Leeds University Union (LUU) is committed to making its events inclusive and accessible for all students. As part of this mission, the team explored innovative assistive listening solutions to support deaf and hard of hearing attendees during their annual student celebration events. Working with Ampetronic | Listen Technologies, LUU trialled the Auri™ system to evaluate its potential as a futureproof, scalable solution.
Challenge
LUU’s event spaces are multi-use and architecturally complex, making traditional hearing loop installations impractical. While accessibility was not directly impacting business operations, the team recognised the importance of improving the event experience for all members. They needed a system that was easy to operate, flexible to deploy, and intuitive for first-time users.
Solution
LUU took the Auri™ system on short-term loan, integrating it into their event setup by routing an audio mix from their console into the Auri™ transmitter’s analogue input. The system streamed audio to compatible Auracast™-enabled hearing aids, cochlear implants, earbuds and headphones, as well as dedicated receivers with neck loops and earphones for users without Auracast™-enabled devices. The setup was supported by Ampetronic’s Nathan Chambers, with initial demonstrations provided by Ian Sadler at Canford and Craig Davey at Ampetronic.
Result
The impact was immediate and meaningful. Student users reported a significant boost in confidence and comfort when participating in group settings. The ability to connect directly to hearing devices without drawing attention helped reduce stigma and made the experience feel seamless. One student noted the clarity and volume boost as pivotal, describing a noticeable improvement in engagement with events. The system was easy to use, with no major challenges reported during the trial.
Speaking for myself, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The clarity and volume boost provided by the technology are pivotal, and I’ve personally felt a noticeable improvement in the quality of engagement with events. Chris Mee, Deputy Technical Manager, Leeds University Union
Download Case Study
