Important points
- The FCC requires that all cell phones sold in the United States must be compatible with hearing aids.
- The committee also requires both Android OEMs and Apple to abandon proprietary Bluetooth standards that could hinder hearing aid compatibility.
- The FCC’s new rules also outline quantity controls and product labeling requirements for both Android and iPhone.
Hearing aids and Android smartphones don’t always work well together. One reason is that different Android brands use different hardware and software (on top of Android). Google’s ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids) protocol tried to address this problem, but it’s still not as smooth as the iPhone. Now, the FCC has stepped in to improve compatibility, requiring all Android smartphones (and iPhones) in the United States to be used with hearing aids.
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The FCC announced in a press release Thursday that it has adopted new regulations requiring all smartphones to be compatible with hearing aid devices (via Android Authority). “This change will allow the 48 million Americans with hearing loss to choose from the same cell phone models available to all consumers,” the commission said.
Most modern Android smartphones are already compatible with hearing aids. For example, all Google Pixel models starting with the Pixel 3 and 3 XL support them, as well as the Galaxy S9 series and beyond. Samsung’s foldable lineup (Galaxy Z Flip 2, Fold 2 and newer) and affordable A-series phones (Galaxy A21s, A51, A71 and newer) can also be used with hearing aids.
New regulations require both Android and iPhone to do away with proprietary Bluetooth standards that could compromise hearing aid compatibility. The FCC has confirmed that all phones support universal connectivity with over-the-counter devices and hearing aids, including hearables.
The FCC also outlined volume control requirements
Smartphone manufacturers will have to follow new rules for volume control so users can turn up the volume without distorting the sound. It aims to help everyone, not just those with severe hearing loss, hear more clearly.
Additionally, companies should update their product labels to include information about hearing aid compatibility, telecoil or Bluetooth connectivity requirements, and speech gain, which indicates how loud a phone can get while adhering to volume rules. .
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