Tag Archives: Loop Minnesota

Correct Microphone Use is Essential for Consistent Hearing Loop Sound

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For hearing loop sound to be clear and consistent, loop-connected microphones (mikes) must be used correctly.

The microphone style, type and installation vary with the venue. But no matter what these choices are, sound signals that do not go through loop mikes are not fed into the hearing loop. They are not picked up by telecoils and cannot be heard by those listening through the loop.

·        A church member wondered what was wrong with the church hearing loop. He heard and understood the sermon and readings perfectly, but he could not hear anything when the pastor made announcements away from the altar and pulpit.

Obviously, the loop worked. However, in some way the pastor was not “miked” when he addressed the congregation away from the fixed loop microphones attached to the altar and pulpit. That’s when a loop-connected handheld mike should have been used. Then again, maybe the pastor had a body/belt worn microphone pack, such as a lapel mike, that was not turned on. Or maybe he forgot to wear it?

·        Recently, my husband and I attended the launch of a new hearing loop in a Town Council Chamber. The microphone used for public comments was a handheld mike that was used incorrectly in many ways. People held it low at chest level, turned their heads away from it and waved the mike around…

Listening through the loop became almost impossible as the burping, halting sound faded in and out. In this case, a fixed mike such as a “gooseneck” mike is preferrable as it forces people to speak directly into it. The problem has since been resolved.

Tips for improved loop microphone use

·        Make sure that loop-connected microphones of any style are turned on and ready for use.
·        Speak at a normal voice level directly into the microphone.
·        Do not walk away from fixed loop mikes – or use a loop-connected portable mike
·        During “looped” question-and-answer sessions, handheld microphones are passed around so that all can hear the question and the             answer. The person who has the mike speaks – one at a time.
·        Hold handheld mikes still and close to the mouth, usually at chin-level. This leaves the lips of the speaker visible.
·        When you turn, the microphone must turn with you in order to maintain that close-to-the-mouth position.
·        Waving a handheld mike around or turning the head away from it leads to uneven, broken-up sound signals that frustrate loop users.
·        Ultimately, maintain the handheld or body-worn mikes: Turn them off and wipe them clean after use. Store them correctly. Put them             on the charger or replace the batteries as needed.

In the end, correct microphone use is essential for consistent hearing loop sound. It promotes clear and effortless listening, which in turn makes for satisfied hearing loop users.  It is a matter of communcation access and quality of life.

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If you want to learn more about various topics concerning hearing and hearing loss, please see my blog at  https://hearing-loss-talk.com/

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!

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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.

Creating a Hearing Access Page: Your Help is Needed!

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Loop Minnesota is in the process of updating its current website lists of hearing loops across the State. However, our Hearing Access page will not only include loops but also locations of other types of Assistive Listening Technology that are offered to accommodate those with hearing problems.

 Finding Hearing Accommodation and How You Can Help

 1) If you Manage a Facility or Business – Does it have Hearing Access? Please let us know.

Got a hearing loop and/or assistive listening technology installed at your business, venue, or place of worship? Great! Now, tell the public about it. Share the information with Loop Minnesota and get on our Hearing Access List.

Hearing access information is hardly ever mentioned on websites or Facebook pages.  However, if people with hearing loss do not know about the existence of the technology, they will not use it.  Also, on site, appropriate signage is crucial.

Questions:

Do you have an Assistive Listening System? Where is it located? 

  • Hearing loop?
  • FM System?
  • IR – InfraRed System?
  • Wi-Fi System?

 

Does it work and is it used?  

  • Is it listed on your website?
  • Is the Hearing Loop listed on Google Maps?

 

Are information signs posted?

Are signs posted to inform people that hearing assistive technology is available? Without signs, people do not know about the Hearing System and will not use it.

Do You have Listening Devices to Access the System?

  • Do you have system-specific listening devices (receivers) and headphones?
  • Are batteries routinely replaced or the receivers charged?
  • Do you have neck-loops for making the FM or IR system compatible with telecoils in hearing aids or cochlear implants, as required by the ADA?

 

2) If you are a person with hearing loss

  •  Do you know of hearing-loss-friendly establishments? Please let us know about the locations in your city or community and about the types of accommodation that are provided.

 

In the end, information is only helpful if it is correct and up-to-date. So, Thank you for your feedback and help.

We look forward to hearing from you. Click this link to contact us.

Loop Minnesota a Finalist for ACG MN BOLD AWARDS

Loop Minnesota Posted on by

Picture courtesy ACG MN BOLD AWARDS

Loop Minnesota is proud to be a candidate for the 2023 Minnesota Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) BOLD Award.  We have moved through the application and vetting phases and are now a finalist in the Not-for-Profit category.

According to the ACG website, “BOLD Awards honors and highlights the innovative and inspirational organizations that make Minnesota great. These awards are designed to honor and recognize innovation, inspirational moves, bold visions and leaders that have made bold moves to positively grow, restructure or enhance their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

 BOLD moves for Loop Minnesota are embedded in our mission. We advocate for Equitable Access to Communication for those with hearing loss. ALL people need access to their communities – stores, businesses, banks, libraries, places of worship etc.

Hearing loss is a communication problem. The biggest challenge is understanding speech in background noise. And so, it is quite BOLD for Loop Minnesota to advocate for accommodation technology on behalf of the roughly 20% of Minnesotans with hearing loss.

For now, and into the future, hearing loops are still the best bet for understanding speech clearly in loud venues – large and small. They include rather than exclude people. Participation beats isolation!

