"Getting looped" was a great investment and a priceless gift to our theater's patrons

Summary

The business manager of an Illinois theatre describes replacing its infrared system with a hearing loop and how patrons responded.

Key findings

• Says the theatre formerly used an infrared system that was satisfactory for some patrons but left many others unable to understand the dialogue; it raised the volume, but the sound quality was poor, and the theatre lost many long-standing patrons with hearing loss.
• Says a local audiologist with many patients among the theatre's subscribers approached the theatre about two years earlier about installing a loop.
• Reports that the theatre had not realised how many patrons already had telecoils in their hearing devices, that it gets thanks at every performance, and that subscribers are returning and telling friends.
• Describes the new devices as easy, comfortable and sanitary because the headphones are not placed inside the ear.

Limits

A venue's own enthusiastic account, with no figures on use, no measurements, no cost and no description of the loop or of the devices mentioned. Published on a hearing-industry blog. One US theatre in 2012.

Read the original

hearinghealthmatters.org/hearingviews/2012/looping-our-theater-was-a-great-investment-and-a-priceless-gift-to-our-patrons

Link checked 9 October 2026. We link to the original and do not host copies.

Cited in

• What works in theatres and cinemas, and what do the rules ask of them?Partly answered
• How many people in an audience are likely to need assistive listening?Partly answered

Cite this source

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