Museums
Other Hearing Loops
- MoMA
- National Museum of African American History and Culture, Portable counter hearing loop (this website)
Statue of Liberty
Hearing every word at the Statue of Liberty museum
The Museum wanted to create a listening environment where visitors could move seamlessly from one exhibit to another, hearing the correct playback in each area, without the need for additional equipment. Each of the 12 exhibits had separate audio playback.
See photos and read about the multiple hearing loops at the exhibits and the planning and coordination of the project. Installation by North East Hearing
“True accessibility offers an equal experience for everyone,” said Meyrav. “Hearing loss is a ‘hidden’ disability because people often don’t disclose they have it. With a clearly identifiable hearing loop system, they don’t have to. They can listen with parity and discretion.”
Article in AV Magazine, (webpage)
Possible Assistive Listening System Locations
These systems should be available during a variety of settings, to provide accommodations for individuals with hearing loss.
- Entry/Ticket Desk/Points of Sale/Customer Service: a built-in counter hearing loop
- Theater or classroom space or an installation space that regularly has an audio feed with guests listening: installed hearing loop, likely a “phased array” layout depending on the room size. The spaces could also use an FM system.
- Guided tours: mobile FM tour guide systems with receivers that folks can use either headphones or neckloops for those who have telecoils in their hearing aids/cochlear implants.
- Handheld audio tours. Neckloops are available for those who have telecoils in their hearing aids/cochlear implants.
Resources
- Paragraph template and checklist. Describe your assistive listening system on your webpage. Promoting Your Assistive Listening System, with Checklist by the Center for Hearing Access (2 pages, pdf)
- Templates and resources for sites, owner/operators (this website)
- Online assistive listening system library for museums. Zotero online library of articles, websites, and examples for museums (webpage)