Assistive devices for hearing impairment: Why louder isn’t always better

Imagine you are planning an event that people with hearing impairments will also be attending. It's an inclusive idea, but how can you make it accessible in practice? Is it enough to set up loudspeakers, turn them up to full volume, and leave the rest to the hearing aids that many of those affected use? Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

"A loudspeaker distorts sound. It makes sounds louder, but not necessarily clearer. Hearing loss means, above all, unclear hearing. That's why loudspeaker systems are often counterproductive," explains Susanne Schmidt. She is chairwoman of the German Association for the Hard of Hearing, North Rhine-Westphalia Regional Association (DSB LV NRW) and knows: "Inclusion and participation also mean that I, as someone who is not affected, use assistive devices. People often find it difficult to speak into a microphone. Many think, 'I can be understood without a microphone' – out of shyness about speaking into such a microphone."

The requirements for premises and events are neither magic nor arbitrary requirements. German standards for accessible construction and room acoustics, such as DIN 18030 "Barrier-free construction" and DIN 18041 "Acoustic design of rooms", define the measures necessary to enable people with hearing impairments to participate fully and live independently. The requirements of those affected are taken into account as well as financial and structural feasibility.

Another problem that many event organizers and those not affected often overlook is that not all hearing impairments are the same. People who are hard of hearing have different needs than people who are deaf. While the latter usually use sign language and rely on sign language interpreters, most people who are hard of hearing grew up with spoken language. They do not understand sign language and are usually unable to read lips.

Enabling people with hearing impairments to participate in events without barriers requires more than just loudspeaker systems. One option is micro systems that transmit sound directly to the hearing aids or cochlear implants of those affected. The advantage is that the sound reaches the device clearly and without distortion, making speech much easier to understand, regardless of background noise.

Implants with a so-called T-coil also improve intelligibility. They reduce background noise and enable those affected to follow what is happening even in larger rooms. Modern technologies such as induction or Bluetooth also ensure that spoken content is transmitted without any loss of quality.

In addition to technical aids, digital solutions also play an important role in accessible communication. Speech-to-text interpreters translate spoken words in real time onto a screen or device so that people with hearing impairments can easily follow along. This enables participation even when acoustic signals alone are not sufficient.

In addition, automatic translation systems are becoming increasingly important. They can convert speech into text, thereby supporting not only people with hearing impairments, but also event organizers who want to make their offerings accessible.

Many technical aids require additional equipment that must be rented on site – an obstacle for people who tend to avoid social interactions due to constant discrimination in everyday life. Accessibility therefore also means keeping the need for such interactions to a minimum and, as an event organizer, addressing the issue early and openly.

This highlights another aspect that is essential for social participation: responsibility lies with all of us – whether we are affected or not. The best microphone system is of little use if speakers talk past the microphone. And anyone who thinks that speaking particularly loudly is the solution is mistaken. If the accessibility of an event is really important to you as an organizer and if you want to not only explain participation but make it a tangible experience, you should contact associations such as the RNID, the Hearing Loss Association of America, the British Deaf Association or affected persons in advance.

Whether it's technical support, digital solutions, or open communication, true accessibility for people with hearing impairments can only be achieved through a combination of different factors. Assistive devices facilitate access, but it is only through the conscious actions of event organizers and fellow human beings that participation can truly be experienced.

Anyone who wants to break down barriers should therefore invest in modern technologies and seek dialogue with those affected and associations. In this way, inclusion becomes not just a promise, but a living reality.

Originally published by Matthias Groß | REHACARE.com

Originally published on: September 27, 2023
Last updated on: September 30, 2025