Get in the Loop Cape Cod!

Better Hearing In Big Rooms

Falmouth LibraryOctober 24, 2015

Today's TopicsBetter Hearing in a Big Room

Hearing Loss FactsNeed for Hearing Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology Overview – Joe Beals

Assistive Technology Installation – Shaun Crossen, Shanahan Sound

What You Can Do – Penny Snow

Hearing Loss FactsCape Cod's Older Population

Barnstable County

28% over 65 yrs

= 60,000 people

Massachusetts

15% over 65 yrs

= 1 million people

About 1 in 3 people over age 65 have hearing loss = 20,000 people in Barnstable County

Hearing worsens as you age. Aging baby boomer population will more than double

in next 20 years. “Gray tsunami”.

2014 Census Bureau estimates

Hearing Loss Realities Across all age groups:

Veteran's returning from the Middle East Teenagers who listen to loud music

1 out of 5 over age 12 have hearing loss. Most common birth defect

Invisible disability = lack of understanding “Listen harder” ... “Turn your hearing aid up”

We try to fake it. (De Nile is not just a river in Egypt.) Hearing aids are not used by many who could benefit

because of cost or belief it won't help.

Harsh Reality

Research has shown that people need to get out and socialize for PHYSICAL AND MENTAL health.

Result: We stay home....

If I am in a lecture hall and I can't hear, I feel that my time is wasted. A ramp will get you in, glasses will let you see, but a hearing aid won't

let you hear everything!

Factors Affecting Hearing in a Big Room

Things you can't change

Subject matter Your attention Clarity of

speaker

Things you can change

Distance from speaker

Ambient noise Reverberation

Distance From Speaker Affects Hearing

People with normal hearing can hear

from 20-30 feet away. With a hearing aid, you can hear

from 6 to 10 feet away. Think of yourself in a

hearing bubble. Assistive devices can

increase the size of the

bubble.

Move closer to the speaker

or

Move the microphone closer to you

How can you hear better?

Hearing Loops

Magnetic induction loop of wire

Works with your hearing aid or cochlear implant telecoil.

Customized sound from your own device directly into your ear.

No receivers or batteries for venue to manage

International standard IEC 60118-4

Resolves distance, reverberation and ambient noise issues

Invisible and discrete

Telecoils tiny metal rod surrounded

by coils of copper wire. Designed first for telephone use

.

SETTING WHAT IT MEANS PROs CONs

T Only Telecoil on; microphone off

Allows you to hear through ALDs and nothing else; good in noisy settings

Cannot monitor your own voice

M + T Microphone and Telecoil on

Allows you to hear through ALDs AND HAs; Allows you to monitor your own voice and to hear seatmate.

Might be distracting in noisy settings.

Auto-T Automatic Telecoil

Allows you to hear on Hearing aid compatible phone

Will not work with loops, FM, IR without a manual override

Other Options for Big Spaces

FM Radio waves

Everyone needs a receiver

Transmitter and receiver must be on the same channel

Those with telecoils may need a neckloop.

Infrared (IR) light waves Everyone needs a

receiver Sound encoded as

modulated invisible light Must have clear line of

sign between transmitters and receivers.

Must have no obstructions -- columns, people, etc.

In an ideal situation with professional installation

Making Assistive Technology Available ...Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability.

Became law in 1990 (25 years ago) and was amended in 2009.

Title III requires auxiliary aids and services if doing so would afford an individual equal access.

Sources of Funding

Cape & Islands United Way Community Investment Grants

Kelley Foundation, Hyannis

Local Lions Clubs

Sertoma (Service to Mankind) sertoma.org

Mass Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

What Can Hard of Hearing People Do?

Step outside of your comfort zone and tell people you have a hearing loss. Stop faking/head-bobbing.

Tell people what you need. You have to let them know you are out there.

Say--“I attended your program and could not hear,” or leave a card.

Be comfortable with ALD including your hearing aid.

Suggest sites to be looped.

Join the HLAACC Loop Project.

With thanks to

Peter Cook, Falmouth Library

Catherine Shanahan, Shanahan Sound

Juliette Sterkens, Hearing Loss Association of America

In Memory of

Betty Szeberenyi, Looping Advocate

Today's TopicsBetter Hearing in a Big Room

Hearing Loss Facts Need for Assistive Technology Assistive Technology Overview

Assistive Technology Installation – Shaun Crossen, Shanahan Sound

What You Can Do – Penny Snow