We’re out to Loop Oregon! But, what in the world is a Hearing Loop?
Join HearingHealth and The Hearing Loss Association of Oregon as we make Oregon accessible, and ADA Compliant, for people with hearing loss.
If you’re hearing impaired, with or without hearing devices, it’s nearly impossible to hear a sermon, people in a meeting, a play or movie, announcements, or a sales clerk in places with poor acoustics or background noise.
Hearing Loops (aka Induction Loops) solve this problem. Unlike FM and Infrared systems that deliver poorer sound quality, cost more, and are rarely used, Hearing Loops provide clear, noise-free sound without wearing an embarrassing neck loop. With an Induction Loop the sound is sent wirelessly into the hearing aid or cochlear device via the Telecoil in the aid.
How to get involved:
1) Attend a Looping Oregon MeetUp (Every other Sunday 3-4pm) and/or a HLA of Oregon Meeting (monthly various cities).
2) Send us a list of places you think should be looped, and a contact person if you know it.
Here are some examples:
- Churches Theaters
- Schools Performing Arts Centers
- Airports Ticket windows
- Sports stadiums Buses
- Auditoriums Trains
- Grocery counters Drive-thru’s (Banks, Pharmacies, Fast Food)
- Senior Centers City Hall
- You can loop your home for clear TV/Stereo sound.
Loops in Oregon
Community of Christ Church, 4813 NE Couch St., Portland, OR 97213, 503-238-9880
Hearing Health, 4921 SW 76th Ave., Portland, OR 97225, 503-292-2995
Vocational Rehabilitation (meeting room), 541 Willamette, Eugene, OR 97401, 541-686-7990
Eugene City Hall (McNutt Room), 777 Pearl St., Eugene, OR 97401, 541-682-5010
Coburg Rd Church of Christ, 1005 Coburg Rd., Eugene, OR 97401, 541-344-7752
Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard Street, Eugene, OR 97405, 541-682-5311
First Presbyterian Church, 405 E California, Jacksonville, OR 97530, 541-889-1287
Oakview Community Church of God, 38181 Gilkey Road, Scio, OR 97374, 503-394-3806
Northwood Christian Church, 2425 Harvest Lane, Springfield, OR 97477, 541-746-2790
Loops in Washington
Induction Loop Installers Certified to IEC Specifications
Portland - Interconnex, Michael Tabaka, 503-742-0412
Eugene - Pro Sound and Video, Anthony March, 541-485-5252
Articles
- A Hearing Aid That Cuts Out All the Clatter www.nytimes.com
- As hearing loops are installed in stores, banks, museums, subway stations and other public spaces, people who have felt excluded are suddenly back in the conversation.
- Digital Journal: Audiology Clinic and Sertoma work together, April 2011
- Waukesha Civic Theatre: Loop System for Patrons with Hearing Loss
- Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Newsletter: Assistive Listening System
- NPR‘s Science Friday: Loop Hearing, July 2010
- Chicago Tribune: Churches putting hearing-impaired in the loop, July 2010
- Advance for Hearing: Hearing Loops from Loss to Listening, November 2010
- Upper Peninsula busses pioneer new hearing technology, SOOTODAY.com, February 2011
- Tcoil Brochure
Resources
- HearingLoop.org
- HearingLoops.org
- Contacta Inc. - Induction Loop Equipment Supplier, training and large project specification writing
- Able Data — Objective information about assistive technology products
- Better Hearing Institute
- American Academy of Audiologists
- Alexander Graham Bell Association
- “Get in the Hearing Loop” – National Campaign
- Hearing Charities of America (related to Sertoma) supporting hearing loops
- Hearing Loss Association of Michigan
- Time 2 Loop America
- National Association of the Deaf
- Social Security Disability Resource Center
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorder (NIDCD)
Can you give me a really rough idea of what it costs to have a loop installed around an indoor dining room at a senior residence? The room measures 50′ by 40′ and the ceililngs are about 10′ high.
It’s been a while and haven’t heard back from you regarding a Hearing Loop for you facility. I realize I didn’t give you what you asked for which was a rough idea of cost. It can be as little at $2500 and as much at $10000 depending on many factors that can only be determined by a site inspection by a trained installer. We did a church for this size for $2900 recently, but we also have seen venues that would require extensive work to install and the cost approached $9000. So, it really depends on many things like the materials in the building, amount of electronic noise, and ease or difficulty of installing the wire loop itself.
I attempted to reach you via the names and numbers on your website, but the people I left messages for have not gotten back to me. You may have discovered in your research that Hearing Loops are the most effective, lowest cost way in most, but not all, venues to provide clear, noise free sound to people with hearing devices.
I look forward to exploring the value of these systems to your residents, and what it would take to have one installed.
Duane L Smelser
503-866-5502
Official Evangelist for the Let’s Loop Oregon Initiative