As we turn to the topic of houses of worship this month, we’re looking at two churches that went for large format arrays. This got me thinking about the other end of the spectrum which is listening assistance. It’s important, partly for congregations whose hearing may be aging, but also for congregants who may—through culture or language—struggle to hear the details they need to understand what is being said. As we all know, once you have lost the thread by missing even a few words, it can be hard to recover that connection. Some people may also find room acoustics overwhelming and need to listen through a more intimate device than a line array.
For these individuals with hearing challenges or those affected by difficult acoustics, participating in a service without assistive technology can be an isolating experience. Ensuring that everyone can hear clearly is not only about inclusion; it’s about fostering community and connection.
Mike Mitchell at Sennheiser recently shared some insight on this topic. He reminds me that historically, assistive listening devices (ALDs) in these environments have relied on traditional FM or infrared systems. Those systems typically required attendees to borrow devices to amplify the service’s sound, something I also remember from my theme park days. While these solutions provided some relief, they also presented logistical challenges such as maintenance, hygiene concerns, and limited personalization options. And just the process of going to get the device and returning it afterward was not always conducive to inclusion for those who couldn’t, or didn’t want to, take that very public extra step. Furthermore, Mitchell pointed out that worship spaces often serve multilingual communities and the need for simultaneous language interpretation can add another layer of complexity.
Technology has to keep up with expectations and the modern expectation is a seamless experience, whether congregants are listening to a sermon, music, or other activities.
Today’s advancements in assistive listening technology can eliminate many of the traditional obstacles. Houses of worship to integrate userfriendly solutions that rely on personal smartphones or other mobile devices. Wi-Fi-based, two-channel solutions do even more, improving the experience with low-latency audio that can be customized to the user’s preference. Systems that can accommodate multiple audio streams are able to provide assistive listening as well as language translation. Or, these solutions can allow users to deploy their device as a microphone to contribute to the service or presentation.
“What was once a single-use device for listening is now a multi-use workhorse, thanks to the enrichment of bi-directional communication capabilities,” Mitchell tells me. “By embracing these innovations, worship leaders can enhance the overall experience, allowing all attendees— regardless of their hearing ability—to fully engage with the service and the community.” Ultimately, he says, assistive listening technology is not just about delivering sound; it’s about reinforcing the sense of belonging in an environment where spiritual connection and inclusivity are paramount.
Happy New Year and I hope bi-directional listening in all its forms will see us through the year to come, in our houses of worship and everywhere else.
