This article was written by HearingLoss.com in collaboration with Susan Taulia, Au.D., a HearingLoss.com®-Certified provider at Lafayette Hearing Center in Lafayette, IN.
A new era of hearing technology is unfolding. Imagine walking into an airport, a church, or your neighborhood theater and having the building’s sound system stream clear audio directly to your hearing aids with no extra receivers, neck loops, or app logins. That’s the ultimate promise of AuracastTM. Below, you’ll learn what it is, why it matters, and how to be sure you, and your hearing care partner, are ready to use Auracast hearing technology to its fullest advantage.
What Is AuracastTM and Why Does It Matter for Your Hearing Care?
Auracast
Simply put, Auracast is the new broadcast capability of Bluetooth® transmission technology.
Classic Bluetooth wirelessly pairs one audio source with one device. When you send music from your smartphone to your car stereo, that’s classic Bluetooth in action.
Bluetooth LE is a newer form of Bluetooth that requires less power (LE = low energy). It also wirelessly pairs one audio source to one device. This is what lets your fitness tracker or car stereo sync up with your smartphone. This technology has been wonderful, but it is limited by the one-to-one “rule” — if your phone is connected to your car, your spouse’s phone cannot also be connected to the car at the same time.
Auracast broadcasts are different and can turn any enabled TV, microphone, mobile device, or public address system into a mini radio station, broadcasting audio to an unlimited number of nearby receivers — such as Auracast enabled hearing aids.
Why Auracast matters for hearing care
This change in technology represents a huge shift for people with hearing loss trying to navigate hearing well in public spaces like churches, theaters, and sports venues. It removes distance, echo, and background noise — the three major hurdles that make public spaces so exhausting to try to hear in.
Auracast isn’t simply another gadget or upgrade. It represents a true sea change for how we all hear in public spaces, because it represents a new standard transmission that transcends brands and types of devices.
Beyond public accessibility, you can share your audio with friends via Auracast: One mobile device can broadcast audio to two (or three, or four …) sets of headphones, so each of you can set the volume to what works for you and enjoy the same song, video, and more, across each of your own personal listening devices.
Auracast Is Changing Hearing Accessibility — Are You Prepared?
It’s estimated that by 2029, 1.5 million public spaces will provide Auracast, driven largely by airports, gyms, conference centers, and houses of worship that want to increase visitor satisfaction through better accessibility.
That 2029 timeline means two things:
- The rollout will feel gradual, much like the spread of Wi Fi hotspots in the 2000s, but
- The decisions you make now — your next hearing aid purchase, your provider’s test equipment — will determine whether you can plug into Auracast when you encounter it
Being ready, then, is not about chasing a fad. It’s about ensuring you have compatible hearing technology and working with professionals who stay up to date on important technological advancements.
Being ready, then, is not about chasing a fad. It’s about ensuring you have compatible hearing technology and working with professionals who stay up to date on important technological advancements.
Are Your Hearing Aids Ready for Auracast?
Most major hearing aid manufacturers already offer models labeled as either:
- Auracast enabled, meaning they can stream audio via Auracast without additional hardware or an app update
- Auracast ready, meaning they will need a firmware update to stream audio via Auracast
So how do you know if your hearing aids support Auracast? Not one online list of models can truly capture this constantly changing landscape. Your best bet is one of two sources: The manufacturer of your devices or your hearing care provider.
Check your hearing aid manufacturer’s website, your hearing aids’ packaging, the user manual, or the associated smartphone app. These sources should mention Auracast or Bluetooth LE version 5.2 or higher. If you’re still unsure, ask your provider, who will be happy to help.
How to Choose a Provider Who Can Support Auracast
Choosing a hearing care provider isn’t just about who’s nearby. Simply put, it matters who you entrust with your hearing care.
Look for a provider who:
- Sees the value in keeping up with advanced technology and connectivity tools. Ask if they have an Auracast enabled demo model you can try
- Goes beyond fitting hearing technology via default manufacturer recommendations and uses real-ear measurement (REM) and test-box verification with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards
- Offers continuing support, so you get firmware updates and pairing tutorials as part of your investment in better hearing
- Cultivates relationships with public venues, such as churches, senior centers, and travel hubs, so they know when hearing accessibility features go live
A provider who meets these criteria is far more likely to help you embrace the future of hearing technology — not play catch up later.
Ready to Experience Auracast For Yourself?
Connect with a HearingLoss.com-Certified provider who fits REM-verified, Auracast-ready hearing aids and offers the ongoing support you deserve. Take the next step toward effortless listening in airports, theaters, houses of worship, and everywhere life happens.
Why Real Ear and Test-Box Verification Still Matter With Today’s Hearing Aids
No matter how “smart” hearing devices become, artificial intelligence and the manufacturer’s recommended settings only go so far.
REM and test-box verification ensure your devices will give you the hearing experience you need and deserve. Skipping these steps is like buying a guitar and never changing the strings — you won’t get what you paid for.
