Microphone use for meetings and events
Microphones are a great way to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard at a meeting or event. Sometimes it can feel awkward or even unnecessary to use one. However, it is important to use microphones to be sure that your meeting or event is inclusive and allows everyone to participate in the conversation.
Why use microphones?
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Hearing loss is an invisible disability, and you won’t be able to tell who can hear and cannot hear.
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Microphones provide amplification to the important sound - the person who is speaking. People with hearing loss sometimes have difficulty hearing the important sounds over other noises in the room or other people speaking.
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Using microphones encourages turn-taking, which makes it easier to hear if people are speaking one at a time. It also identifies the speaker to the individual with a hearing impairment.
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Individuals who use hearing aids may be connected to the audio system via bluetooth or other technology, which may not be apparent, since most of this technology is wireless. The technology can only provide these benefits if the microphones are used.
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The speakers connected to the microphones offer a range of sound that is usually multi-directional and fills the room. It is a much different sound experience than someone just trying to speak loudly in a room, which is unidirectional.
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Avoiding microphones or stating things like “I’ll just speak louder” is a form of exclusion and prevents those with hearing loss from being a part of the conversation.
Please take the time to use the microphone and wait until a microphone is passed to you before starting to speak. This sends the message that everyone in the room is a valued member of the conversation!
Handheld Microphones
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Many people tend to get quieter when talking into a microphone. Maintain a full, normal speaking voice when using a microphone.
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Hold the microphone no closer than the width of two fingers (about two inches) away from the mouth. The microphone is designed to capture a voice that flows over or across it, not into it, so if used too close to the mouth, the microphone will amplify every breath, click and hiss of words said.
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Conversely, keeping the mic too far away from the mouth will result in not being heard. Keep the microphone no further away than the width of your hand (about 6 inches).
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Hold the microphone at a 45 degree angle for perfect placement. Holding it too low will result in being unheard, while holding it too close may block the face.
Lapel Microphones
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Lavaliere, or “lapel” microphones, work best when clipped to clothing and placed 8 to 10 inches below the chin - ideally, in the center. If presenting and using a PowerPoint, fasten the mic slightly towards the side where the slides will be shown, since presenters will be looking at the slides from time to time while speaking. If the mic is placed too high, it will create hot and cold spots when the head is turned. One good rule of thumb is to imagine a shape of the letter "V" coming up from microphone. Speaking within this “V” area should be heard clearly.
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Make sure buttons, material, jewelry, and strands of hair are well out of the way. Remember that each small rustle will be amplified and transmitted with movement.