In October 2024, EFHOH launched a strong statement in defense of telecoil technology, an essential component of hearing accessibility used by many hard of hearing people across Europe.
At our 2025 Annual General Meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, we reaffirmed our position with a concluding statement, warning against the premature removal of telecoils from hearing instruments such as hearing aids and cochlear implant processors. With the emergence of Auracast™, hearing device manufacturers have begun phasing out Telecoils, threatening continued access to assistive listening systems such as hearing loops.
It is time to speak up:
Auracast™ is not ready yet. Telecoils are still essential. Removing telecoils now would cut millions of hard of hearing people off from reliable, proven access to sound in public places, long before new hearing instrument features are fully integrated, widely available and affordable.
Why Telecoils Still Matter
Telecoils allow hard of hearing people to access hearing loops, providing a direct, clear, and reliable connection to sound in public places such as theaters, meeting rooms, transportation, and places of worship.
Removing them now would:
– Disconnect hearing aid and cochlear implant users from proven, existing systems.
– Create financial burden by need to purchase newer generation of hearing instruments and smartphones
– Leave hard of hearing people behind while Auracast™ is still in the roll out phase and testing in many real-world settings.
Our Pledge: Hands off our Telecoil!
EFHOH urges manufacturers, policymakers, and professionals to adopt a balanced approach that ensures both telecoils and Auracast™ co-exist, preserving accessible communication in public and private life at least for the next 10-15 years.
Call to Action
For hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturers:
– To maintain telecoils in hearing aids, cochlear implants and other hearing devices to enable direct connection to existing hearing loops, without the need for additional receivers.
– To maintain telecoils in both rechargeable and non-rechargeable devices.
– To provide clear marketing information regarding the inclusion of telecoils in the devices prior to purchase.
For audiologists and hearing aids professionals:
– To support hard of hearing people in hearing well in as many places as possible by informing them of the benefits of both technologies.
– To encourage choices of devices with both Telecoils and Auracast™.
– To activate Telecoils and Auracast™ where they exist in the instruments.
For venues and building planners:
– To maintain existing hearing loops and assistive listening systems.
– To consult with hard of hearing organisations prior to refurbishment and installation plans.
For policymakers and accessibility professionals:
– To continue the inclusion of existing assistive listening systems in accessibility requirements until Auracast™ streamed assistive listening has matured and has a large enough user base to enable it to work appropriately for people with hearing loss.
Support the Campaign Online
We call on the hard of hearing community, allies, and all accessibility advocates to join EFHOH online in support of our “Hands Off Our Telecoil!” campaign.
Show your support by adding your voice to our campaign!
Read and share the campaign statement here.
Help us raise awareness by using the hashtags: #HandsOffOurTelecoil #HandsOffTelecoil
And don’t forget to tag EFHOH in any post you create related to the campaign!
Our social media handles:
Facebook – @European Federation of Hard of Hearing People
Instagram – @efhoh.eu
LinkedIn – @European Federation of Hard of Hearing People
X – @efhoh
If you don’t have time or resources to create your own content, simply resharing EFHOH’s posts goes a long way in spreading the message. Every share counts in making hearing access visible and inclusive.
