Is it time to rethink the term "Assistive Listening"?
I came back from InfoComm this week with one question stuck in my mind.
During the show, and while visiting churches and public venues before and afterwards, I saw many excellent hearing systems. The technology has improved tremendously over the past decade, and companies across our industry have done an amazing job.
But I also kept seeing something else: hearing devices sitting quietly on the front desk, fully charged and ready to use.
Yet many people simply walked straight past them.
Some did not know what they were. Some did not know they were available. Some probably never thought they were meant for them.
The Bottleneck May No Longer Be the Technology
The more I observed, the more I realized the bottleneck may no longer be the technology. It may be adoption.
In many churches and public venues, the acoustics are not ideal, even for people with normal hearing. I know from personal experience that using these systems can make speech dramatically clearer and easier to understand.
So why are not more people using them?
The devices are ready
Many systems are already installed, charged, and available at churches and public venues.
The need is real
Clear speech can be difficult in large spaces, even for people with normal hearing.
The challenge is adoption
People may not notice the devices, understand them, or feel that they are meant for them.
Could the Name Be Part of the Problem?
That made me wonder: could one of the reasons be the name itself?
For more than 100 years, we have called this category “Assistive Listening.” It was absolutely the right name when it was first introduced.
But does it still describe today’s experience?
The word “assistive” quietly sends a message: “This is for people who need assistance.”
Many people with mild or even moderate hearing loss do not see themselves that way. So they never try it.
Actually, they are often the people who would benefit the most.
| Current Term | Possible Message | Today’s Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Assistive Listening | This is for people who need assistance. | A clearer, more personal hearing experience in public spaces. |
| Hearing devices at the front desk | These may not be meant for me. | Accessible listening support for more people and more situations. |
| Dedicated receiver systems | This feels separate from daily listening habits. | Works alongside hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, or dedicated receivers. |
Today’s Experience Feels Different
Whether someone uses hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, or a dedicated receiver, they are no longer simply being “assisted.”
They are enjoying a personal hearing experience in a public space.
I have been searching for better words to describe that. One phrase I have been thinking about is “Next-Gen Personal Hearing.”
I am not saying that is the answer. But I do think it is worth asking whether our language should evolve alongside our technology.
More personal
It focuses on the user’s own listening experience, not only on the idea of assistance.
More inclusive
It may feel more welcoming to people who do not identify as needing special help.
More adoption-focused
It shifts the conversation from installed technology to real-world usage.
Maybe the next innovation is not the technology. Maybe it is the language.
I’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts
If you were naming this category today, would you still call it Assistive Listening?
Or would you call it something different?
I would especially love to hear how leaders across the hearing, accessibility, and AV communities think about this.
Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD, Cliff Olson, Bluetooth SIG, Starkey Hearing, Oticon, ReSound, Cochlear, Listen Technologies, Bettear, and Williams AV.
What Would You Call It?
As hearing technology continues to evolve, maybe our language should evolve too. Better wording may help more people understand, accept, and use the hearing systems already available to them.
