The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together

After a transition period, all phones will be required to work with hearing
aids - and vice versa.

On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers to
make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of
Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050,
the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don't have to worry about
which phones will work with their hearing aids.

"Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing
loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies, features,
and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace," the FCC wrote in a
press release.

On the flip side, the FCC also passed a requirement for hearing aid makers
that effectively bans proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards in the
assistive devices. So, phones must be compatible with hearing aids - and
vice versa. The rule even applies to the recently approved over-the-counter
hearing aids, which now include AirPods Pro 2.

Other changes include requiring all new mobile handsets sold in the US to
let users raise the volume without introducing distortion. In addition, the
FCC now mandates that cell phones' point-of-sale labels clarify hearing aid
compatibility and whether the handsets meet Bluetooth or telecoil coupling
requirements.

https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-fcc-will-soon-require-all-hearing-aids-and-phones-to-work-together-190003074.html

On Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:53:28 +0200, Quincy the fifth wrote:

> The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together
>
> After a transition period, all phones will be required to work with
> hearing aids - and vice versa.
>
> On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers
> to make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of
> Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050,
> the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don't have to worry about
> which phones will work with their hearing aids.
>
> "Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing
> loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies,
> features,
> and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace," the FCC wrote
> in a press release.
>
> On the flip side, the FCC also passed a requirement for hearing aid
> makers that effectively bans proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards in
> the assistive devices. So, phones must be compatible with hearing aids -
> and vice versa. The rule even applies to the recently approved
> over-the-counter hearing aids, which now include AirPods Pro 2.
>
> Other changes include requiring all new mobile handsets sold in the US
> to let users raise the volume without introducing distortion. In
> addition, the FCC now mandates that cell phones' point-of-sale labels
> clarify hearing aid compatibility and whether the handsets meet
> Bluetooth or telecoil coupling requirements.

Don't all modern mobile phones have Bluetooth? So it is up
to hearing aids to have that capability.
I got hearing aids about five years ago, expecting just
that, but was pleasantly surprised at the bonus feature
of Bluetooth, so that all sound made by the phone goes
straight into my ears, and to answer a phone call all I have
to do is to press a small button on the hearing aid and I
never need to pick up the phone, as long as it's within a few
meters- wonderfull. On long walks I can listen to music I have
put on my phone.

The small downside is that if I misplace my phone, I can't ask
my wife to ring me, to locate it. The only ring tone is in my ears.

--
db

Quincy the fifth <quincythefifth@telekom.net> Wrote in message:

> The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together
>
> After a transition period, all phones will be required to work with hearing
> aids - and vice versa.
>
> On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers to
> make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of
> Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050,
> the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don't have to worry about
> which phones will work with their hearing aids.
>
> "Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing
> loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies, features,
> and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace," the FCC wrote in a
> press release.
>
> On the flip side, the FCC also passed a requirement for hearing aid makers
> that effectively bans proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards in the
> assistive devices. So, phones must be compatible with hearing aids - and
> vice versa. The rule even applies to the recently approved over-the-counter
> hearing aids, which now include AirPods Pro 2.
>
> Other changes include requiring all new mobile handsets sold in the US to
> let users raise the volume without introducing distortion. In addition, the
> FCC now mandates that cell phones' point-of-sale labels clarify hearing aid
> compatibility and whether the handsets meet Bluetooth or telecoil coupling
> requirements.
> https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-fcc-will-soon-require-all-hearing-aids-and-phones-to-work-together-190003074.html

Article in the NYT about using Airpods in noisy restaurants. Apple
- so OT here - but interesting.

Warning: long link, mind the gap.
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/18/dining/noisy-restaurants-apple-airpods.html?ogrp=ctr&unlocked_article_code=1.TE4.e16D.DGoscIP9pT8o&smid=url-share>

--
Remove numerics from my email address.

db wrote:

> Don't all modern mobile phones have Bluetooth? So it is up
> to hearing aids to have that capability.

Beyond the actual bluetooth radio, is there a special bluetooth profile
required for hearing aid support, or is it just e.g. A2DP ?

