Maxdale Cowboy Church – Install Announcement
Assist2Hear is pleased to announce the completion of another Texas induction hearing loop system at Maxdale Cowboy Church, located 16816 Wolfridge Road, Killeen, Texas. With the installation of the hearing loop, Maxdale parishioners with hearing loss can enjoy sermons in the church, minus any echo or reverberation that might have previously made it difficult to hear due to the church’s concrete floors and high ceilings.
A hearing loop is a special type of sound system which helps parishioners suffering with hearing loss. Most churches offer headsets via an FM system, which many people with hearing aids are unable to use or simply are too embarrassed to use.
A hearing loop also known as an induction loop, consists of copper wire typically installed under the flooring or in the ceiling by our field certified installation team. The hearing loop is then connected to the church’s sound system to create a magnetic signal which is picked up by the copper telecoil, located inside of most hearing aids and hearing implants. The system requires no additional attachments or headsets- the user simply walks into the church and changes a setting on their hearing device and the loop delivers custom sound to the hearing aids! This amazing technology eliminates the need for headsets which often go unused in churches for a multitude of reasons.
Since the completion of the hearing loop installation, feedback from Killeen residents that attend the church has been positive!
The Maxdale Cowboy Church is truly committed to meeting the needs of their congregation
said Andy Rivas, Project Manager for Assist2Hear of Dallas and Austin.
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.
So, consider a few reasons not to delay getting hearing aids:
Reason #1: Did you know that the longer you wait to get hearing aids, the harder it is for your brain to adjust to hearing certain sounds again? Much like glasses and bifocals, the brain must adjust to sound via hearing aids that may not have been heard in some time, such as birds chirping, appliances running, and everyday sounds that may have been unheard in recent years. This can be very frustrating to many new hearing aid wearers and takes time to adjust.
Reason #2: Hearing is a very important sense that contributes to our well-being. Not being able to hear results in many people isolating themselves from family and social interaction, which in turn affects their mental and physical health, as well as safety. Hearing loss can lead to depression, anxiety, confusion and withdrawal in all age groups including teenagers.
Reason #3: While hearing aids are not perfect and do not “cure” hearing loss any more than glasses cure vision loss, they do improve hearing in many settings and open the door to add assistive listening devices to help the hearing aids hear better in other situations like induction hearing loops. A manual t-coil setting in the hearing aid allows the wearer to enjoy sound in hearing loops.
So, what are you waiting for? A hearing assessment is typically free at most audiology offices. Hearing aids can be basic or state of the art, depending on your budget and level of hearing loss. It takes some persistence on your part to make the hearing aids comfortable to wear and get them adjusted correctly. So be patient and work with your audiologist to get it right! You will be glad you did and so will your family and friends!
Did you know that you can loop your TV room with the Assist2Hear Home Loop System for the best experience available to the hard of hearing. Your spouse and neighbors will be happy that the volume is not turned up full blast! And you will be ecstatic at how well you can hear the TV without having to wear a headset. The only thing necessary is the residential home loop system, available from Assist2Hear for less than $300 and your own t-coil equipped hearing aids!
Just imagine, turning on the TV and flipping the T-coil switch or program on your hearing aid, then sitting back to enjoy the program. My own father told everyone he knows about his new home hearing loop and I have seen so many ear to ear smiles from the many loop users.
How do you loop your TV room? The Assist2Hear Home Loop System is quite easy for and designed for self-installation. The residential home loop system comes with 100’ of loop wire which can be run around the perimeter of the TV room, either under the carpet or pushed under the baseboard. Where the wire must cross a doorway, just use a coat hanger or something stiff to feed the wire under the carpet. If the floors are hardwood, you can put the wire on the baseboard or if there is a crawl space or unfinished basement below, just tack the wire underneath since the signal travels up and down. The wire could be put in the ceiling, but this is more difficult with insulation.
With the wire run around the room (less than 100’ perimeter), just put the wire ends in the back of the amplifier, like hooking up speakers. Then use the supplied RCA plugs to connect your TV through the Audio Out jacks and plug the other end into the back of the loop amplifier. NOTE: Many of the newer TVs do not have RCA Audio Out jacks but have Digital Audio Out. In this case, you will need a Digital to Analog Converter readily available online for about $25 or less.
The sound through the hearing loop is nothing short of amazing, according to most users. The sound is transmitted directly from the TV to the user’s own hearing aid that has been programmed for their hearing loss. There are no headsets or neckloops to wear. Just flip the switch to turn on the t-coil program in the hearing aid and enjoy.
How new is this technology?
Induction Loop systems have been in use in Europe for years and it is rare that a public area does not have a loop system. All hearing aids in Europe are required to have T-coils, which is not the case in the US. Yet.
Hearing Loop Systems average cost?
The cost of a loop in a residential setting can be $300-500. Installation costs are minimal or homeowners can even install the loop themselves. Commercial loop systems involve professional design to make sure any interference is compensated for and that the installation complies with IEC standards. Typical costs are from $5,000 to $15,000 for most installations, depending on the size and construction of the room. However, venues such as sports arenas, airports and large theaters can run in to six figures. Certainly, having a professional installer is important since a bad installation serves no one.
Hearing Loop systems are versatile!
There are even hearing loop systems available for counter installations such as pharmacies, bank windows, ticket counters, etc., where it is important to hear clearly. A portable hearing loop system may work for some in meetings or restaurants. And the best thing about hearing loop systems? One does not need to advertise that they have a hearing loss by wearing one of the headsets provided in most public venues to hear the speaker through the FM or infrared system.