The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2024 - 18

The World
Health
Organization
estimates that
by 2050, nearly
2.5 billion
people will have
some degree
of hearing
loss, and " 700
million will
require hearing
rehabilitation. "
Figure 3: An illustration of relay interpreting
presenter and listeners hear
the interpreter.
This system is also a simple
solution for relay interpreting,
allowing two interpreters to
work in tandem. For example,
one interpreter may listen to a
presenter speak in English and
relay the message to another
interpreter in French, who, in
turn, relays the message to a
group in German. (See Figure
3 above.)
Video Conference
Platforms and Assistive
Listening Systems
Courtroom interpreters
should be aware that audio
from video conferencing
platforms is not always
fed into the in-courtroom
sound system that
captures audio for delivery
to assistive listening
transmitters. This means
people in courtrooms who
rely on assistive listening
systems to hear or facilitate
interpreting may not hear
remote presenters through
the assistive listening
system. The audio from
remote presenters may
only reach those in the
courtroom through a
soundbar or speakers.
Interpreters providing
services for listeners in
the courtroom via video
conference should confirm
18 The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2024
with courtroom managers
and AV coordinators that
there is an audio output feed
to direct sound from the
conference platform into
the system that supports
assistive listening.
Courtroom interpreters
play a critical role in the
justice system, so it's
essential that everyone in
legal proceedings and
depositions can hear and
understand. Assistive
listening systems support
the work interpreters do.
When interpreters and their
clients utilize assistive
listening systems, clients
hear the words of the
interpreter in their ears
without the background
noise and distractions
common in courtrooms that
can cause listeners to miss
parts of the interpreter's
speech or misunderstand
what they are saying.
Mikey Shaffer is senior sales director at Listen
Technologies, a leading provider of advanced
wireless listening solutions for 26 years. She
has worked in the assistive technology industry
for 10 years and is a passionate advocate for
inclusion. She joined Listen Technologies in 2016 and most
recently was consultant liaison. Before Listen Technologies, she
was a telecommunications equipment specialist at Relay Utah,
where she worked to provide telecommunications solutions to
individuals from disadvantaged communities who are deaf or
hard of hearing. mikey.shaffer@listentech.com
www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2024

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