Audio Over Wi-Fi Assistive Listening
It is best to use Audio Over Wi-Fi as an assistive listening system only in acceptable locations. Below describes using Audio Over Wi-Fi without and with live sound.
Works well when the live sound is OFF
- TVs at sports bars and fitness centers
Assistive Listening Systems (Live sound) concerns include:
“It was awful. I had to switch it off. The trouble is that what we’re trying to achieve with hearing augmentation is to get the direct signal clearly. If it’s being blurred by the outside sound and the direct signal coming at different times, we’ve defeated the whole purpose of it. We’ve actually created that reverberation wirelessly.”
-Both a consumer and hearing technology professional
- ADA Standards. Buyer beware of claimed compliance as an ADA assistive listening system. There is no known product that meets the ADA. See Americans with Disabilities Act for assistive listening systems (this website, which includes a 1-page summary sheet).
- Latency.
- Glossary terms. Definition and why latency can be problematic for people with hearing loss
- Audio clip of 47 ms latency (length 16 seconds)
- Acceptable level of latency for a person with an assistive listening system (and this is currently under review), ~30-40 ms
- Audio Over Wi-Fi systems typically have 100-500+ ms latency, which is very problematic. Latency is affected by the traffic level on the wifi and how many places the sound has to go before getting to one’s hearing device. Every link causes a slight delay and is cumulative: mic to transmitter to receiver, to phone, connect to Bluetooth to hearing aids. There is unpredictable latency due to how heavy the internet traffic level might be.
- No universal app. Each manufacturer has their own smartphone app.
- Hearing instruments. Does not allow “Mic + Wi-Fi” setting on hearing devices.
- Complex for users.
- No third-party, peer-reviewed research that demonstrates unequivocally Audio Over Wi-Fi works well for people with hearing loss.
Resources
- Assistive Listening Systems Quick Guide (3 pages, pdf). Compares 5 systems, with a grid starting on page 2.
- Audio Over Wi-Fi – a new assistive listening technology. Better than hearing loops and with no latency – or is it? (Courtesy Hearing Access Solutions LLC, 2 pages, pdf)