Assistive Listening in Houses of Worship
“If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:23
Every church attendee deserves to hear the message being conveyed during the service, however, some people may not be hearing the inspirational message and music of weekly church services.
Approximately 15% US adults experience some degree of hearing loss. Imagine if 1 in 6 of your church congregants missed the inspirational message of the service because they could not hear. Unfortunately, people experiencing hearing loss are often overlooked because it is an invisible disability without clear outward indicators.
Even without hearing loss, many people struggle to clearly hear in church environments. Hearing difficulties in houses of worship are often caused by poor acoustics, sitting far from the preacher, loud music, or needing to sit in a crying room with a child.
Assistive listening devices ensure every congregant can hear the message and connect with their community regardless of hearing loss or acoustic conditions.
House of Worship Sound Environment
Large, open rooms with high ceilings and hard flat surfaces are difficult listening environments, especially for people with hearing loss. Rooms with this type of construction, like sanctuaries, cause reverberation – when sound persists even after the original sound has stopped. In houses of worship, these sounds compound, making it difficult for people to clearly hear.
In addition to poor acoustic conditions, congregants may need help hearing the sermon due to being seated far from the preacher, loud music and singing, restless children, rustling papers, and other competing sounds.
Although some churches use a sound system, and some congregants may use hearing aids, many individuals still struggle to hear and understand what is being said. Turning up the speaker volume isn’t necessarily better. The increased volume can actually make it more distracting and difficult to hear.
The best solution is to provide individual assistive listening devices to people with hearing difficulties.
ADA Standards and Assistive Listening Compliance Laws
According to the 2010 American Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards, section 219 “requires assistive listening systems in public spaces where communication is integral to the space and audio amplification is provided.”
Most places of worship are not required to comply with ADA standards with the exception of those in California and Texas. Both California and Texas have adopted ADA standards, including the standards regarding assistive listening devices (ALDs). The California Building Code and the Architectural Barriers Act in Texas both outline compliance laws that require religious facilities to provide ALDs.
Although ADA compliance is not required of most religious facilities, it is highly recommended. By offering assistive listening devices, places of worship create a more welcoming and inclusive environment where congregants can easily hear and participate in church services.
Enhanced Hearing for Church Services and Events
Two of the top 10 reasons people stop attending a church are:
- The church is not meeting a physical, emotional, or spiritual need they have.
- They do not feel connected to the ministry or the church fellowship.
Not being able to hear the service or communicate with other congregants can lead to dissatisfaction in these areas, potentially causing churches to lose members.
How do assistive listening devices work in this environment? A transceiver, transmitter, or streaming server interfaces with the source of the sound. Congregants wear a transceiver around their necks accompanied by an earphone to clearly hear what’s being said.
An assistive listening system, is wireless, portable, easy to use, and compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants. That means church members can hear regardless of:
- Where they are seated
- Room acoustics
- Noise level
- Hearing ability
The system has other uses and benefits in addition to providing an enhanced hearing solution. ALDs can be used in cry rooms, so parents who need to step out to soothe or feed a crying child don’t miss part of the service.
Clear hearing isn’t only important for church services. The system can be used for other events held at churches, such as weddings, baptisms, memorial services, etc.
Assisted communication devices are also used for language interpretation for services and events. An interpreter with a transceiver speaks into a headset microphone (either on-site or remotely) and the translated message is relayed to individuals who are also wearing a transceiver and earphones.
Don’t let language barriers divide and isolate your congregants. Read how one church in North Carolina used Tripp’s assistive listening system to bring their congregation closer together.
To ensure everyone can hear, understand, and engage with your weekly sermon, contact Tripp Communications Systems to meet with a professional consultant and schedule a free demo of the solution that best fits your needs.