The International Association for Hearing Accessibility (IAHA) will host a free webinar exploring the development and impact of Auracast, the new Bluetooth technology designed for one-to-many audio sharing.
The session will bring together speakers from across the hearing access community to discuss how Auracast fits into the broader landscape of assistive listening technologies, and whether users and venues are ready for the transition.
As we have been charting, Auracast represents a significant advancement in accessible audio, enabling venues such as airports, theatres, and public spaces to transmit audio directly to compatible hearing devices, earbuds, and headphones. However, as with any emerging technology, questions remain around rollout, user education, and coexistence with existing systems such as hearing loops.
IAHA’s webinar aims to provide attendees with a balanced overview of the technology’s potential and limitations, featuring a live Q&A session that offers the opportunity to ask questions directly to the panel.
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The event will be hosted by Andrew Thomas, Chairman of IAHA, and will feature presentations from experts representing the perspectives of the industry, audiology, and end-users.
Sam Burkinshaw, Head of Business Development at Ampetronic/Listen Technologies, will discuss how Auracast broadcast audio is being deployed in real-world settings.
With more than 15 years of experience in audio accessibility, Sam has led the development of strategies to help venues adopt the technology and manage compatibility challenges as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and consumer devices begin to support Auracast.
Alastair Moore, Technical Lead at RNID, will examine the user and research side of the technology.
His work involves communicating the benefits of hearing technology to both consumers and industry, as well as influencing how accessibility is implemented in practice. Alastair’s academic background includes a PhD in binaural sound from Imperial College London, as well as a career in both hardware engineering and acoustic signal processing.
Rounding out the panel is Juliëtte Sterkens, audiologist and hearing access advocate with the Hearing Loss Association of America.
Based in Wisconsin, she has spent more than four decades in audiology and rehabilitation and now advocates for improved access through assistive listening systems.
Juliëtte will bring an international perspective on what Auracast could mean for people with hearing loss and the organisations that serve them.
When is the IAHA seminar taking place and how can I register?
The seminar will take place from 3.30pm to 4.15pm BST on Tuesday, 14 October 2025.
Registration is now open and free via the IAHA website: https://iaha-global.com/posts/auracast-and-assistive-listening–the-journey-so-far-and-whats-ahead-/
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