Why

According to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID):

• Over 9 million people are deaf or hard of hearing (one in seven of the UK population)
• 2 million of these people have hearing aids
• 1.4 million people use hearing aids regularly
• 3 million people experience significant hearing difficulties

Lobbying by organisations such as the RNID has led to increased awareness of the difficulties faced by the hearing impaired, so much so that numerous Standards, Acts and Schemes now recommend the provision of auxiliary aids such as induction loop systems for the hard of hearing, as summarised below. These summaries refer to the published versions of the documents at the time of going to press. If in doubt, full copies of these documents can be purchased or viewed in their entirety from the organisations and/or websites indicated.

BS 8300 (2002)

BSI British Standard BS 8300 is the code of practice for the design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. The standard recommends that “a hearing enhancement system, using induction loop, infra-red or radio transmission, should be installed in rooms and spaces used for meetings, lectures, classes, performances, spectator sports or films, and used at service and reception counters where the background noise level is high or where glazed screens are used” (9.3.2).

It pinpoints the following areas for consideration: seated waiting areas; ticket sales and information points; fitness suites and exercise studios; churches; crematoria and cemetery chapels, educational, cultural and scientific buildings. Copies of BS 8300 can be viewed at your local reference library or purchased from the British Standards Institute, 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL. Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9000. Web: www.bsi-global.com

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

DDAThe aim of the DDA is to stop discrimination against disabled people including the hearing impaired. Under the Act, all UK service providers, i.e. organisations offering goods, facilities or services to the general public, must make ‘reasonable’ adjustments to ensure they do not unlawfully discriminate against disabled people. Employers must also take measures to ensure that employees are not disadvantaged in the workplace.

Examples of ‘reasonable adjustments’ include the provision of auxiliary aids, such as induction loop systems, to enable a hard of hearing person to access goods, facilities or services where it is impossible or unreasonably difficult for them to do so. The DDA was strengthened in 2004 when the Disability Rights commission’s (DRC) Code of Practice came into effect. The DRC is an independent body, established by Act of Parliament, which supports disabled people in getting their rights under the DDA and gives advice to disabled people, employers and service providers.

For more information on the DDA, visit the DRC’s website at www.drc-gb.org
A GUIDE TO AUDIO-FREQUENCY INDUCTION LOOP SYSTEMS

Building Regulations Part M1: Access to and use of buildings (2000)

Part MCurrent building regulations for England and Wales state that newly erected or substantially reconstructed non-domestic buildings should make reasonable provision for people to gain access to and use their facilities (Requirement M1). In particular, the regulations state that reasonable ‘aids to communication’ should be provided for the hearing impaired in auditoria, meeting rooms, reception areas, ticket offices and at information points. One of the aims of Requirement M1 is to ensure all people can participate in proceedings at lecture/conference facilities and entertainment, leisure and social venues.

According to the regulations, aids to communication will satisfy {part of} this requirement if ‘a hearing enhancement system is installed in rooms and spaces designed for meetings, lectures, classes, performances ... and at service or reception counters when they are situated in noisy areas or behind glazed screens’ (section 4.36/4.36b) The regulations acknowledge that a person with a hearing disability needs to receive a signal that is amplified in both volume and signal-to-noise ratio and that induction loop, infrared, radio and sound field systems can provide this advanced level of sound (section 4.35, Design Considerations).
Building Regulations, Part M1 can be viewed at the website of the Office of the Deputy PM at www.odpm.gov.uk

Care Standards Act (2002)

CSCIThe Care Standards Act demands that care homes in England provide certain adaptations and equipment for residents, Including:- ‘facilities, including communication aids (e.g. a loop system), and signs to assist the needs of all service users, taking account of the needs, for example, of those with hearing impairment, visual impairment, dual sensory impairments, learning disabilities or dementia or other cognitive impairment, where necessary.’ (standard 22.6). These requirements apply to all care homes providing accommodation and nursing or personal care for older people in England. Regular inspections and enforcement of the legislation is carried out by the Commission for Social Care inspection (CSCI)

For more information on the Care Standards Act, visit the CSCI’s website at www.csci.org.uk

The English Tourism Council's National Accessible Scheme (2002)

English Tourism Council National Accessible SchemeThis Scheme aims to increase accessibility for guests who are mobility, hearing and visually impaired. Participation in the scheme is not compulsory, but those who do are given recommendations which include the provision of auxiliary aids in serviced and self-catering accommodation to help satisfy the requirements of the DDA.

‘Best practice’ recommendations include the fitting of a counter or portable loop system to assist hearing impaired guests on booking/arrival and the installation of room loops in bedrooms. Other best practice recommendations are that consideration be given to providing a TV listening aid and room loop in television lounges and that induction loops be ‘part of the standard equipment’ in conference, entertainment and banqueting areas.

For more information, visit www.tourismtrade.org.uk

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