Rear-ear measurement
Because every person’s ear canal is unique, REM has been, and still is, the gold standard for ensuring your hearing technology is truly fit for your unique ear canals. Using a tiny microphone placed in your ear canal, REM confirms that the sound reaching your eardrums meets your prescribed targets.
Because if you can’t trust your hearing aid to deliver sound faithfully in the first place, it won’t matter whether it’s Auracast enabled.
Test-box verification
Sometimes, hearing aids come from the manufacturer with defects. Putting your hearing aids in a test box determines whether they’re working as they should.
For example, a test box can confirm that the directional microphones and noise reduction of your hearing aids remain stable when streaming Auracast audio.
What You Need to Know to Prepare for Auracast
Check upgrade eligibility
If your current devices are three or four years old, you might be due for an upgrade, app update, or firmware refresh. Consult with your provider about options.
Explore the public spaces in your routine
If you frequent a place of worship, work out regularly at a gym, or take in live theater often, inquire about their current accessibility options and any plans for the future.
If they’re not up to speed on the latest in accessibility systems, you might find yourself being an advocate for adoption of Auracast in your community!
Learn to pair on the fly
Auracast is simple to use, but giving yourself a crash course in a public space isn’t ideal. Spending some time with your user manual or asking your audiologist for a quick demo now will prevent frustration later.
Plan for coexistence with hearing loops
Looping in public spaces isn’t disappearing overnight, so make sure you’re comfortable with both Auracast and your device’s telecoil. Dual compatibility devices give you the broadest access.
Stay updated
Many manufacturers push any Bluetooth enhancements through their devices’ smartphone apps. Keep automatic updates switched on and familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the app so you can recognize any changes in your Bluetooth capabilities.
Involve your friends
Think beyond hearing aids — plenty of personal electronics, such as wireless earbuds and headphones, can receive Auracast broadcasts, so get your friends involved, too. Don’t miss out on shared memories because of out-of-date earbuds!
Quick Answers About Auracast Hearing Technology
What is Auracast and how does it help people with hearing loss?
Auracast is the broadcast capability of Bluetooth LE audio. It streams clear audio in public venues directly to compatible devices, such as hearing aids, improving sound clarity in public spaces. It also allows two or more people to listen to the same audio — such as a song or video played on a mobile device — at the same time, each setting the volume to a level that suits them.
How do I know if my hearing aids support Auracast?
Check the manufacturer’s website, your hearing aid packaging, or your user manual for “Auracast” or “Bluetooth LE audio” (version 5.2 or higher), or ask your audiologist.
Where can I get hearing aids that work with Auracast?
From a hearing care provider who stays up to date on the latest advances in assistive-listening technology and carries the latest Bluetooth LE-compatible hearing devices. A provider with ties to community venues and a focus on accessibility will usually include that on their website.
How does Auracast compare to traditional assistive listening systems?
It can remove the need for venue-supplied hearing receivers and dependence on the telecoil setting of a hearing aid, and it supports unlimited listeners. Telecoils and FM/IR systems will, however, remain in use during a long transition period while people are still getting technology that is compatible with Auracast broadcasting.
How HearingLoss.com Can Help Ensure You’re Ready for Auracast
The bottom line: Auracast hearing technology is poised to make public listening and shared audio experiences effortless, but only if you, your provider, and your devices are prepared.
As a HearingLoss.com-Certified provider, I’m committed to real-ear measurement, test-box verification, and every other clinical best practice put forth by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). That means I’m well-versed in accessibility systems such as FM, hearing loops, and the latest Bluetooth compatibilities.
In fact, no matter where in the country you are, you can use HearingLoss.com to find the nearest certified provider, ensuring you enjoy the same premier level of care I provide my patients.
Whether you’re beginning your hearing journey or seeking a different provider who will better meet your needs, HearingLoss.com is a great place to start. It has articles, resources, a robust directory of certified providers, and it offers the tools and support you need to take the next step toward better hearing.
Ready to experience the next generation of hearing? Connect with a HearingLoss.com-Certified provider in your area today and hear the world on your terms.
References
- How Bluetooth is creating a more accessible world | Bluetooth® Technology Website. (2019). Bluetooth® Technology Website. https://www.bluetooth.com/2025-market-update/creating-a-better-world/creating-a-more-accessible-world/. Accessed on July 3, 2025.
- HLAA 2025: advocating for greater audio accessibility | Bluetooth® Technology Website. (2025, June 18). Bluetooth® Technology Website. https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/hlaa-2025-advocating-for-greater-audio-accessibility/. Accessed on July 3, 2025.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. The Auracast™ word mark and logos are trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Any use of such marks by Lafayette Hearing Center is under license.
Our patient-centered approach focuses on your unique needs. The team at Lafayette Hearing Center works with you to diagnose and create solutions for any hearing, balance, or tinnitus concerns. Using state-of-the-art technology, we provide a premium patient experience that includes exceptional follow-up care, ensuring your needs are being met.
