Google working on developing native hearing aid support for Android

Technology

In most cases, Bluetooth hearing aids have been easily compatible with iPhones. In the case of Android, fragmentation has made it difficult for hearing aid makers to provide support to Android devices.

Now Google is working to bring native hearing aid support for streaming on Android. It is working with GN Hearing, a Danish hearing aid manufacturer, to create a new hearing aid spec for Android smartphones called ASHA.

ASHA, which stands for Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids, is designed to be battery-efficient as well as provide high quality audio with low latency. Hearing aids using this spec will be able to connect to and stream from Android devices without having to use another intermediate device.

ASHA will enable Bluetooth hearing aids to be used the same way as headphones, used to call friends or listen to music.

Google has also published the new protocol specifications online. This is to enable any hearing aid manufacturer to build native hearing aid support for Android.

GN Hearing has said that ReSound LiNX Quattro and Beltone Amaze will be the first hearing aids to receive direct streaming support in a future update.

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