ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG)
3.5 Definitions.
Assembly Area. A room or space accommodating a group of individuals for recreational, political, social, civic, or amusement purposes, or the consumption of food and drink.

4.1.3. Accessible Buildings:
New Construction. Accessible buildings and facilities shall meet the following minimum requirements [...]

(19)* Assembly areas
(b) This paragraph applies to assembly areas where audible communications are integral to the use of the space (e.g., concert and lecture halls, playhouses and movie theaters, meetings rooms, etc.). Such assembly areas, if (1) they accommodate at least 50 persons, or if they have audio-amplification systems, and (2) they have fixed seating, shall have a permanently installed assistive listening system complying with 4.33.

For other assembly areas, a permanently installed assistive listening system, or an adequate number of electrical outlets or other supplementary wiring necessary to support a portable assistive listening system shall be provided. The minimum number of receivers to be provided shall be equal to 4 percent of the total number of seats, but in no case less than two. Signage complying with applicable provisions of 4.30 shall be installed to notify patrons of the availability of a listening system.

4.30 Signage.
4.30.7* Symbols of Accessibility.
(4) Assistive Listening Systems.
In assembly areas where permanently installed assistive listening systems are required by 4.1.3(19)(b), the availability of such systems shall be identified with signage that includes the international symbol of access for hearing loss (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss

4.33 Assembly Areas
4.33.6* Placement of Listening Systems.
If the listening system provided serves individual fixed seats, then such seats shall be located within a 50 ft (15 m) viewing distance of the stage or playing area and shall have a complete view of the stage or playing area.

4.33.7* Types of Listening Systems.
Assistive listening systems (ALS) are intended to augment standard public address and audio systems by providing signals which can be received directly by persons with special receivers or their own hearing aids and which eliminate or filter background noise. The type of assistive listening system appropriate for a particular application depends on the characteristics of the setting, the nature of the program, and the intended audience. Magnetic induction loops, infra-red and radio frequency systems are types of listening systems which are appropriate for various applications.


Figure 2: An Induction Loop (IL) System



Figure 3: An FM System



Figure 4: An Infrared (IR) System



Figure 5: Top: A monaural ear-bud (not recommended but sometimes provided); Bottom left: a standard stethoscope-type headset; Bottom right: a specialized headphone with electronics built-in for infrared reception.



Figure 6: Coupling a hearing aid to an ALS receiver using a neckloop or silhouette.

Figure 7: Coupling a hearing aid to an ALS by placing the headphone over the hearing aid while it is switched to the “T” setting.

Figure 8: Coupling a cochlear implant to an ALS using a patch cord.

DOJ Title II rule
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
28 CFR PART 35
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services
Subpart A -- General
35.104 Definitions
Auxiliary aids and services includes—
(1) Qualified interpreters, notetakers, transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers, assistive listening devices, assistive listening systems, telephones compatible with hearing aids, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDD’s), videotext displays, or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments.

Subpart E – Communications
35.160 General.
(a) A public entity shall take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others.
(b)(1) A public entity shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits, of a service, program, or activity conducted by a public entity.
(2) In determining what type of auxiliary aids and service is necessary, a public entity shall give primary consideration to the requests of the individual with disabilities.

AND TITLE III:
PART 36 NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY BY PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND IN COMMERCIAL FACILITIES
36.303 Auxiliary aids and services.
(a)General. A public accommodation shall take those steps that may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless the public accommodations can demonstrate taking those steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations being offered or would result in an undue burden, i.e., significant difficulty or expense.
(b) Examples. The term “auxiliary aids and services” includes – (1) Qualified interpreters, notetakers, computer-aided transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers, assistive listening devices, assistive listening systems, telephones compatible with hearing aids, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDD’s), videotext displays, or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments;
[…]
(c) Effective communication. A public accommodation shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities.

U N I T E D   S T A T E S   A C C E S S   B O A R D
A FEDERAL AGENCY COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBLE DESIGN

ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEMS

BULLETIN 9A: FOR CONSUMERS

Why is it hard to hear in some spaces?
The farther you are from a sound source, whether it’s someone talking or a loudspeaker, the lower the sound volume will be at your ears.  While this distance effect can be overcome by increasing the volume, loudness is not all that is needed for good listening.  A hearing loss reduces or eliminates many of the acoustical cues that we use to discriminate between sounds.  So people with hearing loss must listen carefully to context, apply lip-reading skills when they can, and look for visual clues to speech content.  This can be very tiring and difficult.  And if the room acoustics have not been designed with speech perception in mind, it can be impossible.  Two acoustical characteristics of enclosed spaces – background noise and reverberation – affect speech perception.

