Source: http://www.news9.com/story/37587589/okcs-civic-center-music-hall-adds-hearind-loop
Oklahoma Cityans will hear better! The first hearing loop installed in the metro is located in the newly renovated Nichols Hills City Council chambers where the users of hearing devices will be able to hear all that goes on in meetings and conferences. A ribbon cutting ceremony with many ‘dignitaries’ and guests celebrated the completion of the installation.
The second LOOP installation in Oklahoma City has also just been completed in the OKC Civic Center Music Hall. The hearing loop system is hard wired into the auditorium and will transmit sound directly into a hearing aid or Cochlear implant with a “T” coil. When you visit the Civic Center for a musical show or concert this fall, you may be surprised by what you hear!
Central Oklahoma Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America is proud to be a part of the “Oklahoma City Hearing Loop Initiative.” Our member, Ana Covey and her company, Assist2Hear are responsible for these installations. COCHLAA, with Ana and Assist2Hear and are looking forward to many more installed locations to help those suffering with hearing loss. After all, it is an ADA requirement, that facilities offering public access where sound is integral to the space, must offer hearing assistance to those who need it and the hearing loop is by far, the user-preferred system.
Please visit with your audiologist or hearing aid specialist to make sure your hearing aid or Cochlear device is hearing loop ready by activating the telecoil (T-coil) option available in most aids.
If you know of businesses that have this kind of need, please feel free to contact COCHLAA at the Hearing Helpers Room, 405-717-9820 or visit our website, www.okchearingloss.org . You can also contact Ana at ana@Assist2Hear.com or (405)640-5152 for any questions about hearing loops.
Join the Hearing Loss Association and help us get our city “get in the loop.” Hearing Loss Association of America Central Oklahoma Chapter holds meetings twice a month. Second Mondays, 6:30-8PM and the third Thursdays, 1:30-3PM at Lakeside Methodist Church, 2925 NW 66th St. The meetings are open to the public, no admission charge.
This is an article by Ron Hendricks on Senior News & Living OK
Assist2Hear was featured recently in the Oklahoma City Oklahoman newspaper. The Oklahoman visited with Ana Covey, a partner in the Assist2Hear Oklahoma office, about the induction loop installation at the Nichols Hills City Hall, located at 6407 Avondale Dr. in downtown Nichols Hills. The Nichols Hills hearing loop was installed last summer during the Nichols Hills City Hall renovation project. The hearing loop was the first local installation by Oklahoma City Assist2Hear crew members Ana Covey and Parry Hardy – who were incredibly excited to be able to bring induction loop technology to their home turf of Oklahoma City!
In her Oklahoman interview, Ana got the chance to share some of the common misconceptions about the needs of persons living with hearing loss in the Oklahoma community.
A common misconception is that increasing the sound system volume in a public place, such as an auditorium, church or public meeting area, will enable someone with hearing loss to hear better……with hearing aids everything is louder, including background noise. Volume is not the issue; it is the lack of clarity that is actually the culprit
shared Ana with Oklahoma readers.
To enjoy the Oklahoman article about the Nichols Hills hearing loop system and Assist2Hear in its entirety, checkout Hearing-impaired gain clear access in Nichols Hills.
For more information, Central Oklahoma Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, 717-9820 or go to www.hearingloss.org.
Assist2Hear, a designer and installer of professional hearing loops systems in public venues throughout the United States, Ana Covey at 640-5152, via email acovey@assist2hear.com or go to www.Assist2Hear.com.
Round Rock citizens be sure and get your telecoils activated because the Round Rock City Council Chambers, located at 221 E. Main Street in downtown Round Rock, will the newest location in Texas to install an induction hearing loop system! In early January, the City of Round Rock Facilities team will begin pulling carpet tiles to allow for the hearing loop wiring to be ran. The wire will then be connected to the Round Rock City Council’s audio system. Round Rock City Council meeting attendees will be able to hear Round Rock council members’ voices as clearly as if their local representative was talking right into their ear!
Assist2Hear wants to give a sincere thank you on behalf of persons with hearing loss to the City of Round Rock, the Round Rock City Council, and the local Round Rock Sertoma Club, as each party worked together to make the hearing loop install a reality for Round Rock citizens!
Tulsa Induction Loop Training
On Sunday, August 20th at 9:30 a.m., Ana Covey with Assist2Hear will be at at the beautiful Catholic Church of Saint Mary, 1347 E. 49th Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma, to host an induction loop training session to help parishioners learn to use the church’s new hearing loop system. Tulsans please join us if you have hearing loss and would like to learn more how induction loop systems can help you better hear the Word! Click here to view event information.
Hearing Loops in Churches
Assist2Hear specializes in the design and installation of induction hearing loop systems in churches, performing arts centers, classrooms, and public meeting places such as your local library or city council chambers. To get a free quote for a hearing loop system in your church or just learn more about hearing assistive technology in general, contact Assist2Hear today at info@assist2hear.com.
Are you struggling to hear clearly? Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves because you believe they are mumbling? Is it difficult to hear in a restaurant or riding in a car? Are you struggling to hear the sermon at church or a speaker during a presentation? Many of us are missing out on important parts of a conversation, constantly trying to fill in the blanks. Are you in denial about hearing loss?
Many of us are in a state of denial about our hearing loss and it is very common. Most hearing loss is very gradual so it can go unnoticed for a long time. We miss the clues and deny the facts. We can’t see or feel hearing loss. Yet, hearing is one of our most important senses. It keeps us connected socially – or not. It is important to our employment, yet we are afraid to say anything for fear of retribution or loss of a job. It is important to our safety and well-being to hear sirens, horns or impending danger.
When did eye glasses become ok but not hearing aids? We’ll spend several thousand dollars to have our eyes fixed with a laser, but we are reluctant to spend the same to improve our hearing. The bad part about denial of your hearing loss is that your brain actually forgets the sounds you used to hear and now do not. The longer this goes on, the harder it is for the brain to relearn these sounds when you are finally fit with a hearing aid. Relate this to your brain adjusting to new bi-focals or tri-focals in your glasses or contacts. It can be unnerving and actually painful when sounds are brought back into your life until the brain adjusts. Some people quit using their hearing aids for this reason! Sure, hearing aids are not perfect and do not “cure” hearing loss any more than glasses cure vision loss, but they are a step toward maintaining quality of life.
With the Baby Boomers making up about 1/3 of the hard of hearing population in the US, hearing loss is becoming more common in conversation. Access for the hard of hearing in many private and public venues is becoming an issue. New revised ADA standards effective 3/15/12 clearly mandate that all public venues of any size with a sound system must provide assistive listening devices. Hearing loops are the favored system by many and loops are becoming more common in the US. Grass roots initiatives are gaining ground in many states including Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Florida, New Mexico and Arizona.
Advocacy for hearing access is on the rise after being shoved under the carpet for many years. We at Assist2Hear are trying to do our part in promoting access for the hard of hearing and educating the public and hearing professionals about what is available to help the hard of hearing, most notably induction hearing loops.
Are you ready to acknowledge your hearing loss and do something about it? Please visit your local audiologist for a hearing screening and make sure to bring a friend or family member to check theirs as well!
