Amazon Fire TV devices can now directly stream audio to Cochlear hearing implants

Amazon teamed up with hearing implant company Cochlear to launch Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) support to compatible Cochlear devices, the company announced today.

Now, select Fire TV devices -- such as Fire TV Omni Series, Fire TV Omni QLED Series, Fire TV 4-Series, Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) -- can stream audio directly to Cochlear Nucleus 8, Nucleus 7, Nucleus Kanso 2 and Baha 6 Max sound processors.

The purpose of ASHA support is to give thousands of Cochlear implant users a more comfortable way to watch their favorite movies and TV shows as well as use Alexa, listen to music, hear navigational sounds and more, according to Amazon.

Amazon software engineer Michael Forzano (featured in the photo above) believes ASHA support for Cochlear devices “takes the strain” out of streaming, he said in an official Amazon blog. Forzano was born blind and has used Cochlear implants ever since he lost his hearing at five years old. Forzano, along with members of Amazon’s affinity group for people with disabilities, AmazonPWD, helped test the tech.

Before using the new feature, Forzano was unable to enjoy watching TV. “If I was trying to watch on the TV in the living room, I’d probably be missing out on, say, 40-50% of the words due to the echoing, the loss in quality, and due to the different voices that you might not be so familiar with,” Forzano said. “I’m really excited for the world that [ASHA support] is going to open up for me.”