 Even if Loop Minnesota is not chosen, only good can come from being nominated for this award. Our BOLD moves and efforts are recognized. The public exposure and increased visibility are priceless.

At the very least, ACG member corporations and businesses will learn about the need to make businesses and venues accessible to people with hearing challenges – an untapped population of potential clients, customers, members, sponsors etc.

The recognition of assistive listening advantages might make Loops for Daily Living – one of our BOLD goals –a dream come true. Hearing Loop signs everywhere – at bank teller windows, ticket counters, information desks, store check-out counters and customer service windows! What a wonderful, accessible world this would be!

Regardless of the outcome, Loop Minnesota will BOLDLY proceed with its mission to ease communication and preserve quality of life for Minnesotans with hearing loss.

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To join us as a member or for more information, Contact Us – Loop Minnesota 

So, Where’s the Loop? Help People Find Your Hearing Loops

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Hearing Loops Help Everybody

Many businesses and venues have installed assistive listening hearing loops to accommodate those with hearing loss. However, these loops remain all too often unused because people do not know how or where to find them.

Do not make hearing loops a secret. Advertise them on social media and in ads. Tell people where they are. It is not only the right thing to do but it is also a wise business move. Become the hearing-friendly store or venue in your area and beyond. Don’t exclude the roughly 20% of adults with hearing loss. They could become potential clients, members, or sponsors.

There are 4 major issues that work against locating loops:

  • Once installed and certified according to IEC standards, the hearing loop is not reported to sites that list loops, such as Loop Locator, LoopFinder, Google Maps or the local loop advocacy sites, such Loop Minnesota in our State. But remember, these sites can only list what is reported to them. Also, many business and venue owners are unaware that they can list their assistive hearing loops under the “Accessibility” details on Google Maps.

 

  • There is no signage. Either none was ever posted at the looped location, or it might have fallen off. And so, although the loop is present, nobody knows. Check on the signage! See pictures above.

 

  • Lack of promotion. Businesses and venues do not mention listening assistance such as hearing loops on their websites or in their advertising materials.

 

  • Loop assistance is never mentioned to audiences or customers. Remind people before presentations, meetings, or worship services that a hearing loop is in place. Also, tell those who do not have telecoils in their hearing devices – as well as those who simply want to hear better in a large and noisy place – where they can get a loop receiver or listener.

 

If you know of hearing loops that are not advertised, not listed on Google Maps or that do not work properly, inform the business or venue owners. Or, if you do not want to do that, let us know at Loop Minnesota and we will contact them.

In the end…

Loops are meant to be used – not to be ignored or hidden. Be found. Make your hearing loops a standing feature of any promotional materials. After all, this is a matter of equitable access to communication so that all are included and nobody is left out. So, where’s that loop? Tell us. We all want and need to know.

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Join us as a member at loopminnesota.org. Contact us! Help us get Minnesotans in the hearing loop. Together we can do it!

Also, visit my website where I write blogs on all sorts of topics related to hearing and hearing loss  https://hearing-loss-talk.com/

Minnesota Hearing Loops are Happening!

Loop Minnesota Posted on by

Hearing Loops Help Everybody

And Loop Minnesota rejoices and celebrates the Equitable Access to Communication that these loops represent for those with hearing loss.

  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

 

Hearing Loops have arrived at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The airport redesign, construction and refurbishment projects have lasted for some years now and a lot more work must still be done.

One of the major goals is to make our airport the most accessible in the World for people with disabilities. This includes people with hearing loss. And so, it is great news to see the mention of hearing loops pop up in the website Accessibility Page.

(Note: Loop Minnesota Vice President Monique Hammond continues to serve on the Travelers with Disabilities Advisory Committee where she advocates for people with hearing loss.)

From the Airport’s Website:

Hearing Loop Technology

…At Terminal 1, travelers will find hearing loop technology throughout the departures hall and arrivals level including both the baggage claim and the international arrivals areas. For those looking to relax, this technology is also readily available in the See18 short film space. Several gate areas on Concourse G have also been equipped with this technology as we continue to expand the footprint of this program through new construction projects. 

At Terminal 2, travelers will currently experience hearing loop technology between gates H11 – H14 with construction currently underway to make it available in gates H1 – H10…

More good news: Access for Township residents!

  • On October 17, 2022, Loop Minnesota was present when the Board of Becker Township (Sherburne County) “commissioned” the brand-new hearing loop that was installed in its meeting room. And so, all township residents can now participate in the happenings of their communities. It’s a matter of Access.
  • Work will soon begin on the installation of a loop in the Board meeting room of a neighboring Township.

 

Get involved! There are so many ways to make a difference

Tell your audiologists/hearing device specialists to teach clients about Telecoils and hearing loops. Ask your hearing care providers to activate the telecoils in your hearing aids.

Join us! Become a Loop Minnesota member! Help us make a lot more loops happen throughout the State. Check the Home Page of our website for a partial list of hearing loops in and around Minnesota. If you know about other loops, please contact us so that we can add them to the list.

Click this link to contact us. Tell us where you want to understand speech in noise a lot better. Grocery store? Bank? Place of worship? Does your library offer any accommodation? How about getting hearing loop access in your City Council Chambers or in your Township Board Room?

Although there is a lot of buzz about access technology changes, this is still quite a way in the future.  We must remember that we need to hear right here and Now.

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Also, visit my website where I write blogs on all sorts of topics related to hearing and hearing loss  https://hearing-loss-talk.com/