A new accessibility policy promulgated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will require the installation of hearing loops at all new and renovated airport terminals, as well as bus, train, and ferry stations.
Hearing loops are copper wires that transmit audio as electromagnetic signals, which are picked up by the telecoils or t-coils found in most hearing aids and cochlear implants. Using this technology, deaf and hard-of-hearing people can gain improved audio quality and speech recognition, ensuring they have access to import communications, including gate changes and boarding announcements in the airport environment.
Runway Girl Network reports that there are now 18 airports in the United States with some degree of hearing loop technology, including at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.
In speaking to the new requirements, the Port Authority said that “Port Authority facilities will even better serve the diverse population of people with disabilities who rely on our services.”
OUR TAKE: Hearing loop technology dramatically improves the travel experience of many deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and we look forward to the installation of this feature in many more airports across the United States.
To read more about hearing loops and their availability in U.S. airports, see the article from Runway Girl Network.
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