NH Advocacy: A Better Place to Hear

Hearing loss is growing—and New Hampshire needs to be ready.

Whether you're a resident, a policymaker, or just someone who cares, there are simple things we can do now to help make our towns more hearing-friendly and inclusive.

NHhears wants to be part of that change. We're here to share small everyday adjustments, personal hacks, and the latest in hearing tech—along with ways to educate communicators and raise public awareness. The tools and strategies are out there, and the number of solutions is only growing. The more people who understand what it's like to live with hearing loss, the more inclusive our communities become.

We believe in a future where communication is easier, comprehension comes more naturally, and community comes together to support everyone’s ability to hear and be heard.

Communication – Be understood
Comprehension – Understand others
Community – Work together

Together, we can make New Hampshire a better place to hear.

Your Town Wants to Help — But Might Not Know How

With your voice, we can make your community easier to hear.

The truth is, most towns across the nation haven’t thought much about hearing accessibility. It’s not that they don’t care — it’s that they don’t realize how much noise, lighting, and poor communication habits can affect daily life for people with hearing loss.

That’s where you come in. NHhears is working to make New Hampshire towns more hearing-friendly — and you can help show them what needs to change.

You Have Rights Under the ADA

Hearing access isn’t just nice to have — it’s the law.

If you have hearing loss, you’re protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That means you have the right to equal access in many public settings, including:

Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs): Required at public venues that use amplified sound (like theaters, stadiums, or conference rooms).
Captioning Services: Required for digital films shown at movie theaters.
General Accessibility: Communication access must be provided for public services, events, and programs.

These are legal requirements. But there’s a difference between what must be done — and what should be done to create a truly inclusive world.

Real-World Hearing Support

Good hearing isn’t just about devices — it’s about environments.

Even with great hearing aids, some settings are tough. Why? Because hearing well is situation-specific. Loud restaurants, poorly lit meeting rooms, booming fitness classes — these can all make understanding speech harder.

That’s why we need to improve environments — and we need more people to know how.

Everyday Advocacy

You can help shape spaces to be easier to hear — one conversation at a time.

Here are some ways to speak up and make a difference in the places you live, work, and play:

Restaurants

Ask for quiet seating areas or booths
Encourage lower music volume and less kitchen noise
Let your favorite spots know loud sound = lost customers

Sometimes staff like loud music without realizing how much it turns people away. Share your feedback. Owners often appreciate hearing from regulars.

Customer Service Desks

Clerks and office staff can be trained in communication best practices
Portable hearing loop devices can help make service counter staff easier to understand
NHhears is working to expand access to loop systems in public buildings

At the very least, federal and state government offices — like post offices — should have hearing loops in place. You can help by encouraging their use locally.

Fitness Classes

Ask instructors to place speakers away from their teaching spot
Let them know you need to see their face when they speak
Consider suggesting quieter background music or visual cues

These are simple changes — and many instructors are happy to make them once they know the need.

Construction & Design

Town zoning boards can encourage use of sound-absorbing materials during building renovations or new construction
Acoustic panels and tiles come in all kinds of colors, textures, and patterns — they can be both functional and attractive

This is a great area where policy can shape long-term change — and you can help raise awareness with local officials.

Cultural Events & Community Spaces

Let’s accelerate accessibility — together.

Not everyone struggles with hearing, but more and more people do. In your town, you can help normalize hearing-friendly design by suggesting things like:

Group seating where the speaker’s face is lit from the front.
Preferential seating for people with hearing loss when there’s no microphone
Reducing unnecessarily loud music or background noise during events
Using captioning when possible for presentations, film screenings, or performances

Sometimes all it takes is asking. Most people want to be inclusive — they just need a nudge in the right direction.

Older woman holding a sign that says Here's how I can understand you better.

Make It Happen

The more we speak up, the more the world learns to listen.

Every time you advocate — whether you’re chatting with a barista or writing to your city council — you’re helping build a more accessible New Hampshire.

Change doesn’t have to be big or complicated. It starts with one voice saying:
“Here’s how I can understand you better.”

And that voice can be yours.