The world of in-classroom hearing augmentation is continuously evolving, driven by advances in technology and the diverse needs of students. At Hear and Learn, we continue to embrace these changes with our “All Ears” policy. Since our inception more than 20 years ago, this policy has enabled our Redcat, 975, and Topcat soundfield solutions, and more recently our UConnect Mini and UConnect SoundHouse, to connect with transmitters to various hearing aid receivers including Phonak Roger, Signia, Auracast, and Induction/T-Switch creating cross-brand compatibility.
This approach is encapsulated in our mantra: “All audio to All Ears. Always.”
Over time, numerous hearing aids and inbuilt receivers have been provided to students with diagnosed hearing loss by the Federal Government. The brands and types of receivers in these aids have varied as a consequence of various and different procurement contracts. As a result, Educators are now dealing with a mix of independent proprietary transmission platforms.
Currently, the Phonak Roger platform is widely used, alongside the Signia platform and Induction/T-Switch receivers. However, this diversity presents challenges, particularly when procuring soundfield or hearing augmentation technologies that rely solely on a single proprietary platform, such as the Phonak Digimaster and Phonak TouchScreen devices. Should there be a shift away from the Phonak Roger platform, this infrastructure may become incompatible with future hearing aid receivers.
In recent consultations with education audiologists, several important considerations emerged for educators, architects, and electrical consultants:
- New transmission platforms are inevitable, with Auracast, a new type of Bluetooth technology, expected to be widely adopted.
- As new devices are introduced, older ones will continue to be used, leading to an increase in the variety of transmission platforms rather than a reduction.
- It is wise to adopt hearing augmentation solutions that consolidate all audio sources—voice, screen, and PA—into a central ‘home base.’ This base should be versatile, user-friendly, and capable of connecting multiple transmitters to various receivers.
These considerations are at the heart of Hear and Learn’s UConnect Mini, UConnect SoundHouse, and all our soundfield devices, designed to support the ever-changing needs of classroom environments.