People who are deaf or who have a hearing impairment may find it difficult to communicate, especially in large or noisy spaces. Although many people use a hearing aid, there are situations in which a further support is necessary. Conventional hearing aids amplify all the sounds in an area – including unwanted background noises. Induction loop and infrared systems can be used to help the listener concentrate on the important sounds without the distraction of background noise. Deaf people may also use British Sign Language or other methods to communicate.

Listed below is further information on the different aids that enable deaf and hearing impaired people to communicate.

Induction loop systems
Infrared systems
British Sign Language (BSL)
Textphones
Other forms of communication support

Induction loop systems

An induction loop is a cable that goes round the audience area of a theatre or hall, meeting room, and so on. They can also be used in the home – for example, to make it easier to hear the television. An induction loop is fed by a loop amplifier. This gets its signal from a microphone placed in front of the person speaking or via a direct connection from a sound system or other sound source. The resulting electric current in the loop produces an inductive signal corresponding to the speaker’s voice.

The inductive signal is picked up by those in the audience with a hearing aid set to the ‘T’ setting. All NHS hearing aids that were manufactured in recent years provide the ‘T’ facility, and many private ones do as well. Listeners can adjust their own hearing aids for volume. The loop wire is usually run around the edges of the room so that it serves the entire audience area.

Infrared systems

Infrared systems use invisible infrared light to carry sound to receivers worn by listeners. They are frequently used for simultaneous translation in conferences and other events. The most widely used kind is worn as a headphone without a hearing aid, and a listener will only hear the sound that comes from the infrared system. A different kind of receiver, suitable for people with more substantial hearing loss, is used with a hearing aid. Ordinary hearing aids do not receive infrared transmissions. Infrared systems are fairly easy to install and provide high-quality sound. Stereo versions are also available.

Where are these systems used?
Both induction loops and infrared systems may be used in a wide variety of situations, from cinemas and theatres to public buildings, such as hospital waiting rooms. Many bank teller windows have loop systems to aid financial transactions, as do motorway emergency phones and BT public telephones.

Key advice for access groups:

• When planning a meeting or conference, you should consider using an induction loop or infrared system to enable people with a hearing impairment to listen in more comfort.
• When any members of your group with hearing impairments are planning to attend an event, they should check beforehand that a suitable system will be available on the day. Not only will this ensure that they will be able to access audible information at the event, but it will make the event organiser aware of what they should consider providing at any future events.

British Sign Language (BSL)

BSL is recognised by the UK Government as a language in its own right. It uses hand shapes, movement of the hands and body, lip patterns and facial expressions. Like any other language, it has its own grammar, lexicon and idioms. BSL is completely different from English.

For many deaf people, English is their second or third language. It is also a language that is difficult to lipread, and lipreading skills vary greatly from person to person. Many deaf people may not actually be comfortable with speaking English. Deaf people who use BSL as their preferred language and hearing people who speak English tend to use BSL/English interpreters to communicate.

It is not always necessary for information to be provided ‘live’ through a BSL/English interpreter. For example, it may be reasonable to provide information leaflets or responses to frequently asked questions in BSL on video, CD, DVD or via a website. Such recorded information could be presented by a deaf person who is fluent in BSL and English.

Many deaf people also use SMS mobile phone texting to communicate. Therefore organisations that offer a company mobile phone number for communication will offer deaf people another way to make contact.

For further information on British Sign Language:

• contact the British Deaf Association (BDA)
• contact the Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI)
• refer to the former Disability Rights Commission’s Guidance on providing BSL and English Interpreters under the DDA

Textphones

Textphones are, in essence, a telephone with a keyboard. They are used mainly by people who are deaf or who have a hearing impairment, and sometimes by those who have a speech impairment. Instead of speaking and listening using a normal telephone receiver, the user can type what they want to say and read any reply typed back to them on a scrolling display.

To communicate with someone who uses a textphone, one option is to contact them directly using a textphone. Alternatively, if one of the phone users does not have a textphone, you can communicate via TypeTalk, the national relay service.

For further information on TypeTalk, visit the RNID TypeTalk website.

Other forms of communication support

There is a range of additional communication support available. It is important to choose a communication service that suits the individual persons needs. If you are not sure, which option to choose, ask the person in question for their preference.

Other forms of communication include:

• video interpreting
• lip-speaking
• speech-to-text reporting
• deafblind Interpreting
• electronic and manual notetaking

For further information on communication support, visit RNID’s website, or contact RNID through their information line:

Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
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