Auckland, New ZealandICAAT - the Industry-Consumer Alliance for Accessible Technology is dedicated to bringing consumers and industry together to support the development of accessible, user-centered technology solutions for people with hearing loss.
- Testers Wanted: Android App for Sound Alerts and Speech-to-Text1 published on 10/22/2026
An independent developer is looking for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to test VibSense, a free Android app, and share feedback on how it works in daily life. According to the developer, the app listens for sounds such as alarms, car horns, speech, and dogs barking and alerts users with a vibration and a notification. It also includes speech-to-text and text-to-speech for conversations. Testers download the app from Google Play and use it at home as part of their normal routine, then report on missed sounds, false alerts, alert timing, and ease of use. The app can use the phone's… - EFHOH Report Finds Persistent Gaps in Hearing Care Access Across Europe published on 10/21/2026
The European Federation of Hard of Hearing People has published the third edition of its report, State of Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants Provision in Europe. The report analyzes access to hearing aids and cochlear implants across 26 European countries. Building on earlier editions from 2018 and 2022, the 2026 report expands its scope to include cochlear implants and personal assistive listening devices, covering public funding, eligibility criteria, costs to users, waiting times, rehabilitation, and long-term support. According to EFHOH, the findings reveal persistent gaps in access to… - SCAN and Costco Announce Medicare Advantage Plan with Hearing Aid Benefit published on 10/21/2026
SCAN Health Plan and Costco have announced a Medicare Advantage partnership that includes a hearing aid benefit for eligible members. Announced October 1, the SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO) plan will begin coverage January 1, 2027, in 17 California counties and in Clark and Nye counties in Nevada. The companies describe it as Costco’s first Medicare Advantage plans. The plan offers an annual allowance of up to $400 toward hearing aids. Combined with Costco’s existing hearing aid pricing, which starts around $1,600 per pair, reporting suggests this could lower eligible members’… - Starkey Introduces Omega AI+ Subscription Platform6 published on 10/19/2026
Starkey has introduced Omega +, its newest flagship prescription hearing aid family, announced October 1. The platform is built on a new processing chip the company calls the G4 Gen AI Neuro Processor and uses four deep neural networks that work together to manage different aspects of the sound environment. It follows the Omega AI platform Starkey introduced in October 2025. According to Starkey, Omega AI+ adds AI-controlled compression, an updated noise and feedback management system, and expanded AI-powered features across more device styles, including custom in-the-ear models. It… - Large Multinational Study Links Hearing Aid Use to Lower Mortality Risk published on 10/19/2026
A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that greater hearing loss severity was associated with a higher risk of death, and that hearing aid use was associated with a lower risk, among adults with hearing loss. The research combined individual participant data from population studies in Australia, Iceland, and the United States, with a separate replication study using data from Norway. The analysis found that as hearing loss severity increased, so did the risk of death from any cause and from cardiovascular disease. Among people with hearing loss, current hearing aid use was… - Phonak Launches Roger On Sphere, an AI Remote Microphone That Separates Speech from Noise published on 10/19/2026
Phonak announced Roger On Sphere, a new wireless that uses deep neural network processing to separate speech from background noise. The device was announced October 14 and is expected to be available in most markets beginning in mid-November 2026. The device works by placing a remote microphone near a speaker, or in the center of a group, that sends sound wirelessly to a person’s hearing aids or cochlear implant processors. According to the company, Roger On Sphere combines Phonak’s Sphere speech-processing technology with its existing Roger wireless transmission system, and… - FCC to Consider Proposal to Modernize Accessibility Rules at October 29 Open Meeting published on 10/17/2026
During its October 29, 2026 Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) about updating its accessibility rules. According to the FCC, the proposal would seek comment on making the rules technology-neutral and forward-looking, which would allegedly give developers flexibility to build accessibility into their products. The NPRM would also ask for input on marketplace barriers to accessibility, opportunities to improve the accessibility and usability of communications, and specific barriers identified in other FCC proceedings.…
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