The FCC has approved a new rule requiring 100% of all mobile handsets sold in the US to be compatible with hearing aids.

Apple announced a hearing aids functionality for the AirPods Pro 2 in June 2024, the most recent big move for accessibility in the industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration quickly approved the feature, paving the way for an over-the-counter hearing aids option.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that all smartphones will soon need to work with all Bluetooth hearing aids, and vice versa, so that people with hearing loss don't have to worry about compatibility issues.

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted new rules requiring all mobile handsets sold in the US to be compatible with hearing aids, marking a significant milestone

Now that hearing aids are available over-the-counter, the FCC takes accessibility a step further with requirements for Bluetooth and volume control.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Thursday issued rules requiring that all mobile phones — including smartphones — sold in the U.S. be compatible with hearing aids. The news comes two years after the FDA made hearing aids available to all Americans without a prescription.

The FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone manufacturers to make their handsets compatible with hearing aids.The rules ensure those with hearing loss can easily use compatible phones.

The new rules will go into effect after a transition period, and also require that phones meet volume-control benchmarks.

The FCC has approved regulations that mandate phone manufacturers to ensure their products work with hearing aids. Making phones compatible with hearing aids could help the aging American population.