Hard of Hearing

Assistive Technology for Hard of Hearing People

Assistive technology is available to enhance hearing in churches and parish buildings.  This is often done by adding equipment to the existing public announcement system.

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) can be thought of as binoculars for the ears. They increase the loudness of specific sounds by bringing sound directly into the hearing aid or ear.

 ALDs solve three problems:

•  Minimize background noise
•  Reduce the effect of distance between hard of hearing people and the sound source
• Override poor acoustics

ALDs can be used in large areas like churches, one.on.one at meetings, in restaurants and even for television viewing in one's own home. There are three types of assistive listening system technologies: FM, Infrared and Inductive Loop.

Each one:

• is cordless
• works well
• works with or without a hearing aid
• can experience interference
• comes in wide area (for churches) or personal versions

FM systems work by transmitting radio waves to receivers worn by the hard of hearing person. They can cover 200+ feet and are generally connected to the public announcement system.

Inductive loops transmit through an electromagnetic field and are often permanently installed. The hard of hearing listeners are seated inside the looped area. People with telecoil hearing aids do not need to use a personal receiver with this system.

Infrared systems are less suited to churches because they are susceptible to interference from bright sunlight.  Excerpted from www.hearingloss.org

The Americans with Disabilities Act has specific requirements regarding assistive listening equipment in new construction and alterations. Please refer to the ADA for this specific information: www.hearingloss.org

Contact the parish office for information about assistive listening devices to be installed in the parish and church facilities to assist hard of hearing members who do not hear well.