As a result, they will quickly learn not to use the FM system.ĭo the hard of hearing people in your church hear beautiful, clear sound though the church’s FM system and FM receivers, or not? You want to find this out too. Giving someone a broken FM receiver, or a receiver with a dead or weak battery is not going to help them. In addition to the overall FM system being set up properly, find out if there is someone checking each of the FM receivers before each service to be sure they are in good working condition. That’s why I needed an assistive device in the first place. I heard better with my hearing aids than when using their FM receiver (and that wasn’t saying much because I still missed much of the service with my hearing aids. The sound was so weak/poor through the FM receiver that I couldn’t hear-even at full volume. Now I’ll be able to hear.” Was I ever disappointed. They immediately took me to their table at the back of the church and showed me their FM receivers laid out there. For example, in one church I recently visited, I asked them if they had an assistive system for hard of hearing people. If your church’s FM system doesn’t work well, people will try it out once and then dump it. Note: these issues do not just specifically apply to FM systems, but apply to all assistive listening systems for hard of hearing people. Below are some of the reasons you’ll want to investigate. Therefore, to begin with, you need to document why the existing FM system is not being used. It is instructive to discover the reasons why. Many hard of hearing people do not use FM systems in churches and other public meeting places. Why Hard of Hearing People Don’t Like/Use FM Systems Once they understand why hard of hearing people aren’t using the FM system, you can propose the solution-a system that hard of hearing people will actually embrace-a hearing loop system.īy that time, the battle is more than half won. They need to understand that the system they now have actually isn’t “working” for hard of hearing people-or else they’d be using the FM system, wouldn’t they? Then explain why it doesn’t really meet the needs of hard of hearing people. Therefore, in order for this project to be successful, you need to change their mindset. You see, at the moment, they are proud of what they think is a good system for helping hard of hearing people hear better. Rather, first you have to show them why the FM system they currently have is not “functional” for hard of hearing people. You don’t do that by telling them how much money they will have to spend to put in a hearing loop system, especially when they have what they think is a good FM system already in place! However, before you even consider involving loop installers to do a feasibility study-because it’s almost certainly feasible-(and I’ll give you the name of a good loop installer in your area when the time comes), you first need to get the pastor and church members on your side. You need to build a strong case for a hearing loop system. Needless to say, I will get only one shot at this, and if I fail the issue will probably be placed in limbo for the next 20 years. Could you provide me with contact information about installers in my area who might be willing to work with me on making a loop system attractive and economically feasible to my parish? Before I nominate myself to a new “hearing assistance ministry,” I will need to have the equivalent of a “feasibility study” in order to assure success. I would like to gather as much information as possible before I approach my pastor. It is going to be a “hard sell” because the church already has a largely-unused FM system and apparently, I am the only person interested in, and familiar enough with, looped systems in our parish. I am going to approach my church about installing a hearing loop system.
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