Announcements

In a Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) blog post, contributors from member companies describe several Bluetooth-related developments they expect to see gain traction in 2026. These include Bluetooth Channel Sounding, which the authors say could support more accurate distance measurement for applications like asset tracking and industrial safety, and Auracast broadcast audio, which they…

The Hearing Health Foundation funds research through its Emerging Research Grants (ERG) program , which awards seed money to scientists studying hearing and balance science and related conditions. The program supports a wide range of topics including the physiology of hearing and balance, epidemiology of auditory and vestibular disorders, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hearing loss,…

Sertoma offers two national scholarship programs focused on hearing health and communication access, funded through its Annual Fund. The Sertoma Hard of Hearing or Deaf Scholarship supports U.S. high school seniors and current undergraduates with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss who are pursuing a full-time bachelor’s degree at a four-year U.S. college or university, with eligibility…

The Help America Hear Scholarship supports U.S. high school seniors with hearing loss by offering financial aid and hearing technology to help with college or vocational education. Ten students are selected each year. Recipients receive a scholarship worth up to about $4,000 plus a pair of customized ReSound prescription hearing aids that fit their specific needs. Applicants must be high school…

A 15-year-old girl from Queens, New York who was born with microtia, a condition where the right outer ear and ear canal didn’t form, can now hear clearly for the first time after a series of reconstructive surgeries that included rebuilding her ear and fitting a bone-anchored hearing device. The procedures were provided with help from the Little Baby Face Foundation and led by a surgical team…

Apple's recent AirPods firmware includes hearing-related features for compatible AirPods models when paired with an iPhone or iPad running recent iOS software. One notable update (firmware version 7B19) adds a Hearing Test, a Hearing Aid feature, and Hearing Protection. The Hearing Test lets users assess their hearing and view results in the Health app. The Hearing Aid feature applies personalized…

Cochlear announced that eligible U.S. military veterans with hearing loss can now access the Nucleus Nexa System at Department of Veterans Affairs clinics across the country. The company describes the system as a “smart” cochlear implant technology with features such as upgradeable firmware, internal memory, and a small, rechargeable sound processor designed for all-day use. The announcement notes…

iotaMotion, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed for the expansion of pediatric clearance for its iotaSOFT® Robotic-Assisted Cochlear Implant Insertion System. The system can now be used in patients aged four years and older, letting school-aged children to benefit from robotic assistance during cochlear implant surgery. FDA 510(k) clearance means this…

A new University of Southern California study shows that using hearing aids and cochlear implants can help adults with hearing loss engage more in social life and feel less isolated. The research team reviewed 65 earlier studies with more than 5,000 participants and found consistent benefits when people used these devices, including stronger connections with others and easier participation in…

iotaMotion announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance to expand pediatric use of its iotaSOFT robotic-assisted cochlear implant insertion system, allowing use in patients aged four years and older. The system is intended to assist surgeons during the electrode insertion step of cochlear implant surgery by providing controlled, automated movement. According to…