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Should we still call it “Assistive Listening”?

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I recently visited several churches and public venues that had hearing support systems available, but many devices were sitting unused at the front desk.

It made me wonder whether the issue is not only technology, but also adoption and language.

The term “Assistive Listening” is accurate, but for some people it may sound like something only for those who “need assistance.” Many people with mild or moderate hearing loss may not identify with that label, even though they could benefit a lot.

With , hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, and personal receivers, the experience may feel more like personalized public audio than traditional assistance.

Curious what this community thinks:
If this category were named today, would you still call it “Assistive Listening,” or would another term feel more welcoming?

I also shared a longer reflection on LinkedIn here6: #nextgenpersonalhearing #assistivelistening #hearingaccessibility #hearingaids #auracast #churchtech #audiology | Phoebe Yi

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I have a severe hearing loss and wear hearing aids that are adjusted as perfect as possible for my needs. I don’t need any other help to understand the church services. Note I go to a church where there are more wearing aids than not wearing aids. We have the loop system but few modern hearing aids have t-coils since rechargeable aids became the norm. We are looking at but most members wear Phonak aids, that don’t yet have auracast. There are so very few that have any issues understanding during the services.

Assistive Listening is good. I like “Wireless Audio” with Wireless audio devices available at the front desk as an example.

Yes, I think you should call it Assistive Listening. This is the established industry term for such things. Inventing new terminology may seem helpful and “friendly” but can be counter productive (for example, what is being “personalized” for the individual here other than volume?). Maybe you can use another term alongside it, if you think the target audience doesn’t understand for some reason, but why not keep the recognizable, google-able, meaningful, specific term that is likely in use at other venues?

Frankly, people with milder loss either need / want assistance or they don’t. Maybe it’s just me but dressing up a valuable service as “not assistance” because folks need their ego coddled is delaying acceptance of reality. It’s OK to need help, and help is here for you!

Thank you all — I really appreciate the feedback. @greg.smith @Turtley @cvkemp @birdcountry99 @d_Wooluf

I agree that “Assistive Listening” is the established and important industry term, and we should not abandon it. Maybe the better direction is to use “Next Gen Personal Hearing” alongside it — not as a replacement, but as a more approachable way to explain how , hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, and personal receivers can bring clearer audio directly to each person.

Avantree and VenuCast will take the lead in promoting this concept while continuing to support the Assistive Listening category.

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