hearing impared devices

[Justin D]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:20am

So someone I know is heading to a show in a few months, she can't hear that great and I told her that most shows (I think all by now) have a device you rent from the lobby that I guess is like some sort of listening device.

Has anyone on here ever used one? how does it work? is the sound quality on it ok or just a feed from the sound board mics? and how much does it usually cost?

I dont want to reccomend it if it sucks. Once I did hear someone next to me using one of the translators, it was loud but I dodnt exactly listen to it directly, sounded a bit annoying to me.

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:28am

I know people who have used them and they work wonderfully. There is no cost but you must leave you drivers license until you return the device.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:33am

My wife is deaf in one ear, and she uses them all the time. They work very well, and we've haven't been in a theater (Broadway, off, or regional) in the last five years that hasn't offered them.

And JG2 is correct - there is no rental cost; you need to leave ID until you return the device.

[moowithme85]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:40am

I'm deaf in one ear, too, and was wondering if these would work for me. Sometimes it's hard to filter out the background noise, so maybe I'll give this a shot. Thanks for the info!

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:42am

"I'm deaf in one ear, too, and was wondering if these would work for me."

The devices my wife has used have not been stereo.

[Justin D]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:57am

thanks for the info.

so its a mono device with only one ear piece?

was also wondering if the ear piece is removeable or you have to use the one youre given (or can you replace it with your own if youre one of those people who doesnt like using other people's ear pieces)

also, if no driver's liscence, what else can you use as deposit (for someone coming from out of the country)

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:07am

The device is mono, but goes into both ears. The entire device is integrated, so you can't use any other earpiece. I would imagine a government issued photo ID, like a passport, would be acceptable.

[Justin D]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:08am

thanks, will pass it on.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:50am

The only thing that I do know about them is that ADA regulations state that they cannot charge for the usage of them and they have to be given out to all who ask for one. So, in a technical sense, you can be someone who has no hearing problem and still use them so long as you give them your ID. I was actually with a friend of mine who has hearing aids in and needed one and he didn't have any government ID on him so they let him use his student ID. I do think that that was in a rare case though.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:53am

We prefer drivers licenses, but in essence, anything that has a name and phone number or address will do. The reason is because if they forget to pick up their ID, we have some way of reaching them.

[Justin D]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:10am

Well, things are a bit backward in my country, Our ID cards and Liscences do not have on any phone numbers or addresses. Heck, we only started making card liscences this year, in the past we actually had to drive around with a booklet as a liscence. And our ID cards are always laughablly fake looking and really I dont think I would be walking around with my passport.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:32am

I don't know about the Broadway houses, but some regional theatres I have worked at will also take a credit card. They are essentially asking for something that will guarantee that you will return the headset.