Your HEARING AUGMENTATION System
Necessary for Compliance in Aged Care
Time to test if it works properly......
If you are reading this, more than likely you require an operating Hearing Augmentation System, i.e a Hearing Loop, Infra Red or FM Transmitter to comply with the Australian National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 for Aged Care areas where sound amplification is utilized (class 9c buildings) and meet the requirements the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023, and the Disability Discrimination Act in Australia.
Anecdotal evidence from Deaf and Hearing-Impaired clients tells us that somewhere between 80 to 90% of (older) installed systems ARE NOT USABLE! These technologies have served all well, but are showing their age (circa 1970's technology)
ClearaSound will TEST & REPORT, REPAIR OR UPGRADE if required
ClearaSound will test your existing Hearing Augmentation system to make sure it's working. If repairs are required, we will make a recommendation on whether to repair or re-install the hearing loop system, or upgrade to a more economical and modern alternative. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to improving your engagement with ALL residents & visitors at the same time as meeting your compliance requirements - more affordably than ever.
Be AWARE of your current Australian Compliance requirements for Aged Care Facilities:
National Construction Code (NCC) 2022:
Read section D4D8: HEARING AUGMENTATION, paragraph 1 & 2.
There are more systems now apart from the "last century" technology used in Hearing Loops that can deliver the compliance that you need.
Non-Compliance may result in a formal directive to enact rectification, or penalties if raised with the relevant state building authority. Non compliance may also pose a risk to insurance policy obligations – depending on the provisions proposed and agreed that include people with disabilities.
Aged Care Specifics (NCC):
The NCC sets out Australian building requirements including those related to accessibility and hearing augmentation:
- Hearing augmentation systems are required when an inbuilt amplification system is installed (not for emergency warnings) in:
- Class 9b buildings (assembly buildings: e.g., schools, auditoriums, halls)
- Auditoriums, conference rooms, meeting rooms, and similar spaces.
- Aged care facilities are typically classified as Class 9c buildings.
- The NCC does not mandate hearing augmentation systems in all areas of Class 9c aged care buildings.
- However, if an aged care facility contains a meeting room, auditorium or similar space with an inbuilt amplification system, that space must comply with hearing augmentation requirements (e.g., induction loops or receivers covering most of the floor area)
The Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023
The Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 (DSI Act)** in Australia includes several provisions that indirectly or directly benefit the hearing impaired, key elements relevant to the hearing impaired include:
- The DDA ensures it is unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of disability, including hearing loss, in the provision of goods, services, and facilities.
- Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 (developed under the DDA) echo NCC requirements:
- Hearing augmentation systems must be provided in certain circumstances, generally following the same building classifications as in the NCC (especially Class 9b).
- For aged care (Class 9c), hearing augmentation is not mandated by default, except in meeting rooms or spaces used by groups with an amplification system.
Non-Compliance with the Act in the least may result in loss of an accreditation or certified compliance for services that include people with disabilities such as hearing impairment. Also, along with reputational risks, breaches may trigger court ordered compensation via the DDA (see below)
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
This operates alongside the Disability Services
& Inclusion Act.
Being compliant with the DDA means ensuring accessibility to communications for the hearing impaired.
- The DSIA sets a broad framework for funding and regulating supports and services for people with disability.
- The legislation itself does not prescribe building-specific requirements for hearing augmentation in aged care facilities; rather, it works in conjunction with the NCC and DDA to promote accessible environments.
As you would be aware: regardless of not being prescribed by the DDA, not offering hearing augmentation when it is necessary to enable residents in amplified environments to hear, is treated as "unlawful discrimination", with potential court orders for corrective action, compensation or fines when a non-compliance issue is raised. Reputational damage is also a potential consequence.
CLEARASOUND WILL HELP ENABLE YOUR COMPLIANCE:
☑️ National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 for Aged Care Facilities (class 9c Buildings)
☑️ The Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023
☑️ The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
A better Alternative to Hearing Loop Systems:
Consider Auracast– the new generation Bluetooth, or the New Generation Audio over WIFI that both offer a simple and seamless upgrade process. Your customers and audience will love it, and you will be fully compliant.
The Benefits:
☑️Best Practice Transition to new technology
- Assisted hearing will be available to an ever-growing percentage of your Audience, not just the ~2.5% via the current hearing loop, infra red or FM systems. This is because EVERY manufacturer of hearing devices is moving to the Auracast technology, and ALL mobile devices can receive WiFi.
- In addition, via new technology speakers and microphones tuned to your environment, the balance of your audience can connect without a device, a phone, earbuds or hearing assistance – they just hear better through a supported network of new generation speakers.
- Your organization will have access to the multitude of benefits for your customers and visitors from new technology – starting straight away.
☑️ Most economical package available
Your Current System....
Do you have the OLD Hearing Loop Telecoil System?
This is the MOST COMMON Hearing Augmentation system historically required by the National Construction Code(s).
DID YOU KNOW:
Customers who access it: must have a T setting on a hearing aid or a cochlear implant – this is prescribed by their condition – which is profound hearing loss in at least 1 ear.
There are up to 7 – 10 times more people who wear hearing aids that do not have a T/Coil hearing aid. So they cannot connect with the T/Coil Hearing Loop system!
HOW IT WORKS & POTENTIAL SHORTCOMINGS
A telecoil (T-coil) hearing augmentation system transmits audio directly to hearing aids via electromagnetic signals.
A room’s induction loop copper wires - usually placed in or under the floor- converts sound into a magnetic field, which
is picked up by the T-coil in compatible hearing aids when switched to the "T" setting. This delivers sound free from background noise, as used in theatres, churches, and service counters. The system is universally compatible with T-coil-enabled hearing aids and cochlear implants, meeting historic accessibility standard. While effective when in range, not all hearing aids support T-coils.
The Hearing Loop System Reaches ~2.5% of your Audience
NOT for 97.5% of your Audience – they can’t participate BECAUSE:
- Although they need assisted hearing - they don’t have
a T/Coil setting on their hearing device - T/Coil cannot be received by their smart phone
- They have a T/Coil but speak another language.
- They have assisted hearing or ear buds that receive communication via an existing connection with their smart phone, but their phone cannot connect with the T/Coil signal - which was created several decades before smartphones were even invented.
- They don’t have any assisted hearing device.
The NEXT STEP is the most important
Hearing loop systems need to be checked as they are prone to failure, as are Infra Red, and FM systems used for Hearing Augmentation Compliance.
Does your system actually work?....and work well enough to meet the compliance standards?
ClearaSound can HELP by providing an authorized test and assessment to ensure it is serviceable.
During this call out visit we will also provide a scope for an upgrade to Auracast or New Generation Audio over WIFI – to provide you with a more reliable, more economical solution that boosts your coverage to people with assisted hearing by up to 10 times - AND keeps you compliant at all levels.
We will ensure you don’t lose your current audience with profound hearing loss, we will just ADD to it.
Call to book a call out now (minimum $180 call out service charge may apply)