-technologie-auracast/
  14. Position statement on Auracast and telecoils. European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH). EFHOH, 18 October 2024. Nonprofit advocacy (European federation; EFHOH states that its 2024-2026 publications are co-funded by the EU CERV programme) ↩︎ https://efhoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/EFHOH-position-statement-on-concerns-about-withdrawal-from-telecoils-FINAL97.pdf
  15. 47 CFR 20.19: hearing loss compatible wireless handsets. US Federal Communications Commission. eCFR, 26 January 2026. Government (US Federal Communications Commission) ↩︎ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-20.19
  16. ETSI TR 103 614 V1.1.1: Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); Hearing Loop System (HLS) intended to assist the hearing impaired in the frequency range 0 Hz to 9 kHz; System Reference Document. ETSI Technical Committee ERM. European Telecommunications Standards Institute, January 2022. Standards body (ETSI, the European telecommunications standards organisation, whose members include manufacturers; a system reference document that asks European spectrum regulators to keep 10 Hz to 9 kHz available for hearing loops, and that supports a radio-equipment standard it says the International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association is drafting) ↩︎ https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_tr/103600_103699/103614/01.01.01_60/tr_103614v010101p.pdf
  17. Induktive Höranlagen beim Freistaat Bayern: Planungsrichtlinien, Stand 01.01.2019 (Hearing loops in Bavarian state buildings: planning guidelines). Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Building and Transport; text by Ertl F (Government of the Upper Palatinate) and Jaggo T (Landesverband Bayern der Schwerhörigen und Ertaubten). Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr, 1 January 2019. Government (Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Building and Transport, for state building projects; written with the technical officer of the Bavarian association of hard-of-hearing and deafened people, a hearing-loss organisation, and including a comparison table used with the permission of an engineer from the German hard-of-hearing association) ↩︎ https://mobilitaet.bayern.de/assets/stmi/min/181217-induktive-hoeranlagen.pdf
  18. Large area assistive listening systems (ALS): review and recommendations. Bakke MH, Levitt H, Ross M, Erickson F. Final report to the U.S. Access Board; Lexington School for the Deaf, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement, December 1999. Government (U.S. Department of Education, NIDRR grant H133E30015; final report to the U.S. Access Board) ↩︎ https://www.access-board.gov/files/research/assistive-listening-systems.pdf

Change log

  • Published with 18 sources.
  • Dated transition forecasts and product promises, and separated firmware changes from future-standard support.
  • Independent audit clarified the reception sample and qualified the tentative firmware fix.

Cite this question

Equal Access Audio. “Will equipment bought today meet the standards that follow?” Assistive Listening Knowledge Base. Updated 13 October 2026. https://assistivelisteningknowledgebase.org/questions/future-proofing/ (accessed the date you read it).

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