At the Annual General Meeting 2026, EFHOH and its members adopted a new Position Statement on Public Procurement of Hearing Devices and their Accessibility Features, reaffirming the importance of inclusive and future-proof approaches.
Building on last year’s AGM concluding statement, the position calls for the dual inclusion of telecoil and Auracast features in hearing aids and cochlear implants provided through public health systems.
EFHOH’s position is clear: hard of hearing people should not be forced to choose between different ways of accessing sound and communication in public spaces.
Telecoil remains essential for compatibility with widely installed hearing loop systems across public spaces, while Auracast introduces new opportunities for wireless, scalable audio access. Removing one in favour of the other risks excluding users and undermining existing accessibility infrastructures.
To address this, EFHOH and its Members call on policymakers to:
- integrate both telecoil and Auracast as standard requirements in public health procurement of hearing aids and cochlear implants.
- ensure compatibility with all major assistive listening systems (hearing loops, FM/RF, infrared, and Auracast),
- guarantee that innovation strengthens, rather than replaces, existing accessibility.
As recognised in Article 9 of the UNCRPD, accessibility is a precondition for full participation in society. Ensuring that hearing technologies remain inclusive, compatible, and accessible is essential to uphold this right across Europe.
Read the full position statement here.
