“Oh, my goodness!” I said out loud. The sound startled me. And then I smiled. I had just experienced an induction hearing loop for the first time. Wow!
This was an emotional moment, as most of my life I’ve struggled to understand presenters in public venues or meeting halls.
But with the hearing loop installed in the room, I could understand every word.
Such clarity of speech moved me to tears.
Side note: In 2013, I was diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears. My pursuit to understand hearing loss began with a road trip to attend an HLAA seminar by well-known audiologist, Dr. Juliette Sterkens.
Dr. Juliette Sterkens, National Advocate for Hearing Loops (sponsored by the Hearing Loss Association of America) travels far and wide to raise awareness of this assistive listening technology.
When Dr. Sterkens spoke into the microphone, her words traveled through the sound system into the copper wire installed on the perimeter of the meeting hall. She loaned me a loop listener receiver so I could hear the clear, crisp words of the presentation. (After that event, my hearing aids were programmed to use hearing loops!)
Since that day, I advocate and share my experience so that people with hearing loss may have equal access to hear and understand presentations, seminars and sermons.
In the United States, hearing loops have been installed in the U.S. Supreme Court, churches, museums, theaters, universities, taxi cabs, subway stations and private homes.
In Europe, thousands of hearing loops are in use, including one at Westminster Abbey.
For more information on hearing loops, please see the following resources:
http://www.listentech.com/blog/induction-loops-in-museums/ (ListenTech)
https://youtu.be/hlnx3ZImTw0 (Otojoy video)
http://www.univox.eu/hearing-loops-for-museums-and-exhibitions (Museums)
www.loopwisconsin.com (Dr. Juliette Sterkens’ web site)
Dee Bolemon @LoopAdvocate
Orlando, Florida USA