GET THE SCOOP ON THE LOOP

Hearing loss affects 1 in 5 people in the UK, and to make buildings accessible, assistive listening technology is a must-have. Andrew Thomas, Market Development Director from Contacta Systems, explores the issue.

Integrating systems at the earliest point in a design makes for the best outcome but what informs best practice and which system is right for which space?

An estimated twelve million people in the UK live with hearing loss, making it the second most common disability. With an ageing population, and an increasing number of younger people at risk because of exposure to loud music, its prevalence is growing.

It’s often referred to as a ‘hidden’ disability because many of those living with hearing loss don’t declare an inability to hear clearly or don’t regard themselves as disabled. But it is an impairment that’s covered by disability legislation.

Historically, there has been little specific guidance on how to make an environment accessible for people with hearing loss.

Premises have been largely guided by the Equalities Act 2010 and Part M of the building regulations. These state there is an obligation for premises to make “reasonable adjustments” for those with disabilities and “for all people to have access to, and the use of, all the facilities provided within buildings.”

But in 2018 came revisions to the BS 8300 standard which, for the first time, offered detailed examples of what constitutes best practice in meeting the needs of visitors and staff with hearing loss.

Accessible V Inclusive

A key part of these revisions was creating environments that are inclusive rather than accessible. Put simply, this would mean an assistive listening system (ALS) like a hearing loop would be installed at every till point and not just one or two, giving people equal access in the space rather than being set apart in a specific area.

Integrating any design feature is always made easier and more effective when it’s done at the earliest point. While it’s possible to retrofit systems, an ALS should ideally be part of the drawings for a building ahead of construction.

This is down to the many factors that can influence the system’s design and impact on its performance. A steel structure, for example, can weaken the magnetic signal used by a hearing loop.

Features such as air conditioning can cause interference so it’s vital that an engineer fully understands the space in order to design a system that compensates sufficiently and for the signal to meet the correct standard of performance.

Plus, planning in this way means cabling can be concealed, and amplifiers and microphones discreetly positioned.

TO LOOP OR NOT TO LOOP?

Hearing loops are the most established ALS, having been used for the last 70+ years. They amplify the sound a person wants to hear, cutting out background noise. Sound from a source such as a microphone is converted into a magnetic signal. This is transmitted by a loop aerial and picked up by the telecoil in a wearer’s hearing aid. The telecoil or ‘T-coil’ converts the signal back into speech.

Users can access hearing loops discreetly. Providing the blue ‘ear’ signage is in place to let them know the system is available, users merely press a switch on their hearing device. But loops can also be used with hand-held receivers and headsets so if visitors don’t hear well but don’t have a hearing aid, they can still benefit.

Loops are a universal technology so no matter where visitors come from, with a T-coil in their hearing aid, their device will be compatible with the system. And loops are also the only ALS with an internationalrecognised performance standard.

They can be used in almost any setting, from one-to-one conversations at a banking counter to theatre auditoriums for hundreds of people.

But they won’t be suitable for every project. As discussed, materials within a building can impact a loop’s performance. Engineers can

Left: Hearing loops go down before the final flooring is laid

Below: Assistive listening systems can transform theatre experiences for audience members with hearing loss often mitigate against these issues, but there may be a more effective alternative.

IR & RF SYSTEMS

Infrared (IR) systems use invisible light to carry audio signals. A transmitter floods the space with infrared light which is picked up by pocket-sized receivers. Users hear via ordinary headphones or a neck loop which wirelessly connects the sound signal to a user’s hearing aid, converting it into sound.

IR systems are ideal for venues like courtrooms where sound needs to be contained for confidentiality, or neighbouring lecture theatres where bleedthrough would be distracting.

Radio frequency (RF) systems function in much the same way but use radio waves for sound transmission. Transmitters in these systems can be portable so a speaker isn’t confined to one spot in the room but can walk around the space for a more creative presentation. It also means RF systems can be used for tour-guiding.

Unlike IR, signals can pass through walls, ceilings and other obstacles so if a room has a number of supporting pillars or partitions as part of its interior design, sound can still be clearly received.

Emerging Technologies

Bluetooth LE, known as Auracast, is in development as an assistive listening solution, allowing users with a Bluetoothenabled hearing aid to access clear sound via a smartphone. However, this is some years away from being a usable option as standards for both the technology and its performance have yet to be agreed.

The Final Design

It’s not just new builds that need to consider accessibility; many established public spaces will need to install an ALS. It’s a misconception that retrofitting an ALS will involve unsightly cabling and damage to fixtures and fittings. Experienced engineers are adept at finding solutions that don’t compromise an interior’s look and feel, from listed buildings to the most modern spaces.

There’s much that interior design can do to support people’s ability to hear clearly. Think fewer hard surfaces, acoustic treatments and positioning seating in curved rather than linear arrangements to facilitate lip reading.

There is growing awareness of the need to create inclusive spaces and as well as a moral obligation, for venues with paying customers, it makes sound financial sense to be welcoming to those with hearing loss.

Essential For Safety

But it’s not just about people being able to enjoy the environment, to fully take part in the activity it offers and reducing the isolation an inability to hear creates. Assistive listening systems are also essential for safety. They enable people to hear alarms, emergency announcements and ask for help at refuge points.

A maintenance programme is key to being able to offer both a safe and inclusive service. Regular checks on the ALS’s performance will ensure standards are being met and a venue’s reputation is protected.

Our ability to hear can be compromised as we age and there is an argument for assistive listening systems to be included in the design of new homes. Currently, only 9% of homes are accessible and while this largely relates to people with a mobility issue, with hearing loss prevalence expected to rise to 14.5 million by 2031, hearing loops in homes would certainly make it easier to enjoy the sound of a television programme.