Amazon Fire TV: Audio streaming for hearing aids launched

Good news for all those who rely on a hearing aid and use Fire TV. Amazon has revealed that audio streaming for hearing aids is now available. The feature can be used on the Fire TV Cube with compatible Bluetooth hearing aids from Starkey, Audibel, NuEar, Telefunken, Pro Akustik and KIND. This makes the Fire TV the first streaming media player to support audio streaming for hearing aids (ASHA).

Amazon Fire TV offers audio streaming for hearing aids

Compatible hearing aids can be easily paired at the system level with the Fire TV Cube to play all streaming services, apps and games through the hearing aid, thanks to the new funk. Even voice prompts from Amazon’s Alexa assistant are done through the hearing aid.

Pairing is as simple as three steps:.

1. Navigates to the Settings
2. Go to Accessibility
3. Then select Hearing aids and connect the device like a Bluetooth headset

The volume can be controlled easily via the volume buttons on the Alexa voice remote. When the movie or video is over, the connection can be quickly disconnected by holding down the home button on the remote and selecting “Disconnect Hearing Device.”

Connection and supported devices

For the best experience, Amazon recommends connecting via a 5 GHz WLAN network and a maximum distance of three meters, as well as a clear line of sight to the Fire TV Cube. However, use in conjunction with the 2.4 GHz WLAN network is also possible.

The following hearing aids are supported in Germany:

• Starkey: Evolv AI, Livio, Livio AI, Livio Edge AI
• Audible: Arc AI, Via, Via AI, Via Edge AI
• NuEar: Savant AI, Circa, Circa AI, Circa Edge AI
• Telefunken: TF 2PLUS X, TF 2/1PLUS X
• Pro Acoustics: ipro.7 AI, ipro.6, ipro.6 AI, ipro.6 Edge AI
• KIND: KINDvitalo KD40, KINDevo KD30, KINDvitalo KD30

Later this year, audio streaming support for hearing aids (ASHA) will be extended to more devices. Concrete information on this Amazon will provide at the appropriate time.

Other accessibility features for Fire TV devices include subtitles, VoiceView (a screen reader that reads text aloud on the screen), and a screen magnifier for easier navigation for users with low vision.