Supporting the SaddleBrooke Hard of Hearing Community

Auracast for Assistive Listening

While current assistive listening system (ALS) technologies, such as inductive loops, have been providing great benefit to people with hearing loss, they suffer from a number of challenges that have limited their deployment, including poor quality, high cost, and lack of privacy. The Bluetooth SIG worked closely with the hearing aid industry to define and introduce the next generation of assistive listening system technology, Auracast™ broadcast audio. Click on link for more information.

Auracast Could Change the Game For Hearing Aid Wearers

Written by Amy Sarow, AuD, CCC-A Dr. Amy Sarow is a practicing clinical audiologist and serves as Audiology Lead for Soundly.

Auracast is Here - What You Need to Know

Question and Answer session with Andrew Bellavia, founder of AuraFuturity, a consultancy in the hearing, hearables, and broader communications spaces.

Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Astounds Industry Enthusiasts at IFA 2024

The Death of the T-Coil

Recent video by Dr. Cliff

New Auracast™ Devices Validate the Potential of This Latest Bluetooth Audio Innovation

Industry analysts predict that 2.5 million locations will deploy Auracast™ broadcast audio by 2030

Auracast Retrofit Solutions

Auracast™ enabled transmitters and receivers are on their way. In the meantime, we all will be able to experience Auracast™ broadcast audio sooner than later thanks to a complete suite of Auracast™ retrofit transmitter solutions.

Assistive Listening Systems: Where We Are Today and What’s on the Horizon

In this session, you’ll learn that even when people wear hearing aids, they still need assistive listening systems to hear clearly in public and private entities. The session will cover which systems fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA standards, the practicality of the different ALS, and best practices for managers so that users have a positive experience, whether they wear hearing devices or not. Also, the session will cover how Auracast may be used as an assistive listening system with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards to be released in 2027. For years to come, all assistive listening systems will coexist for users to access clear speech anywhere they go.

Finding a Quiet Restaurant

Restaurant environments can be a challenge for Hard of Hearing individuals. My wife and I like to go out for a late lunch or early dinner (we call it Linner). A good time is 3 PM. We typically request a booth and make the staff aware of my hearing disability. At MVBG we like to sit in the dining area. At the Preserve the hostess tries her best to accommodate us and typically seats us in a quit location. The new Road Runner grill is too noisy unless the weather is nice enough to sit outside. If making reservations upstairs in HOA1 we request to be seated in a quiet location. If you have a quiet restaurant suggestion for this page, please contact Tim Gaule (tgaule@outlook.com)

Quiet Restaurants Identified by ALOHA

This is list of quiet Tucson restaurants identified on the ALOHA (Arizona Loss of Hearing Association) site

Soundprint

Sound levels measured by users using SoundPrint's in-app decibel meter. Be aware that quiet, moderate and loud restaurants are listed. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is listed as "moderate". I have found this restaurant to be loud. Nevertheless, this site is a helpful guide. If you click on the restaurant listing, you will see information on when and how many sound measures were taken. You can also get the Soundprint app to browse restaurants near you and contribute measurements through the iOS App Store or Google Play