As a person with severe to profound loss, this is how I survive. Large room settings are challenging. Because hearing loss varies, being able to read what is spoken is best. If CART is not available, I use speech-to-text from my phone. I've found the app Live Transcribe to be the best. I bought an Android, even though I have an iPhone, just for this purpose. It will not be used for phone calls so does not incur any monthly fees. You can get an unlocked Android for $40. If the venue doesn't have Wi-Fi, I use my iPhone as a hotspot. In areas that do not have cellular coverage, I use the Otter app on my iPhone, which does not require Wi-Fi. In one of my support groups, I have elderly members that do not have cell phones. In this case, amplification is the way to go when none of the above is an option. If the room has an induction loop system installed, then people with telecoils in their hearing aids will hear the audio. For people without telecoils, the venue should have loop receivers to pick up the signal. The person given the receiver should also have the option of getting headphones or a neckloop to get the audio from the receiver to their ears. Unfortunately, most people outside of HLAA do not know about loops and telecoils. If the venue has pass-around microphones, the remote mic would best be placed near the PA system speaker. If pass-around mics are not used, then the remote mic is best given to the person speaking. If questions come from the audience, then the person speaking MUST repeat those questions. Most people with hearing loss do not have other Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) besides their hearing aids. Hopefully, the venue has some type of FM or digital system so that the person with hearing loss would be given a receiver. Hopefully, headphones or a neckloop would be provided to get the audio from the receiver to their ears. Now, for breakout sessions, this is even more challenging. Speech-to-text doesn't work good enough when there's a lot of background conversation unless the phone is used as a pass-around mic. I would give my phone to the person speaking and then get it back to make sure I could read what was said. Another option is to use a personal amplifier with a microphone that could be extended. The mic could be passed to person speaking. Both of these options are cumbersome so the best option is to move the breakout group to a quieter area and have them meet back after a set time. Hope I covered everything.
Tony in Michigan