In comp.mobile.android, on Sun, 20 Oct 2024 11:11:04 -0000 (UTC), db
<dieterhansbritz@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:53:28 +0200, Quincy the fifth wrote:
>
>> The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together
>>
>> After a transition period, all phones will be required to work with
>> hearing aids - and vice versa.
>>
>> On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers
>> to make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of
>> Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050,
>> the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don't have to worry about
>> which phones will work with their hearing aids.
>>
>> "Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing
>> loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies,
>> features,
>> and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace," the FCC wrote
>> in a press release.
>>
>> On the flip side, the FCC also passed a requirement for hearing aid
>> makers that effectively bans proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards in
>> the assistive devices. So, phones must be compatible with hearing aids -
>> and vice versa. The rule even applies to the recently approved
>> over-the-counter hearing aids, which now include AirPods Pro 2.
>>
>> Other changes include requiring all new mobile handsets sold in the US
>> to let users raise the volume without introducing distortion. In
>> addition, the FCC now mandates that cell phones' point-of-sale labels
>> clarify hearing aid compatibility and whether the handsets meet
>> Bluetooth or telecoil coupling requirements.

This all sounds pretty good to me.

>Don't all modern mobile phones have Bluetooth? So it is up
>to hearing aids to have that capability.
>I got hearing aids about five years ago, expecting just
>that, but was pleasantly surprised at the bonus feature
>of Bluetooth, so that all sound made by the phone goes
>straight into my ears, and to answer a phone call all I have
>to do is to press a small button on the hearing aid and I
>never need to pick up the phone, as long as it's within a few
>meters- wonderfull. On long walks I can listen to music I have
>put on my phone.
>
>The small downside is that if I misplace my phone, I can't ask
>my wife to ring me, to locate it. The only ring tone is in my ears.

LOL Can you turn off your hearing aids?

In comp.mobile.android, on Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:50:38 +0100 (GMT+01:00),
Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:

>Quincy the fifth <quincythefifth@telekom.net> Wrote in message:
>
>> The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together
>>
>> After a transition period, all phones will be required to work with hearing
>> aids - and vice versa.
>>
>> On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers to
>> make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of
>> Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050,
>> the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don't have to worry about
>> which phones will work with their hearing aids.
>>
>> "Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing
>> loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies, features,
>> and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace," the FCC wrote in a
>> press release.
>>
>> On the flip side, the FCC also passed a requirement for hearing aid makers
>> that effectively bans proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards in the
>> assistive devices. So, phones must be compatible with hearing aids - and
>> vice versa. The rule even applies to the recently approved over-the-counter
>> hearing aids, which now include AirPods Pro 2.
>>
>> Other changes include requiring all new mobile handsets sold in the US to
>> let users raise the volume without introducing distortion. In addition, the
>> FCC now mandates that cell phones' point-of-sale labels clarify hearing aid
>> compatibility and whether the handsets meet Bluetooth or telecoil coupling
>> requirements.
>> https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-fcc-will-soon-require-all-hearing-aids-and-phones-to-work-together-190003074.html
>
>Article in the NYT about using Airpods in noisy restaurants. Apple
> - so OT here - but interesting.
>
>Warning: long link, mind the gap.
><https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/18/dining/noisy-restaurants-apple-airpods.html?ogrp=ctr&unlocked_article_code=1.TE4.e16D.DGoscIP9pT8o&smid=url-share>

v ERRRRY INTERSTING LINK GOOD 4 30 DAYS

Andy Burns, 2024-10-20 13:56:

> db wrote:
>
>> Don't all modern mobile phones have Bluetooth? So it is up
>> to hearing aids to have that capability.
>
> Beyond the actual bluetooth radio, is there a special bluetooth profile
> required for hearing aid support, or is it just e.g. A2DP ?

According to <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bluetooth_profiles>
it seems there is no special "hearing aid" profile and A2DP should be
sufficient, quote:

"Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)

(...)

For example, music can be streamed from a mobile phone to a wireless
headset, hearing aid/cochlear implant streamer (...)"

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de