Category Archives: speech-in-noise

Caring About Others Leads to New Hearing Loop

Loop Minnesota Posted on by

Picture by Justin Burwinkel

 

This is not only a story about the installation of a new hearing loop in a Church in Minnesota. It is a story about communication access.  It is a story about empathy and advocacy without having a need oneself. But mostly, it is a story of how caring about others leads to a new Minnesota Hearing Loop.

Not understanding speech-in-noise can be very isolating and life-limiting for those with hearing loss. This is one of the major reasons why people no longer attend book clubs, church services and social club meetings.  As one woman put it:” There is nothing in it for me anymore. I can’t understand a word.” This is why hearing loops are important. So far, this is the only assistive listening technology that helps improve the understanding of speech in background sound.

Hear Clearly at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan, Mn

Some weeks ago, the Church became the proud owner of a new hearing loop. It has excellent sound quality and now ALL can hear!  A parishioner saw the need for including people with hearing challenges in the Church community. He suggested the installation of a hearing loop, advocated for it and saw the project through to completion with the help of an equally devoted friend. They deserve double kudos as neither of them has hearing loss. How cool is that – thinking and caring about others and advocating for those who would be excluded!

That said, many thanks also go to those who supported the looping effort and helped fund it. Hearing loops do not install themselves, and they are not free.

And so, the list of hearing loops across Minnesota grows as many people are beginning to appreciate that the time for them to hear clearly in noise is Now – NOT years from now!

In the end, Care about Others! Make venues accessible with hearing loops and help people find those loops! List them on the Access Page of Google Maps. Announce them on Website pages and mention them in any publications, such as Newsletters and Bulletins. Tell the world that you care about communication access and quality-of-life for ALL.

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So, where do you want to hear better? Contact us at Loop Minnesota with any questions or loop suggestions?

May – the Month to Showcase Hearing Loops and Telecoils!

Loop Minnesota Posted on by

Every year, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) dedicates the month of May as Better Hearing and Speech month. The purpose is to raise awareness about communication disorders.

Loop Minnesota wants to broaden the focus of this message as far as Better Hearing is concerned. People with hearing loss struggle to hear and understand speech in background noise. For them, communication and learning are seriously hampered in loud places. While hearing aids and assistive devices can help, they too have their limits.

Better Understanding Speech in Noise Means Better Hearing

To this day, the assistive system of Hearing Loop & Telecoils is the most effective and predictable way for overcoming speech-in-noise challenges. This is why the month of May is also a good time to showcase the technology that enables those with hearing issues communicate a lot more efficiently because they Hear Better in noise.

And so, it makes sense that the discussion about Better Hearing should also focus on Better Understanding of Speech in noisy venues.  For those with telecoils in their hearing aids or cochlear implants, hearing loops manage background noise in venues, such as churches, conference halls and meeting rooms. As counter loops, they make life easier at store check-out counters, information desks, ticket counters, bank teller windows and more.

In the end, let the month of May be a time of advocating for Better Hearing by means of Hearing Loops and Telecoils in public places, no matter what their size.

  •  Ask hearing specialists about Loop Technology and Telecoils (T-coils). Do my hearing aids have telecoils? Are they activated? Why not?
  • Ask venues, businesses, churches, and libraries what kind of access they provide for visitors, customers, and members with hearing loss. Let them know how and why Loops could help.
  • Get involved! Become a member of Loop Minnesota. Learn about hearing loops, and about other access technology choices.
  •  Help spread the word on Hearing Loops and Telecoils in your communities.
  • Let Loop Minnesota know about places with existing loops or access technology so that they can be added to our website list.
  •  Where would you like to hear and understand better? Contact us. We can help.

The world is getting louder by the day. Expecting life to play itself out in quiet, accommodating environments is fast becoming an unrealistic expectation. No matter what time of the year, at Loop Minnesota we aim to help people hear and understand and communicate better. Join us. Be bold!  It’s the Month of May and it’s O.K.

Telecoils and Hearing Loops Education PSA

Loop Minnesota Posted on by

With heartfelt gratitude! 

On behalf of Minnesotans with hearing loss, Loop Minnesota thanks the Minnesota Commission for the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing (MNCDHH), the Minnesota Broadcasters Association as well as all of the stations who donate valuable airtime for making this Telecoils and Hearing Loops PSA possible.

Thank you for helping raise awareness on this important technology, which can greatly ease the understanding of speech in loud places. The following 30 seconds might change lives – for better hearing and maybe for embarking on a mission of telecoils and hearing loops advocacy.

So, what does listening through telecoils and hearing loops sound like? Try this sound demonstration taken in a New York Subway station, which is a very difficult sound environment.  For now, the only way to understand speech-in-noise more clearly is by means of telecoils and hearing loops.

Pretty amazing! I remember the first time that I listened through a loop by means of my hearing aid telecoil. No more straining to understand. The Loop Minnesota website has a list if loops in and around Minnesota. Would it not be wonderful to grow that list?

In the end, it is up to those with hearing loss to determine what they want and what helps them.  Again, thank you to all who make it possible for people to learn about this technology with a much-needed Telecoils and Hearing Loops PSA.