More than half of people who are 65 or older have significant hearing loss. Even with hearing aids, many members of the Church struggle to hear. Sometimes, simple adjustments in Church meetings can make a big difference for those who wish they could hear clearly.

Meetings in the Chapel

Many chapels in the United States have one of two types of systems to give you direct audio without any distracting noises. These systems also allow you to adjust the volume to your preference.

• 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.

Meetings in Classrooms

Avoid holding classes in rooms with poor acoustics, such as cultural halls. Some people don’t stay for classes because they can’t hear well enough to make the meeting meaningful for them. If you are forced to hold classes in larger rooms, consider these ideas:

• Encourage members to gather close together.
• Use a portable microphone to amplify the voices of the teacher and participants. Encourage class members who comment to wait for the microphone before they begin speaking.
• Help members know that speaking into the microphone provides a different frequency that is much easier for others to hear, and microphones work very well with hearing aids.
• Many people who are hard of hearing try to read the teachers’ lips as they talk. Therefore, when teachers write on a chalkboard or whiteboard, they should pause speaking until they turn back to face the class.

Smartphone Apps

Many members have found speech-to-text and assistive listening apps helpful during Church meetings. Examples include:

• Apple Live Listen: Apple Live Listen Support
• Made for iPhone Hearing Devices: Use Made for iPhone hearing devices.
• Google Live Transcribe: Google Live Transcribe Information
• AVA: A speech-to-text app that provides real-time captions on smartphones.

These tools can help you follow talks, lessons, and discussions when other accommodations are not available.

Meetings on Zoom

If members participate in meetings using Zoom (or other streaming software), it could help to turn on Closed Captions. See the instructions for Closed Captioning.

How To Help People Better Understand and Participate at Church

The Liahona article “Changes to Help Our Friends Who Are Hard of Hearing” gives ideas on how to help those who are hard of hearing to better understand and participate in Church:

• Understanding acuity and processing. As a person ages, they may not be able to hear as quickly as they used to. These members may hesitate to contribute or participate, or even avoid callings and meetings that require participation. A teacher who simply tries to speak louder isn’t enough. A microphone is on a different frequency, which reaches the devices and mechanisms in a hearing aid in a different format.
• Be conscious of speech. Teachers and ward members should speak louder but also more slowly. Occasional pauses allow listeners a chance to catch up.
• Know the acoustics. Avoid holding classes in rooms with poor acoustics, such as the cultural hall.

Learn More

• Read the article “Why using a microphone in church meetings shows charity and love for fellow members” and listen to a podcast with the Church disability specialist manager.
• Temples also provide a listening system. Just ask for a headset the next time you go to the temple.
• Read articles about how to help people with disabilities.
• Learn more about hearing loss, deafness, and sign language at disabilities.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.