Other Resources
Theater and large area hearing assistance
Many devices and services are available for free at theaters to improve your enjoyment of the entertainment offerings. There is definitely a "chicken and egg" relationship with theaters and their customers. Hearing-impaired customers complain that the devices are not well advertised (so they don't know that they are available), and managers of theaters say that customers rarely ask for these devices. Please ask your usher or the person who sells you your movie ticket, for these devices because it will not only improve your enjoyment of the theater experience, but it will improve access for yourself and the next person with hearing impairment.
Many of you ask why you would need these devices if you have hearing aids. Hearing aids are designed for close range hearing enhancement, while wireless headphones are designed to enhance hearing at a distance, just as reading glasses help you reading the paper and binoculars help you see things that are at a distance. Wireless headphones are most helpful for plays and dialogue. Most people with hearing loss have the greatest difficulty hearing soft speech, especially women and children's voices, or actors with foreign accents. So, while you may not need the headphones for a performance of the 1812 Overture, they will be essential for understanding the soft remarks of the conductor or for dialogue of a play or theater performance.
If you know in advance that you are going to see a play, it may be very helpful to get a copy of the script in advance from the public library so you get a good understanding of things before you attend.
If you are planning a trip to a major theater (New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Chicago, etc) you may want to call or visit their website in advance of your visit. Here are a few examples for you to explore:
 | New York City |
| Chicago |
| Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. |
Wireless Devices
Wireless devices carry the audio signal from the source directly to your ears either on a radio signal or a light signal. So, your headphones may be radio receivers or may be infrared receivers. It does not matter which technology the theater uses; you can enjoy great sound just by asking the usher at the theater for the wireless headphones. This same technology is available for listening to TV at home (see Assistive Listening Devices).
| Headphones - Some receivers are built right into the
headphones. If you can hear speech without your hearing aids,
you may find that removing your hearing aids and using the headphones
directly works the best. If you cannot hear speech without your
hearing aids, then you may need to connect your hearing aids to the
audio receivers through one of the following:
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Silhouette - Works in a similar manner as a neckloop, except that the inductive silhouette is positioned next to the hearing aid(s) between your head and the hearing aid(s). The hearing aids should be switched to "T" or "MT" and the volume adjusted for comfortable listening. |
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Direct audio input connections for theater receivers - Some Behind-the-Ear hearing aids have boots that slide over the bottom of the hearing aids. The cords attached to the boots plug directly into the headphone jack of the receiver. |
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Open Captioning of Movies- Similar to watching a foreign film with subtitles, these captions are viewed by everyone in the theater. |
| Rear-Window Captioning of Movies- This new technology is available at some theaters and allows users to pick up a mirror from the box office, sit anywhere in the theater and read the captions. The advantage is that you can go to any showing of the film. For more information about Rear-Window Captioning see WGBH. |
| Real-time captioning of Theater and Large area events - Captions are presented in real time, transcribed by a type of stenographic equipment similar to that used by courtroom reporters. Many major cities offer this service, but you typically need to request this ahead of time so that they can arrange for the transcriptionist and equipment to be set up for the performance. |
Traveling with a hearing loss
Traveling is an adventure. When you have a hearing impairment, traveling is not only an adventure, it can be frightening and confusing - gate changes, new addresses and street names, foreign accents, and even more challenges in accessing technology.
| Helpful tips |
| More hotel tips |
What to do if you are told that no assistance is available:
Success is the result of good planning, and the above links and advice will help you, but you will always meet with adventure. I try an approach these difficult situations in a positive and helpful tone. If you have a device that does not work, let someone know so that it can be fixed for you. If you let someone know and you still have a disappointing experience, be sure and let the manager know. It is important not only for your next experience at that facility, but for the next person who comes after you. By requesting accessibility, you help not only yourself, but others with similar needs.
Other links of interest
| Boy's Town hearing loss and genetics |
| Historical hearing aids |
| John Tracy Clinic (resources for parents of hearing impaired children) |
| A.G. Bell |
Cochlear implants:
| Advanced Bionics |
| Cochlear Corporation |
| Med-El |
Middle Ear Implants:
| Symphonix |
| SOUNDTEC |
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