Announcements

The Kennedy Center's Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference meets in Philadelphia August 11–14. LEAD is the primary national conference for arts and cultural accessibility professionals, organized by the Kennedy Center's Access/VSA International Network. Attendees include accessibility managers and ADA coordinators from museums, theaters, performing arts centers, parks, zoos,…

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and Anhui University in China published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identifying a specific brain circuit that connects serotonin signaling to the auditory system. Using optogenetics in a mouse model, the researchers found that activating serotonin-producing neurons triggered behavioral symptoms consistent with…

At its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, Apple confirmed that the hearing-related accessibility features it previewed in May will ship as part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27, expected in fall 2026. The Generated Subtitles feature will automatically produce on-screen transcriptions for videos that do not already include captions, working systemwide across…

UK mobile carrier O2 announced results from a proof-of-concept trial conducted with network software provider Mavenir, testing technology designed to improve phone call clarity for customers with hearing loss. Unlike device-based accessibility features or third-party apps, the adjustment happens within O2's network rather than on the user's phone or hearing device. Participants completed a short…

Nagish, an FCC-certified AI captioning platform founded in 2021, announced an $85 million funding round and a rebrand to Rylo. The company has now raised more than $100 million in total financing. The round included growth funding from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund and new investment led by Canaan, with participation from existing investors Vertex Ventures and Contour. Rylo's platform…

Philips is set to begin shipping its 2026 television models with native Auracast broadcast audio support built in. Several other major television manufacturers have made similar moves in recent years. Native Auracast support in televisions is relevant to hearing accessibility because it removes the need for a separate transmitter to stream audio directly to compatible hearing aids, cochlear…

Envoy Medical announced the first clinical data presentations from its pivotal trial of the Acclaim fully implanted cochlear implant. Interim data from an initial cohort showed improvements in speech recognition scores and quality-of-life measures. Among the four participants who reported tinnitus before surgery, tinnitus scores also decreased. The Acclaim captures sound through a sensor implanted…

InnoCaption recently launched InnoCaption Video, a new app that provides live captions during video calls for people with hearing loss. The app is designed for platforms and situations where existing captioning tools are insufficient. Separately, InnoCaption received FCC certification for IP Relay service in December 2024, expanding its coverage beyond captioned telephone calls. IP Relay allows…

Rayovac has redesigned its hearing aid battery packaging to address accessibility concerns raised by older adults and people with limited hand strength or dexterity, while maintaining compliance with Reese's Law child-resistant requirements. The updated packaging for the Extra and ProLine ranges features a new opening method and clearer visual instructions. According to Rayovac, independent…

Widex introduced the Allure AI RIC with Clarity Boost, a new hearing aid that adds an AI co-processor to the existing Allure platform. The AI processing is designed to activate only on demand through a separate program called Clarity Boost, intended for challenging listening situations. According to Widex, this approach should preserve natural, low-delay sound the brand is known for during…