HLAA-FL Hearing Loop Initiative
We work to get hearing loops installed in Florida churches, theaters, government meeting rooms, clubhouses and other public places, so people with hearing aids and cochlear implants can hear clearly with a flip of a switch.
What the initiative does
A hearing loop sends sound from a microphone or PA system straight to the telecoil in a hearing aid or cochlear implant. No headset, no background noise, no asking for equipment. HLAA-FL's Hearing Loop Initiative asks Florida venues to install loops, helps them understand the process, and helps people with hearing loss ask for loops where they worship, learn and gather.
We are part of HLAA's national Get in the Hearing Loop effort, and we work alongside Florida chapters, audiologists and loop installers.
How a venue gets looped
Ask
A member, a board or a facilities manager asks about a loop. Many venues have never heard of the technology, so the request itself is the first step.
Assess
A qualified installer surveys the room: size, floor construction, metal in the building and how sound is mixed today. This decides the loop design.
Install
Loops are installed to the IEC 60118-4 standard so sound is clear and even across the seating area. Installation is usually done in a day or two around the venue's schedule.
Sign and tell people
The venue posts the blue hearing loop sign, and staff learn how to switch it on. HLAA-FL and local chapters help spread the word so people with telecoils know to use it.
Where loops help most in Florida
- Houses of worship
- Theaters, cinemas and performing arts centers
- City, county and school board meeting rooms
- Senior living and community clubhouses
- Pharmacy counters, ticket windows and information desks
- Courtrooms and government service counters
The ADA requires assistive listening in assembly areas with sound systems. A hearing loop meets the requirement and is the option most people with hearing aids prefer, because it works with the devices they already wear.
Request a loop demo or speaker
HLAA-FL volunteers can speak to your congregation, board, HOA or staff about hearing loops, bring a portable loop for a demonstration, and connect you with installers. Tell us about your venue.
Common questions
What is a hearing loop?
A hearing loop is a wire installed around a room that sends sound by magnetic signal directly to the telecoil inside a hearing aid or cochlear implant. The listener switches to the telecoil program and hears the speaker or music clearly, without background noise and without borrowing a headset.
Does my hearing aid have a telecoil?
Most hearing aids and all cochlear implant processors can include a telecoil, but it may not be turned on. Ask your audiologist to activate a telecoil program. If you are buying new hearing aids, ask for a telecoil; some very small models do not have room for one.
How much does a hearing loop cost?
It depends on the room. A single counter loop costs a few hundred dollars. A full sanctuary or auditorium loop is a larger project priced by size and construction, comparable to other sound system work. Ask an installer for a site survey and a written quote. HLAA-FL can help you find installers.
Are hearing loops required by the ADA?
The ADA requires assistive listening systems in assembly areas that have sound amplification, and a share of receivers must be hearing aid compatible. A loop satisfies this, and because it works directly with telecoils, it serves more people than FM or infrared systems with headsets.
Which Florida venues are looped?
Looped venues exist across Florida, including theaters, churches and government rooms in the Sarasota, Naples, Tampa Bay and Tallahassee areas, among others. Look for the blue ear-and-T sign at the entrance. Our hearing loops page has more about finding looped places and asking venues to install one.
Ask for a loop where you go
The fastest way to get a venue looped is for a regular to ask. We can give you a letter, a fact sheet and a speaker.