The Church has made a significant effort over many years to understand and meet the needs of members who are hard of hearing. Unfortunately, many members and leaders are not familiar with these systems that are available in meetinghouses and temples. These devices can help, even if you use a hearing aid.
Meetinghouses
Meetinghouses have two types of systems that function in the chapel and in the cultural hall. (The Relief Society, children’s, and multi-purpose rooms have in-room speakers to provide the necessary volume levels.)
Those who are hard of hearing can access a radio frequency system through the following devices:
- Radio Frequency (RF) Assistive Listening Receivers are devices that fit in your pocket and use the chapel or cultural hall audio system to amplify sound to an earpiece.
- Assisted Listening System (ALS) Neck Loops receive sound from the chapel or cultural hall audio system and broadcast it directly to your hearing aid (if it is compatible with T-coil).
Wards and branches should have multiple RF receivers and ALS neck loops. These are usually kept in the meetinghouse libraries. If leaders need additional devices, they may be requested through the stake physical facilities representative.
See these instructions for using assisted listening systems. Also in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Temples
Temples also provide a listening system. Just ask for a headset the next time you go to the temple.
iPhones
This isn’t a Church system, but if you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can activate a feature called “Live Listen,” which lets you use AirPods or Powerbeats Pro to amplify sound, allowing them to double as basic hearing aids. Turn on Live Listen and lay your iPhone on the bench next to you and the AirPods will amplify what’s being said. See instructions at Apple.com. Learn about “Made for iPhone” hearing devices.
Related information:
- Church News article “Straining to Hear Each Sunday? Meetinghouse Listening Devices Dramatically Improve Participation.”
- For information about hearing loss, deafness, and sign language, see disabilities.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
- “Interpreters for Deaf or Hearing-Impaired Members” from Handbook 2, 21.1.26.6.
Je remercie le Seigneur de la grâce qui m’a donné de connaitre cette Eglise, qu’il dirige lui même, et instruire lui même nos Prophètes et nos dirigeants à conduire le peuple.
Ma femme a des problèmes d’audition, nous devons allé bientôt au temple pour sa dotation et notre scellement. Je me posais souvent des questions pour son handicap. Dieu a répondu à ma prière en inspirant nos dirigeants pour cette technologie pour aider les malentendants.
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I thank the Lord for the grace which has given me to know this Church, which he directs himself, and to instruct our Prophets and our leaders himself to lead the people.
My wife has hearing problems, we have to go to the temple soon for her endowment and sealing. I often wondered about his disability. God answered my prayer by inspiring our leaders for this technology to help the hearing impaired.
I am a leader in our branch and I always do interviews, my concern is my hearing, I could not able to hear the members clearly as they speak. Is there any way that I can request for a hearing aid? Thanks!