Background noise is unwanted sound that competes with and masks the sounds you want to hear. The noise may be coming from air conditioning or heating ducts, from various kinds of equipment, or from other occupants and their activities. Who has not complained about the difficulty of hearing and understanding in a noisy restaurant or party? We live in a noisy world that seems to get noisier as the years go by!

In reverberation, the sound signals are reflected off the various surfaces of a room, bouncing around so that different parts of it get to your ears at different times. What this overlapping of sound does is blur the clarity of what you are trying to hear. The amount of reverberation is a product of room proportions and the nature of the surfacing material.  Hard surfaces reflect more sound, soft ones absorb it. Excessive reverberation causes the difficulty we have in understanding public address announcements in places like transit stations, airports, and arenas. While the sound signals may be loud enough, the acoustical conditions in these spaces make comprehension difficult or impossible.

Simply turning up the volume of a hearing aid is not the answer. This just increases the loudness of both the desired sounds and the background noise and reverberation. So a different approach is needed for people who have hearing loss.  An assistive listening system can bridge the gap between a sound signal and a listener’s ears, delivering the sounds you want to hear unaffected by room acoustics. 

How can an assistive listening system help?
An assistive listening system – an ALS or ALD (D for device) – makes a wireless, electronic connection between the sound source and your ear. This “bridging” effect eliminates the effects of distance, background noise and reverberation so that you can hear and understand better. Because an ALS transmits the sound directly from the source to your ears, it’s like having the sound source right next to you. You no longer have to be concerned about how far your seat is from the speaker or loudspeakers.  Even if you are in the back of the room, the sound volume of an ALS can be adjusted at your ear to be as loud as you want, without at the same time increasing the loudness of the background noise in the room.  Even if the room is noisy or very reverberant, you should still be able to hear clearly, since the listening system is bypassing all the acoustical conditions in the room.

Many people who don’t wear hearing aids use an ALS in assembly areas like movie theaters, live stage productions, and auditoriums and sports arenas to make the listening task easier and more effective.  ALSs are also used to supplement hearing aids.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that certain kinds of public and private facilities that normally provide amplification systems for their audiences – such as theaters, movie houses, arenas and stadiums, auditoriums, meeting and lecture rooms, concert and performance halls, and courtrooms – must have assistive listening systems installed for people who want to use them.  Clearly visible signs must be posted that indicate the availability of the ALS and the location in the facility where the appropriate receivers can be obtained.

How does an ALS work?
Usually, an assistive listening system simply piggybacks on a standard public address (PA) or sound amplification system.  In such instances, the sound sources (either from microphones or the audio track of a movie) are amplified and then broadcast through loudspeakers to the audience. Specialized equipment integrated into this system transmits the same signals to the ears of the person wearing an ALS receiver.  There are three general types of systems, named for the method of signal transmission: induction loop (IL), FM (frequency modulation), as in FM radio, and infrared (IR).

Induction loop (IL) systems use a wire around the room to transmit an electromagnetic signal that is picked up by a small device – called a telecoil -- in the hearing aid.  Users simply switch on this telecoil (the “T” setting) and adjust the volume of the hearing aid, if necessary. However, not all hearing aids – particularly the very small ones – have telecoils, which are mainly used for improved telephone access.  For those people whose hearing aids do contain telecoils, an IL system is the most convenient one of all – the special “receiver” being their own hearing aids (see Figure 2).

If your hearing aid doesn’t have a telecoil, or if you don’t wear a hearing aid, you can still use an IL system by wearing a receiver that has a telecoil in it.  An earpiece or headset delivers the sound to your ears or through your hearing aid.

FM systems are variations on the commercial FM radio. Radio signals are broadcast by an FM transmitter connected to the sound system used in the facility. These signals are received by individual “radios” – small pocket-size receivers tuned to the specific frequency used in the transmission (see Figure 3). There are a number of alternative ways to make the receiver-to-ear connections; these will be fully discussed below.

Infrared (IR) systems operate on infrared light that is beamed from one or several IR transmitters to small, specialized receivers. There are several types of IR receivers: stethoscope-style that dangle from the ears, a headset type that fits over the ears, and a small pocket-size type similar to the FM receiver. With the first two, the receiver-to-ear connections are straightforward; they are placed directly in or on the ear (see Figure 4). The alternative ways to make the receiver-to-ear connections with the third, pocket-style IR, is the same as with FM receivers and will be discussed below.

Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. A system that works well in a courtroom would not be appropriate for a multiplex theater; an outdoor facility needs a different system than an orchestra hall. Differences in confidentially, interference, cost, installation requirements, and operability make it impossible to simply use one type of ALS in every place. Before choosing an ALS, an installer will consult with the location managers and do a site analysis to determine the most appropriate ALS type.

