“A hearing loop is a wire that circles a room and is connected to a sound system,” explains the Hearing Loss Association of America on its website. “The loop transmits the sound electromagnetically. The electromagnetic signal is then picked up by the telecoil in the hearing aid or cochlear implant.”

That means those with hearing aids or cochlear implants can better hear the speakers in the chambers of the House and Senate.

“When people talk through a microphone, the message is carried directly to our devices,” Elizabeth Booth of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing explained. “There’s no distortion and there’s no background noise. It’s almost like we were sitting 3 feet away [from the speaker].”

“[A hearing loop] brings the sounds of a microphone or TV directly to the listener’s ears and allows those who live with hearing loss to truly enjoy crystal clear sound,” according to HagerstownHearing.com.

Hearing loops are inconspicuous, unobtrusive, seamless and cost effective.

Rhode Island is the other state to implement looping technology at its Capitol.

Did you know there are helpful loop information choices on the Internet?

LoopFinder.com: (Find loop-enabled venues)

App: Get LoopFinder for iOS

YouTube: How hearing loops work

Source:AZ FAMILY
Image credit: TV3 NEWS