Assistive Listening Devices

 “Like any technology, it works well for some. For others that might have more severe or profound hearing loss, it wouldn't be as beneficial as a captioning type of a system,” she said.”  (Source: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/5382340-74/hearing-system-church#axzz2rk7enkWi -byTory N. Parrish )

"Assistive listening devices, presently made available under ADA regulations, do not serve the significant portion of the population who rely on visual translations of sounds due to more severe hearing losses.”  (Source: http://acsbill.wordpress.com/page/3/-by Bill Graham)

 "So many assistive device systems for the hard-of-hearing don't help those of us with severe losses and never seem to dependably work on a regular basis. ” (Source:  http://www.ncra.org/Membership/content.cfm?ItemNumber=9129&navItemNumber=11457 - By Pat Gardiner)

“ Many people who are Deaf or hard of hearing grew up hearing or were educated in an “oral tradition”, and do not know sign language. Not all Deaf or hard of hearing people find assistive listening devices to be effective. For these individuals, captioning may provide an effective way of communication – seeing what is said. ”

(Source: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=111&ved=0CBwQFjAAOG4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kingcounty.gov%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fexec%2Fcivilrights%2Fdocuments%2FCARTpublic.ashx&ei=nPHeU6--NsqSyATziYLoCA&usg=AFQjCNH_JSGqXKfTQDwLIPVD1GEAuiL6Dw&bvm=bv.72197243,d.aWw

"Technically, my loss is somewhere on the moderate to severe scale. With lip-reading, hearing aids, subtitles, some patience and a few repetitions, I can mostly get by. Just. Induction loops {Audio loops} don’t seem to be much help for my kind of hearing loss."  (Source: http://www.hearingtimes.co.uk/Community/1317/Does%20being%20not%20deaf%20enough%20give%20the%20worst%20of%20both%20worlds)

“I know that assisted listening devices have helped a lot of people enjoy the theater experience, but they don’t work for everyone,” Grasso said.  Grasso saw “Billy Elliot: the musical” last year with her mother, who is also hard of hearing.  Grasso noted, “We used the assisted listening devices, but while the sound was louder, the dialogue was still muffled and slightly delayed.” 

 (Source:  https://broadwaydancecenter.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/hard-times-on-broadway-for-the-hard-of-hearing/)

How do you make it Inclusive to all those who are deaf and hard of hearing?

"However, in order to serve ALL deaf, hard of hearing, 

the hearing impaired or people with hearing loss 

(whichever terms you choose), all of these accessible 

solutions need to be provided, and the Deaf and 

hearing impaired should always be placed down front 

where they can use their eyes to see to hear and the 

audio amplifiers to be picked up by their assistive 

devices. Captions should be on the wall or a screen for

 those who need to read what is being said." 

 (Source:  http://limpingchicken.com/2014/01/16/deaf-discrimination-to-deaf/)

"What does it mean for communication to be “effective”? Simply put, “effective communication” means that whatever is written or spoken must be as clear and understandable to people with disabilities as it is for people who do not have disabilities."

(Source: http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap3toolkit.htm)

Examples of Effective communication:   http://www.dartmouth.edu/~accessibility/effcomm/index.html

"Accessible meeting space allows

 everyone to participate." 

(Source: http://www.ada.gov/business/accessiblemtg.htm