Announcements

Are you 65 or older? Have you had any experience with medical device clinical studies over the past 5 years? If so, the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is looking for individuals to share their experiences during a virtual town hall for CDRH employees! The town hall will take place on Thursday, September 4, 2025, 11am - 1 pm EST. What’s this event about? The FDA wants to…

Bluetooth has released several case studies highlighting how Auracast, its new broadcast audio feature built on Bluetooth LE Audio, is being used in real-world settings. Auracast is intended to improve audio accessibility and user experience by offering clearer sound, simplified installation, and more flexible use compared to older systems like hearing loops. Examples of deployments include the…

Medicare is updating how it bills for hearing aid-related services by introducing 12 new billing codes starting January 1, 2026. These new codes replace outdated ones from 1993 and are designed to better reflect the full range of services audiologists provide today, including evaluation, device selection, fitting, and follow-up care. The update aims to make the billing process clearer and more…

Stadium Taranaki in New Zealand upgraded its audio system using Auracast , a new Bluetooth technology that streams live audio directly to hearing aids, earbuds, or phones. This gives fans with hearing loss a much better experience without needing special hardware or wired systems. Instead of installing complex hearing loops, the stadium uses Auracast-enabled transmitters to broadcast across key…

LG’s 2025 OLED and select QNED TVs now support Auracast, a feature built on Bluetooth LE Audio that allows multiple headphones or hearing aids to connect at once. This gives users more flexibility, such as watching TV with wireless earbuds, improving audio clarity, or sharing sound with others without sync issues. The feature isn’t mentioned clearly on LG’s product pages and is only listed under…

Samsung recently showcased its Auracast technology at an event held in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. In collaboration with GN, a hearing aid provider, the demonstration showed how Auracast can enhance shared audio experiences in acoustically rich environments. Auracast enables a single audio source to broadcast to multiple receivers simultaneously.…

Researchers at Boston University have developed a new algorithm, BOSSA (Biologically Oriented Sound Segregation Algorithm), to assist individuals with hearing loss in understanding speech in noisy environments. Inspired by the brain’s natural ability to filter sounds, BOSSA uses spatial cues like volume and timing to isolate relevant speech from background noise. In tests, it improved word…

A new study from NYU Langone Health shows that treating hearing loss in older adults can help reduce loneliness and social isolation. In a three-year trial of nearly 1,000 participants aged 70 to 84, those who received hearing aids and audiologist support maintained more social connections and reported stronger relationships compared to those who only received general health education.…

A non-invasive device called Lenire uses sound and gentle tongue stimulation to reduce tinnitus symptoms by retraining how the brain processes sound. It’s now FDA-approved and showing promising results for people with persistent ringing in the ears. Read more here .

3M has begun paying out a $6 billion settlement to resolve lawsuits from U.S. military veterans and service members who claimed that defective Combat Arms Version 2 earplugs caused hearing loss and tinnitus. The earplugs, used between 2003 and 2015, were alleged to be faulty, leading to hearing damage among users. As of May 2025, over $2.8 billion has been allocated for claimant payouts, with…