Hear Here!
People with hearing loss can participate in programs at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Niagara using the
“inductive loop” assistive listening system.
It enables them to receive electronic broadcast of programs directly to their hearing aids or cochlear implants.
The telecoil or “T” switch on these devices must merely be turned on. Most people find the sound quality high with
no interfering echo or background noise.
A few years ago we realized that some people were unable to hear our programs even with the amplification
system. We felt this had to be changed. After studying the various hearing systems available, and especially after
consulting with Hearing Loss Association of America/ Rochester chapter, we concluded that the best and most
affordable system clearly was an inductive loop.
Even to most rigorous skeptics an inductive loop system seems almost like magic. You merely make a loop of
ordinary wire around the auditorium. The wire is hooked up to your sound system amplifier. Immediately anyone
with a hearing aid containing a “T” switch can pick up everything on that sound system without the background
noise. This seemed so far fetched that we first tried it by temporarily making a wire loop around our seats tied to
our normal amplifier, costing us nothing. To our astonishment, it worked! This simple system could be used
permanently, but it could also be better and easier to use and maintain with some improvements.
First we needed to install a permanent wire loop around the perimeter of our auditorium. We chose a standard
No. 14 electrical wire with a white insulation so it would blend in with the woodwork. The wire was stapled into a
groove in the woodwork and is barely visible. The next time the hall is painted it will be covered with paint and be
even less obvious. The cost of the loop was almost nothing. It only took a few hours to install.
Then we tried using various low cost standard amplifiers. They worked, but not as well or safely as an amplifier
made specifically for an inductive loop. We found an amplifier which replaced our sound system unit. It drives the
inductive loop with simple controls. We were fortunate to find a rebuilt amplifier made specifically for this
application so our cost was low. Our total system cost us about $500 in addition to the speakers and microphones
we already had. This replaced our aging amplifier and accommodates four microphones and six speakers. We
have since added a CD/DVD player and an additional powered speaker to broadcast in the basement. All this is
powered with the single amplifier using a single on/off switch and a single volume control. Most important it powers
our loop with a high quality signal which is picked up by hearing aids with “T” switches.
We are very pleased with this audio system People with hearing loss report it is great for them. It was affordable
and is almost maintenance free, except for replacing the batteries in the wireless microphones.
This system does require a constant insistence that anyone speaking to the congregation use a microphone and
use it properly. Many presenters correctly claim that they have a strong voice and do not need amplification. It is
imperative that all presenters use a microphone. The speakers can be turned down to zero so there is nothing but
their unamplified voice going to people with normal hearing. The inductive loop still broadcasts to those with
hearing aids unknown to the rest of the audience and even the presenter.
People with hearing loss using an inductive loop have no embarrassment over asking for a device (the case with
FM or Infra Red receivers). The church has no concerns over dead batteries or headsets being used by many
people.
Those listeners who wish further amplification beyond the public address system but do not have a hearing aid
with a “T” switch can ask an usher for loop receiver head phones. These pick up the loop signal so they have its
advantages except that they are not of the quality of hearing aids. They are kept in the narthex.
With an inductive loop in the church, everyone can hear, understand and participate!
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