What kind of receivers and connections will work for me with IR and FM systems?
Non-hearing aid users can use headphones or earbuds – either monaural (not recommended) or stereo (preferred) -- connected to a pocket-type receiver for FM or IR systems.  IR systems can also connect through a stethoscope-type receiver or use specialized headphones in which all the necessary electronics are contained in the headset itself (see Figure 5).

For hearing aid users, the choices are more varied and depend upon whether the hearing aid incorporates a telecoil or not. If your hearing aid has a telecoil, you can set it on the T-setting and then plug a neckloop or silhouette inductor directly into a pocket-type receiver (see Figure 6). A neckloop fits around the neck like a loose necklace. A silhouette inductor is embedded in a thin plastic shape similar to a behind-the-ear hearing aid (shown in Figure 6). Silhouettes can be very useful for people with severe hearing loss.

Neckloops and silhouette inductors work the same for both FM and IR systems.  As with a room IL system, the neckloop or silhouette inductor transmits an electromagnetic signal to the telecoils within the hearing aids (the “T” switch must be in the “on” position). A major advantage of using this mode of transmitting audio signals is that it utilizes the individualized adjustments made in the person’s own hearing aids.

If your hearing aid does not contain a telecoil, then you may  remove the hearing aid to use headphones or earbuds, as a non-hearing aid user would do  This does not work well if hearing loss is severe.  Headphones can sometimes be worn over the hearing aid; it will be necessary to adjust the hearing aid volume downward and the ALS volume up to avoid interference.  People who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids will have more difficulty placing headphones over their ears than those who use in-the-ear hearing aids.  Aids fitted with telecoils provide a better connection.

Some hearing aid users may prefer to do both: headphones over their ears while turning the aids to the T-coil position (see Figure 7). This will work with headphones that also emit an electro-magnetic signal in addition to sound, similar to the way that hearing-aid compatible telephones operate.

Cochlear implant users are advised to bring their own patch cord to connect the implant to the ALS receiver provided by the facility (see Figure 8). This would also be necessary for people who prefer to use a direct audio input (DAI) into a “boot” under their behind-the-ear hearing aids.

What is involved in obtaining and returning ALS receivers?
The specific place within a facility where receivers can be obtained should be noted on a sign posted in a conspicuous location, often at the box office. A facility employees should provide the ALS and instruct you on its use, if necessary.  All you have to do is check one out, usually by leaving a picture ID as surety. The facility may not ask a rental charge for the receiver. At the conclusion of the event, your ID will be returned when you return the receiver. When planning to attend a particular event, it is a good idea to call ahead to determine what kind of system is installed and what connecting devices are offered. Facilities may not provide the kind of system, receiver, and/or connector that you need or prefer. Some facilities may be willing to stock a range of connecting devices or even acquire a particular type given a sufficient number of requests. If for some reason your particular needs cannot be accommodated, you may want to consider purchasing your own connector (such as a neckloop).

Every place I go has a different system, with some working well, while others are awful. Is there anything I can do?
There are lots of reasons why a particular installation may not work for you:

• the staff doesn’t how to use the system or how to demonstrate it;

• the batteries in the receiver are either dead or weak;

• the receiver/ear connection is not right for you;

• the equipment is poor quality and did not provide the acoustic quality you need;

• the ALS transmitters were not installed properly or need servicing.

If you find that a system does not work for you, advise the management.  Insist that a staff member troubleshoot the system to determine the cause of the problem. This could be because of any of the reasons listed above. While the ADA requires that the operators of movie houses, theaters, auditoriums, and similar large assembly places provide such systems, national standards regulating their use are just being developed. You can suggest that facilities that need guidance on system selection, use, and maintenance consult the Board's ALS/ALD Technical Assistance Bulletin for Providers (Bulletin No. 9B). A Bulletin for Installers is also available.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement, website www.hearingresearch.org, has a great deal of useful information on assistive listening systems. Other resources include the technical assistance center at Gallaudet University, www.gallaudet.edu, and the Access Board, www.access-board.gov. The Access Board also provides a toll-free technical assistance number at (800) 872-2253 (voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY). If you wish to file a complaint about the lack of functioning ALS/ALD, contact the US Department of Justice at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0384 (TTY). 

This technical assistance is intended solely as informal guidance; it is not a determination of the legal rights or responsibilities of entities subject to the ADA.

August 2003

U N I T E D    S T A T E S    A C C E S S    B O A R D
1331 F Street, N.W. Suite 1000  Washington, DC 20004-1111
800 872-2253 (v)  ■  800 993-2822 (TTY) ■  fax: 202 272-0081 
www.access-board.gov    ■    e-mail: info@access-board.gov