Chicago Sound Companies focusing on Assisted Listening for All

An important and growing demographic are those with some form of hearing loss.  15% of the population over age 65 utilize hearing aids. This population has grown from 35 million in 2000 to 55 million in 2019.  Several assisted listening tools can be leveraged to make hearing during the worship experience a delight rather than a challenge.  

Integrating these systems into modern buildings comes with specific challenges 

suggest working with an experienced integrator who can coordinate its integration into the broader system.  Increased use of LED lighting, IT wired, wireless communications, and fire and safety systems can interfere with assisted listening solutions.

An assisted listening solution can benefit those in need when closely designed in coordination with a comprehensive audio-visual strategy.  Further, the ADA maintains specific requirements for facilities to offer such an option.

Here are some of the options available:

• A well-designed and integrated primary sound reinforcement system.  It may be stating the obvious, but the first people affected by an inferior audio system will be hearing-challenged.  So, first things first, we need a good place from which to start.
• Radio or Infrared assisted listening bodypacks.  The current generation of these devices is greatly improved with easy lithium-ion charging stations that allow the devices to last for hours.  They also can transmit directly to hearing aids designed to accept local transmission.
• In-floor t-coil loop systems.  The building floor can contain an internal wire loop that can transmit directly to hearing aids as soon as the person steps into the covered area.
• Wifi transmitting hearing systems.  These systems have become available over the last decade.  While they do work, one of the challenges is that it requires the user to coordinate use with their smartphone.  This can be a training challenge and complicate internet access for the user and their device.  These systems are less prevalent than bodypack or t-coil loop systems mainly due to these challenges.

Contact us if you have any questions or want more information. 

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