International Conference on Induction Loops

By Janice Schacter

October 2009

Editor: Induction loops have become much more widespread in other parts of the world than in the US. Loop proponents recently held the inaugural International Conference on Induction Loops in Switzerland, and Janice Schacter filed this report. Janice is a retired attorney whose 14-year old daughter is hard of hearing, and she is the pro-bono Chair of the Hearing Access Program. This article is reprinted with the author's kind permission.

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The inaugural International Conference on Induction Loops was very informative. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet other advocates from around the world and to learn what access is provided in their countries. There were representatives from countries such as Australia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. It was an interesting to learn how other countries provide or do not provide access. Some intriguing points that I learned:

* The microphone is a key element to any assistive listening system. Garbage in means garbage out. What a wonderful way to explain this concept.
* No country present at the conference pays for the cost of access.
* The Netherlands still does not have a disabilities act, which explains why none of the museums that I visited in Amsterdam two years ago had access. On the other hand, 99% of people who use hearing aids have a t-coil.
* In the UK, induction loops are specified in the DDA. RNID uses "mystery shoppers" to test the induction loop systems throughout the country. Barclays Bank will be adding induction loops at all branches.
* Sweden mandates an induction loop, infrared or other arrangement in churches. Interesting since the US has excluded houses of worship.
* Switzerland also includes churches in their mandate as well. Induction loops must be tested after installation. What a sensible approach. The 2009 standard mentions induction loops.
* Germany also has no disabilities act, which is also quite surprising.

The link to the conference: www.hearingloops.org. The link to my presentation on induction loops around the world is http://www.hearingloops.org/en/speakers/janice-lschacter.html.

The following resolution was adopted with only two dissenters, none from the US.

1) Hearing aid manufacturers, manufacturers of cochlear implants, physicians, audiologists and hearing instrument specialists shall communicate the benefits of hearing aid/cochlear implant telecoil receivers for phone listening and assistive listening and educate people who are hard of hearing accordingly.