If you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss recently, you may feel as though you can’t enjoy activities you love like you once did. This simply isn’t true. However, you may need to do some extra preparation, even when it comes to going to the movies. Follow our tips below.
Wear Hearing Aids
If you already have hearing aids, wear them! This may be the best way for you to enjoy the newest releases. If you’re concerned about the loud sounds, like any jump scares or action scenes, being too loud, talk to your audiologist. They can create a program specifically for going to the movies, or you can simply turn down the volume on your devices.
Add Assistive Listening Devices
Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, all theaters with fixed seating for 50 people or more must provide an assistive listening device (ALD) system. Some ALDs can be used in conjunction with hearing aids, while others can be used alone. Some common ones include:
- FM systems, which use radio frequencies to transmit amplified sound through a receiver that you can wear for the duration of the movie.
- Infrared light systems, which transmit sound to receivers that can be adjusted to whatever volume that works for you.
- Induction loop systems, which transmit sound signals to the telecoil in your hearing aid or cochlear implant.
Talk to the employees at your local theater to see what system they have so you can take advantage of the technology they offer.
Ask About Captioning
There are two types of captioning:
- Open captioning, which is when text appears on the big screen for everyone to see.
- Closed captioning, which is when you have a personal device near your seat that presents text.
Open captioning screenings are less common than closed captioning. However, you can talk to your local theater about offering special opening captioning screenings.
For more information about enjoying the movies with hearing loss or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab today.