The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has passed a set of regulations, fundamentally shifting how phones in the U.S. will work with hearing aids. This move directly impacts millions of Americans with hearing impairments, who will soon have more mobile phone options that support their devices without compatibility concerns.
By putting these rules in place, the Commission aims to prevent a future where people with hearing loss are limited by which phones they can use. Bluetooth pairing is also now on the list of things manufacturers need to address—essentially banning the use of proprietary standards that lock consumers into specific ecosystems.
New Rules on Phone Volume Control and Labeling
Another change coming from the FCC’s new guidelines revolves around how phone volume settings will work. All mobile handsets sold in the U.S. must now have better volume control capabilities, meaning users can increase audio levels without any distortions.
To make things clearer, phones will also need new labeling. This is to ensure that consumers with hearing impairments know exactly what they’re getting before they buy. The labels will specify whether or not the device works with hearing aids, and if it meets Bluetooth or telecoil compatibility standards. Buyers will be able to see if the device supports what’s called “conversational gain,” letting them know how much they can turn up the volume without losing clarity.
Bluetooth and Hearing Aid Compatibility: A Push for Open Standards
Phones and hearing aids are about to become much more interconnected under these new guidelines. The FCC’s crackdown on proprietary Bluetooth standards means manufacturers are being pushed to adopt more universal tech. What this means for consumers is fewer compatibility headaches when pairing a phone to their hearing aids, including the increasingly popular over-the-counter models that have gained traction since the FDA opened the market.
The FCC’s new rules mean that soon, even wireless earbuds like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 will need to follow these rules if marketed as hearing aids. The decision aims to streamline the mobile experience for users with hearing impairments and prevent compatibility issues across different devices and brands.
Task Force Brings Together Tech Companies, Researchers, and Advocates
The path to these new rules wasn’t short. An independent group known as the Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force, made up of wireless providers, tech manufacturers, researchers, and advocates for people with hearing impairments, worked together over several years to make this a reality.
This collaboration enabled the FCC to finalize a requirement that 100% of mobile phones sold in the U.S. must be compatible with hearing aids. What used to be a selective feature only available on certain devices will now be mandatory across the board, marking a major change in the mobile market and a win for accessibility advocates.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:27 pm CET
