Amazon Fire TV Adds Dual Audio Support for Hearing Aids

Amazon Enhances Fire TV Accessibility with New Features

On Wednesday, Amazon revealed a suite of new accessibility enhancements for its Fire TV platform. A key addition is the “Dual Audio” functionality, initially available on the recently released Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series, which debuted in November.

Dual Audio for Shared Viewing

This innovative feature enables a user utilizing a hearing aid to listen to content while others in the same space can simultaneously experience the audio through the television’s integrated speakers. This marks the first time a Fire TV device can output audio to two distinct destinations.

Currently, the Dual Audio capability is exclusive to the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV series, with a rollout planned for the near future.

Expanded Hearing Aid Support

Beyond Dual Audio, Amazon is broadening support for Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA). This expansion is achieved through a partnership with WS Audiology (WSA), a leading hearing aid manufacturer.

The collaboration will incorporate a greater range of hearing aids into the ASHA ecosystem, including Widex Moment BTE and RIC models. Users of these devices can now directly stream audio from compatible Fire TV devices.

Compatible Fire TV devices include the following:

Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series
Fire TV Omni QLED Series
Fire TV Cube
Fire TV 4-Series
Fire TV 2-Series
Fire TV Omni Series

Accessible Packaging Initiatives

Amazon is also addressing accessibility through improvements to its product packaging. New designs are being implemented to assist customers with visual impairments.

Specifically, select device packaging now incorporates tactile-marked QR codes. These codes feature raised UV dots, enhancing visibility and are located on the upper left corner of the back panel, near the Quick Start Guide.

These updated QR codes are progressively being integrated into an increasing number of Amazon device packages. This includes a selection of Fire TVs, Echo Show models, and Kindle devices like the Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Colorsoft, and Kindle Scribe.