People accessing an Auracast service through their own hearing device will normally control it using a smartphone. Other audience members may assume someone looking at their phone is being distracted rather than using an accessibility service. You can help create a more inclusive environment by raising awareness of Auracast with all audience members....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change for clinical practice, but audiologists fitting Auracast-compatible devices may consider counselling patients about social stigma they could encounter when using smartphones to adjust hearing settings in public.
Social stigma around visible hearing technology use is a well-known barrier to adoption; addressing it in public venue policies is a meaningful step toward normalising assistive listening.
- 01Hearing aid users may face social stigma when using smartphones to control Auracast devices during performances.
- 02RNID urges theatres to actively signal that smartphone use for hearing purposes is acceptable.
- 03Stigma reduction is framed as part of inclusive environment design.
- 04Relevant to hearing aid fitting counselling on device control in public settings.
- 05No empirical evidence cited; guidance is advocacy and opinion-based.
Social stigma around smartphone use during performances can deter hearing aid users from controlling their Auracast-connected devices.
opinionpartially supported