Broadway's Gershwin Theater in New York Installs Hearing Loop from Listen Technologies

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadway's celebrated Gershwin Theater is providing a more immersive experience for all its patrons by installing a hearing loop system from Listen Technologies. The hearing loop system enables audience members who need assistive listening to receive crystal clear audio signals directly through their T-Coil hearing aids, cochlear implants or Hearing Loop receiver.

Bill Register, director of facilities and theater management for Nederlander, which operates the Gershwin Theater and eight other theaters in New York said, "The Gershwin Theater recently underwent a renovation with new seats and carpet. With the 10th anniversary of 'Wicked' upon us, we felt now was an opportune time to provide a different kind of upgrade to the theater. Being installed under the carpet, the hearing loop is invisible to the eyes, but for our patrons with hearing loss, the giant leap in clarity of sound is literally music to their ears."

In order for hearing loops to be effective, an audience member must have a hearing aid equipped with a telecoil or "T-Coil", which at the press of a button receives a signal. Nearly 70 percent of hearing aids today are equipped with a t-coil and all new cochlear implants come with T-Coil. The entire Gershwin theater, including the orchestra and upper mezzanine, is looped so no matter where a patron is seated in the theater, the signal will be as clear—or even better—than if they were sitting in the front row.

The hearing loop system from Listen Technologies was installed by Leo Garrison of Metro Sound Pros, who has installed several other hearing loop systems throughout New York including museums, tour busses, taxi cabs and other Broadway theaters.  The hearing loop installation also enables the Gershwin Theater to be compliant with the current ADA requirements for assistive listening.  Three technologies are available for venues to meet ADA compliance: radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) and hearing loop. RF and IR systems transmit signals over radio waves or infrared signals to an individual through a receiver and earphones. Hearing loop systems, however, are becoming the preferred technology for assistive listening because no receivers or earphones are required to obtain the signal, it's transmitted directly to an individual's T-Coil equipped hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Hearing loop systems are ideal for a number of venues including:

• Airports
• Ticket counters and information booths
• Banquet halls
• Board rooms and large meeting rooms
• Court rooms
• Cruise ships
• Doctors' offices and pharmacy counters
• Drive thru and pick up windows
• Elevators, trains and buses
• Museums
• Places of worship
• School auditoriums
• Sports facilities
• Theaters and performing arts centers

CONTACT: Kristin Rector, 1-801-233-8992

SOURCE Listen Technologies