During the pandemic, remote interpreting saved many international meetings, and many interpreters’ careers. But it also highlighted a problem the general public is unaware of: poor-quality sound can permanently damage hearing. For an interpreter, whose ear is her main tool, this is a major issue.
An observation shared by the profession
Two years after the start of the pandemic, major institutions were faced with many staff interpreters on sick leave for hearing problems, exhaustion and burnout, according to researchers at the University of Geneva (UN Today). AIIC has issued numerous statements and resolutions on auditory health since 2022 (AIIC).
The symptoms reported vary: tinnitus, hypersensitivity to noise (hyperacusis), pain in or around the ear, hearing problems and feelings of instability (University of Bologna).
Why online sound is a problem
In a traditional booth, sound is captured by quality microphones and transmitted across the full frequency range recommended by ISO standards. Online, it’s often a different story:
- Truncated frequencies: video-conferencing platforms compress sound. The interpreter has to make an extra effort to understand, which increases cognitive load and fatigue, as the Geneva researchers have studied.
- Poor-quality microphones: laptop microphones, cheap earphones, echoing rooms… The interpreter compensates by turning up the volume.
- Acoustic shocks: feedback, a dropped microphone, a sudden violent noise in the headset. These sound peaks can cause damage.
What interpreters do to protect themselves
- Use a quality headset with a volume limiter or acoustic shock protection.
- Keep the volume as low as possible and take regular breaks, away from screens and noise.
- Work from a professional hub or studio whenever possible.
- Stop interpreting when the sound no longer allows proper work, and explain this to the client.
- Have their hearing checked regularly by an ENT specialist.
What you can do as an organiser
This is where everything is decided. The quality of interpreting depends directly on the quality of the sound the interpreter receives. A few simple steps are enough:
- Equip speakers with a wired USB headset rather than their computer’s built-in microphone.
- Run a technical test with each remote speaker before the event.
- Ask for a wired connection and a quiet room.
- Mute the microphones of participants who aren’t speaking.
- Choose a platform specialised in interpreting rather than a mainstream video-conferencing tool whenever possible.
In short
Remote interpreting has become essential, and that’s a good thing. But it only works well with good sound. By taking care of it, you protect your interpreter’s health and guarantee your participants clear, faithful interpreting. Everyone wins.
Preparing a remote or hybrid meeting with interpreting? I’d be happy to send you my technical checklist for speakers.
