IAHA

03/04/2026

“It was inspiring to see such a strong mix of attendees, including many new faces alongside familiar ones. The feedback has been incredibly positive, and we’re already looking ahead to building on this success in future events.”

Here’s a wrap-up report from the Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers on ISCVEx 2026, which took place in March.

Covering the event seminars, as well as the actual exhibition itself, showcasing current and new technologies across the industry:

ISCVEx 2026 Wraps After Two Vibrant Days of AGM, Networking, Seminars and Exhibition Spalding, Nick2026-03-27T10:24:59+00:00 ISCVEx 2026 Wraps After Two Vibrant Days of AGM, Networking, Seminars and Exhibition The ever-popular event, ISCVEx 2026, was once again hosted at the historic Coombe Abbey Ho...

02/04/2026

"We are asking you to adjust your hearing aids in a way that best suits you. You will listen to different kinds of sounds and adjust the sound using these three bars on the app. Your job is to set the hearing aids to make the sound quality the best overall. Even though you are listening to different kinds of sounds, you should set the hearing aids so they have the best sound quality for as many of the sounds as possible."

In “Optimizing Sound Quality Improves Hearing Aid Users’ Moods and Listening-Related Fatigue”, Erin M. Picou and colleagues examine how hearing aid sound quality relates to daily outcomes. The findings suggest better rated settings are linked to improved mood and reduced listening-related fatigue, even where speech understanding did not significantly change.

Interesting to note, though, that about a third of participants ended up preferring a different setting at home than the one they had identified as “good” in the lab. Real world listening can be messy and hard to reproduce in clinical settings.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sound quality on ratings of mood (esteem-related affect, vigor, and fatigue), listening-related fatigue,...

01/04/2026

Looking for a straightforward way to keep up with hearing accessibility?

Our bimonthly newsletter provides a regular snapshot of what’s happening across the sector, covering technologies, standards and implementation, alongside a curated selection of articles and updates.

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IAHA is a global association dedicated to improving hearing accessibility worldwide through assistive listening technologies, standards, webinars, and resources.

01/04/2026

"A lot of organizations and venues have assistive listening systems that almost nobody knows how to use. They were installed with good intentions and might even be in good working condition. But they’re sitting in a drawer somewhere, or behind a counter with staff members who were never really shown what to do with them. When someone who needs one walks through the door, the experience can range from awkward to completely unhelpful."

A great piece from Listen Technologies here, with a comprehensive guide on training staff and volunteers in the use of assistive listening systems. Focusing on places of worship, theatres and performance spaces, schools, universities and government facilities as well as corporate and business environments, this is really useful for anyone wondering how to move from simply installing a system to ensuring it is actually used effectively in day-to-day practice.

Providing access to an assistive listening system isn’t just about installing the technology, but also about making sure they it's understood. Staff need to know how to use them, maintain them, and ensure access is easy and open to anyone who needs it.

Full piece here:

A lot of organizations and venues have assistive listening systems that almost nobody knows how to use. They were installed with good intentions and might

31/03/2026

"One of the great things about being an engineer is that you occasionally get to see the products you design being used. It’s difficult to describe the emotion when you see someone you don’t know getting value from something you’re responsible for. "

Nice retrospective from Bluetooth SIG on the development of Auracast, tracing its original roots in hearing aid connectivity through to wider consumer devices and shared listening environments.

Full piece here:

Blog One of the great things about being an engineer is that you occasionally get to see the products you design being used. It’s difficult to describe the emotion when you see someone you don’t know…

31/03/2026

"This isn't just a feeling, there's actually hard data. A recent YouGov survey in Australia found that 41% of Australians can't recall a single instance in the past year where they saw someone wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants in mainstream media, unless the content was specifically about hearing loss. They also found that 77% of Australians with hearing loss say media portrayals misrepresent them, often depicting them as elderly, fragile, or dependent, despite the fact that they themselves are aged 20 to 60, working, raising families, and so on.

Great video here from This Week in Hearing, Andrew Bellavia, with Ceri Whittaker and John Lucchese, discuss how media representation (or lack thereof) of hearing loss effects how effects how people actually approach it, both in terms of recognising their own hearing loss and seeking out support.

Outdated perceptions of assistive technologies and who they are “for” can still influence how people approach hearing care. Stuff like GN's "New Norm" campaign are trying to shift that, presenting more realistic depictions of people using hearing tech in everyday life.

Video here:

Hearing loss affects millions of people across all ages—but you wouldn’t know it from mainstream media. New data from a multi-country survey reveals just how...

30/03/2026

"The future of assistive technology in Nigeria will depend on collaboration. Government agencies, schools, non-profits, and tech innovators all have a role to play. Most importantly, the voices of students with disabilities must be included in designing solutions that truly meet their needs."

Assistive technology is playing an increasing role in education for students with disabilities in Nigeria. Writing for Naija Eyes, Chimezirim Bassey outlines the current landscape, where these tools and technologies are helping students get access to learning and take part more independently.

That said, access remains uneven, with cost, infrastructure, training and stigma continuing to limit uptake.

Full piece:

Assistive Tech for Students with Disabilities in Nigeria

30/03/2026

How does hearing loss shape workplace decisions?

Upcoming webinar from the HLAA - Workplace Hearing Loss Diversity, Identity and Disclosure April 22.

Professor David C. Baldridge will be discussing his research on how different aspects of hearing loss can shape identity at work, and how this influences disclosure, self-advocacy, and the use of assistive technologies. They'll also be sharing some perspectives and personal experiences from members of the HLAA's Task Force for Accessible, Inclusive Employment.

Find out more and register here:

Explore how hearing loss shapes workplace identity, disclosure, and self-advocacy. Research insights + real experiences from HLAA employment panelists.

27/03/2026

A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B has found that hearing aid use is associated with measurable cognitive benefits in older adults with hearing loss.

Across 46 studies involving more than 230,000 participants, hearing aid users showed improvements in global cognition, memory, and attention, alongside a reduced risk of cognitive impairment. The findings also suggest outcomes can vary depending on factors such as age, severity of hearing loss, education and dementia risk.

While studies like this strengthen the case for early hearing support, it also highlights that hearing aids and cochlear implants can't solve accessibility on their own. Everyday listening environments are often noisy and difficult to navigate, which is where assistive listening tech and accessible sound infrastructure can make a real difference.

AbstractObjectives. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aid use on various cognitive domains (global cognition, memory, executive functi

26/03/2026

Integrated Systems Europe have released some stats and figures on ISE 2026 attendance.

It represents a really interesting (and beautifully presented) breakdown of attendee demographics: https://buff.ly/UvIQe0d

25/03/2026

“We officially consulted on this project, ensuring that the installation reflects the actual needs of the hearing-impaired. Together with the KCA, we now hope to expand this government-led initiative to more major public facilities.”

IAHA member HearCycle is working to ensure the needs of users are met in a landmark installation which is set to be the first-ever hearing loop deployment in a public medical facility in South Korea: https://buff.ly/bTuRH9J

25/03/2026

The European Federation of Hard of Hearing People have produced a post-event report following their March 4th “Hear the Future: Breaking Barriers for an EU Strategy on Hearing Loss” event at the European Parliament in Brussels.

It's a comprehensive document, highlighting the impact that hearing loss has on people across Europe, noting persistent barriers across education and employment and a call for the development of an dedicated EU Strategy on Hearing Loss, alongside stronger awareness and improved access to hearing care and assistive technologies.

Full report available here: