Places of Worship-Assistive Listening

Hearing loops and FM/RF systems are invaluable for enabling people to participate in and be active members of their religious communities.

For many, going to churches, mosques, and synagogues is an opportunity to sit quietly with our own thoughts sequestered from the busy-ness of complicated daily lives. But we also go to be inspired, to learn, to hear words that connect a deep past to our modern lives today. It is a place where people really want to hear, and where, without an effective assistive listening system, many worshipers will sit in frustration, rather than in contemplation. Or worse, stay at home instead.

Hear the Difference a Hearing Loop Makes: Church (video, 1 minute)

In their own words. Why consider a hearing loop for your church? WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (video, 3:29 minutes)

Possible Assistive Listening System Locations

  • Confessionals: hearing loop (permanent or portable), personal FM system
  • Funerals, memorial services, celebration of life services
  • Parlors: hearing loop, FM system
  • Private rooms for counseling: hearing loop (permanent or portable), personal FM system
  • Sanctuaries: hearing loop, FM system
  • Smaller rooms for study groups: hearing loop (permanent or portable), FM system (permanent or portable)

New System?

Few people with hearing loss elect the hassle and embarrassment of special receivers and headphones. They prefer what’s now available in most British and Scandinavian places of worship—having customized sound broadcast directly through their hearing aids using a hearing loop, rather than an FM system where they must find, borrow, clean, and return a receiver.

Hearing loop systems are preferred for places of worship because personal receivers and especially headphones are often a problem. There is good evidence that many people do not extend themselves to identify their need, collect personal receivers ahead of time, and wear rather noticeable headphones. Such receivers are always required for FM and infrared systems.

Rochester HLAA chapter

program of lessons and carols with hearing loop symbol
Hearing loop symbol and paragraph in bulletin
Westminster Abbey, from the main aisle, showing the front of the church and ceiling
Westminster Abbey

Samples

Paragraph template to copy/paste into your website and bulletin

“Promoting Your Assistive Listening System” Hearing loops, FM/RF, infrared (2 pages, pdf)

Other templates and ideas are available in our free tools section (this website). Graphics, audio, handouts, etc.

Bulletins and newsletters (examples)

Hearing assistance. For people with hearing loss and other disabilities, ____ Church offers a loop system. Hearing aid wearers with a “T” (telecoil) setting can now hear the service broadcast directly through their hearing aids. Others desiring hearing assistance may check out a portable receiver and headphones from an usher. For more information about hearing loop systems, including home TV room applications, visit CenterForHearingAccess.org.

“The church is served by a hearing loop. Parishioners can turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.”

The coronation of their majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. 6th May, 2023. Order of Service. There were also accessible viewing areas with hearing loops.

Alternatively, the hearing loop symbol, with its explanation, can be integrated into the bulletin cover:

St Stephen Walbrook Bulletin with hearing loop symbol at bottom

Tri-fold brochure example (WELS)

WELS-Understanding Hearing Loops Brochure (2 pages, pdf)

Slowly the members of our congregation have been updating their hearing aids to have their telecoils activated and [in four months] we’ve gone from one user originally to over 10 now. Several members have commented on the clarity and ease of use.

MW, Grand Rapids, MI

Resources-from the Center for Hearing Access

Handy webpages for people with hearing loss

Handy webpages for staff and volunteers:

    • Paragraph template and checklist. Describe your assistive listening system on your webpage. Promoting Your Assistive Listening System, with Checklist (2 pages, pdf)
    • Templates for facilities/sites: free graphics, audio pre-event, handouts, and ideas for you to easily adapt.
    • Custom Hearing Loop Lists. To request a national list with all hearing loops for a specific faith tradition, please see contact us
    • Library. Zotero online library of 150+ articles, websites, and examples of places of worship.
    • Assistive Listening System Technologies

Resources for Places of Worship

Resources-by Faiths

If you have additions or suggestions, please contact us