Induction loops lacking a global audience

There is a growing awareness and greater installation of hearing loops, particularly in the retail environment.  Banks, pharmacies and other personal-service retailers rely on good interaction and accurate communication with their customers and have been keen to install systems in their branches.  Supermarkets have expanded their availability, with some larger retailers now offering hearing loops on every other checkout, rather than just one in ten a few years ago.

It makes good financial sense. “Approximately 16% of the population has some form of hearing loss. That’s about 10 million people in the UK, representing about £50 billion of annual retail spend. So it’s worth providing a good level of service for people with hearing aids,” says Alistair Knight, marketing director of Ampetronic.

This increase in availability and performance may be a reflection of the work being done by Hearing Link, a UK charity that campaigns for better service.  Groups of volunteers go out into their communities and test the hearing loops, with the ones that don’t work being reported to the providers. Complaints are registered with the installer with the expectation of repair or replacement.

http://www.inavateonthenet.net/features/article/induction-loops-lacking-a-global-audience