28 Nov Improving workplace accessibility for staff with hearing loss

Ensuring you are providing a safe and accommodating workplace for all should be a key priority as an employer. Making sure your staff are comfortable and feel empowered to do their job properly is key for staff wellbeing and overall productivity.

Because we know a thing or two about improving workplace accessibility, thanks to our assistive listening solutions, we’ve created this guide to help you ensure your workplace is accessible. 

Understand the Need

There are 18 million people in the UK with hearing loss.  12 million of those are of working age. You might be aware of staff members who use hearing aids, cochlear implants, who lipread or use sign language, but others might not want to disclose they have a hearing loss.

Barriers to communication can leave staff feeling isolated and unable to fulfil their potential. This could impact on productivity for an employer or lead to recruitment and training costs if they chose to leave. Proactively addressing hearing accessibility creates a more inclusive and productive environment.

With adjustments and assistive technologies, staff with hearing loss can utilise their skills and flourish in the work environment.  Accessibility in the workplace is not a one size fits all; everyone’s needs are different so it’s important to discuss with staff what accommodations they may need. 

Adopt Inclusive Design for your Workspace

The design of an office space can do much to improve communication for staff with hearing loss.  

For example:

• Seating layouts in meeting rooms: Horseshoe arrangements for seating, or tables in a circular rather than linear layout, allow people to see each other’s faces, crucial for those who lipread or need facial cues to help with their understanding of what’s being discussed.
• Good lighting: This will also help those who lipread to see people’s faces clearly. 
• Managing acoustics: Hard surfaces bounce sound around and make listening difficult or uncomfortable people with hearing loss. Soft furnishings like curtains, carpets and seating can help.  Sound absorption panels can be wall or ceiling mounted, or portable to create quiet zones.

Digital Workplace Accessibility

In today’s world, the digital environment is just as important as the physical one. Platforms like Zoom and Teams should include closed captioning, live transcription, and sign language interpreter options.

Provide Assistive Listening Systems

Assistive listening technologies like hearing loops offer clear sound to hearing aid or cochlear implant users.  Provided the user has a T-coiled enabled device, the loop will transmit sound from a microphone or other sound source, directly to the T-coil receiver. 

Even those who don’t use hearing aids can access sound through a pocket-sized receiver and headphones. Assistive listening systems can be installed in many different workplaces.  In public-facing venues, visitors will also benefit.

• Meeting or conference rooms
• Reception areas, ticket offices and till points 
• Court rooms 
• Lecture halls, classrooms
• Theatres and cinemas
• Sports arenas
• Places of worship 
• Community centres, village halls and libraries

Assistive technology is also key in terms of safety.  Alarms should flash as well as sound and hearing loops should be installed in the following locations:

• Lifts
• Refuge points
• Secure entrances/exits
• Remote communication points

Read how we created hearing accessibility for staff and visitors at Scania’s headquarters.

Train Staff on Hearing Accessibility

Creating an accessible workplace requires commitment from the whole staff team . Employees should be made aware of how to positively communicate with a colleague with hearing loss.  Ensure everyone knows how to use assistive listening systems. portable hearing loops need to be charged, and staff should know where they are stored and how to use them. 

Our partners, RNID, have further information and resources to help you make your workplace inclusive and accessible for employees.

We can help 

If you want to know about making your workplace accessible for people with hearing loss, contact us for a free consultation. We will help you assess your needs and recommend the right assistive listening solutions for your setting.

For more information about our assistive hearing technology, take a look at our website, or get in touch with us today on sales@contacta.co.uk or +44 (0) 1732 223900 (UK).