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ST LOUIS ENTERTAINMENT SITES OFFER FREE AMPLIFYING DEVICES

From St. Louis Post Dispatch, posted August 3, 2009, written by Blythe Bernard

07/30/2009 - People who have problems hearing and seeing the action on stage or screen can get some help with technology.

A brochure with listings of the assistive devices available for free at local entertainment venues is now available.

"We kept hearing patients say because of my hearing loss I never go to the movies," says Dr. Michael Valente, director of adult audiology at Washington University. "We keep telling them in all of the entertainment venues there is the technology that allows you to enjoy the entertainment."

Jessica Teymouri, a student in Valente's graduate course on hearing aides, compiled a list of the assistive devices available at entertainment venues in the St. Louis area.

The resulting brochure has recently become available at the university, on its website and at most of the venues. Many people who could use the equipment don't know that it's available, Valente said.

"Part of what we want to do is improve the quality of life for patients," said Valente, who helped edit the brochure.

Louis Wulfmeier of Manchester has taken advantage of the devices at local movie theaters. In exchange for a credit card or drivers license to hold, the theater will loan you a headset that amplifies the sound via FM or infrared signals.

"You can go 50 to 75 yards from the sound source and it's perfect," Valente said.

The headsets also help block out the ambient noise in a theater, which can be particularly distracting for someone with hearing loss. The headsets work best for people with mild to moderately severe hearing loss.

Some personal listening systems that can be used on home TVs and cost about $150 to $400 can also work in theaters.

Sign language interpreters are also available at some venues with advance request. Preferred seating may be available so the hearing impaired audience members can get better views of the interpreter.

Captions are another device used by people with hearing problems. The systems have large screens at the front or individual screens on the seat in front of the viewer that display text from the play or movie.

The brochure also lists the venues that offer headsets with audio descriptions of the action, which can be helpful for people with visual impairments. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Muny and a few movie theaters offer this assistance.

All of the devices, which are not required by law, are an effort to keep hearing and visually impaired people active in their communities. They also help theaters and symphonies attract older patrons who may be lifelong fans of the arts but are losing some hearing or vision.

People with hearing and vision impairments can feel isolated from society. Rather than make embarrassing gaffes because of their lack of hearing or sight, they might cut back their social lives entirely.

Wulfmeier, 79, said when he's at parties or out to dinner, he often stays quiet because he can't follow the conversations.  "I imagine people thought I was a dummy," he said. "I hope now that will all change."

Wulfmeier, who started using hearing aids in the early 1980s, and his wife Alice, also 79, were recently fitted with new devices that will allow him to hear her even if she is in another room. Before, Alice had to stand close to her husband and look directly at him to communicate.

"I'm excited that maybe we will be able to be nicer to each other," said Alice Wulfmeier, who married her husband 57 years ago. "You can't believe what hearing can do to a relationship."
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Copyright 2009 Washington University School of Medicine
Copyright 2009 Washington University School of Medicine