Wellbeing
amplifies the desired sound while cutting out surrounding noise, thus making every conversation far more intelligible.
Acoustics
Hearing loops are available in a number of forms. Large area loops can be laid around the perimeter of a room such as a bistro or lounge, so that the leader of a group activity can be clearly heard via a microphone. Depending on the size and configuration of the room, phased array loops - which involve a number of cable loops being laid underneath the floor - give residents greater clarity throughout the whole space, so no matter where they are sitting they can participate in and enjoy the activity.
Loops can also be portable units with a built-in microphone that make one to one speech clear and loop pads can be positioned underneath a resident’s favourite chair in their room to enable them to hear the television at a volume that won’t disturb their neighbours. They also have value for residents who don’t or won’t wear their hearing aids. Portable listening devices allow residents to ‘tune in’ to the sound they want to hear
Former Sunrise of Eastbourne resident Wally Fitzsimons with directors of community relations Sandy Hamblyn (left) and Emma Vieira (right)
through standard headphones. Home managers and owners may be concerned about the logistics of installing hearing loops, particularly in a setting that’s recently been completed or redecorated. Of course, planning loops in at the design stage is the ideal solution as installers can take into account the fabric of the building and features such as air conditioning, both of which can affect the loop’s performance. However,
The benefits installing a hearing loop can bring
Emma Vieira, director of community relations, Sunrise Senior Living, Eastbourne, says: “It’s wonderful to see residents’ eyes widen and for them say to you, ‘I can hear!’ We had a number of residents with a hearing impairment and we looked at what loop provision it was practical to install.
“Our bistro is where a number of activities take place and we decided to install a hearing loop in this area. The room has a wooden floor and we were able to lay the cabling around the edge of the room with minimal disruption. It has been transformational. We had seen some residents retreating to their rooms and not taking part in games and activities because they couldn’t hear what was going on, but this has brought them out and meant they can join in and feel connected. “It’s also made a difference to those who don’t like wearing their hearing aids. We have a number of headsets that pick up the speech from the microphone – it’s wonderful to see residents’ eyes widen and for them say to you, ‘I can hear!’ We also have a hearing loop in one resident’s room, as she loves to watch sport on television. A loop pad sits under her chair and it means she can hear the television clearly without having to have it at a volume that could disturb other residents.
“We would like to install a hearing loop in our lounge where a lot of our entertainment takes place. We haven’t been able to do that up until now as the carpet would need to be lifted, but when that’s due for replacement it’s certainly something we will be considering. We have had this provision for people with hearing loss for three years now and it is definitely a selling point when it comes to talking to prospective residents and their families.”
January 2019 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
retrospective installation is perfectly do-able, with the right advice from a knowledgeable installer and it’s difficult to see how homes can avoid using this technology if they are to meet the terms of the Equality Act.1
The Equality Act 2010 states that everyone should be treated equally and requires service providers to “make changes, where needed, to improve services for disabled customers or potential customers.” The mention of potential customers is key as homes have to offer an accessible environment for everyone, not just their current residents. The act requires premises to make ‘reasonable’ adjustments for those with hearing loss and homes are legally obliged to provide auxiliary aids and services, which include hearing loops. What constitutes reasonable is not clearly defined but will depend on the size of the home and the relative costs involved; what may be reasonable in a home with 80-plus beds will be different to what’s expected in a 10-bed home.
Best practice
Care providers planning new homes or refurbishments also need to be aware of British Standards Institute BS 8300,2 which offers a benchmark for best practice in creating ‘inclusive’ environments. The guidelines, which govern the design of buildings to meet the needs of disabled people, were revised earlier this year in response to changes in lifestyle and technology. They aim to create premises fit for the future that are inclusive and welcoming to all members of society. The term ‘inclusive’ has replaced ‘accessible’ as the desire is for residents, visitors and staff, no matter what their needs, to be able to use the same space. In practice, this means that a wheelchair user should be able to access the building
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