There are however, certain exceptions to the face mask ruling for individuals with certain health conditions, additional needs and those living with hearing loss.

This new legislation may cause a great deal of concern for those who rely heavily on seeing a person’s face in order to lip read, see facial expressions and to hear clearer sound. It is important to understand though that anyone accompanying someone who falls into this category will have exemption from wearing a face covering. It is also acceptable to remove a face covering when talking to a person with hearing loss.

Hearing Loss & Face Masks – A hidden issue

It is rarely easy to identify an individual with hearing loss, this makes it both difficult for staff members to ascertain if a person is allowed to remove their face mask or use the shop without one. Clear masks, also known as ‘window masks’ go some way towards solving the problem, but their availability is scarce and their use very limited.

Technology represents a much more readily available and practical solution to avoiding potentially upsetting situations and the necessity for those with hearing loss to openly identify themselves to strangers.

Hearing Loop and Vocal Enhancement Systems

Also known as induction loops, hearing loops can be installed in places such as customer service desks, tills and other locations where protective screening and face coverings are in use.

These systems enable customers who are hearing aid users to hear clearly and communicate effectively. When using hearing loops, customers simply switch their hearing aids to the ‘T’ position to have the voice of the person who they are talking with transmitted directly into their hearing aid via a microphone, with little in the way of background noise or interference. If face coverings are being worn, their impact on communication is vastly reduced.

With clear signage in place, masks can stay in situ with clear communication and no need for the individual to discuss or explain their hearing impairment.

Vocal enhancement systems are another ideal solution to the communication problems that can be caused by the muffled, hidden speech caused by face masks. The prevalence of both screens and facial masks has grown massively, yet not all of them meet the needs of people with hearing loss.

Vocal enhancement systems combined with hearing loops present the perfect solution, allowing retailers and services to offer an environment that is as safe as possible, but also one that is inclusive, preserving dignity and delivering the very best customer experience for everyone.

A need for greater awareness

In the rush to install protective screening and to make their spaces as safe as possible, many retailers are still to address the issue of hearing loops and vocal enhancement systems. Many have screening in place but no loops. Many have loops and systems that are poorly maintained and in need of repair. More still are staffed by employees who simply haven’t been trained in their use.  If such aids are needed but not in place, not working or operated by those without training, it may already be too late.

For help and impartial advice on hearing loops and vocal enhancement systems, how cost effective they can be and how simple they are to install at a time that suits you. Get in touch today

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We are told to expect things to look a little different as we all venture out to enjoy the things we took for granted just a few short months ago. But for a massive portion of our society and local communities those differences have the potential to be obstacles that simply cannot be overcome.

As a result they risk being left isolated, unable to access important services or to have the same opportunities as their neighbours, friends and families.

For many of the 12 million people in the UK living with some form of hearing loss, the now widespread use of plastic protective screening is causing serious and significant communication problems…

Whilst we all welcome these measures, aimed at keeping us safe from the spread of COVID-19, many business are installing them with no thought towards their impact on those with hearing loss. All too often they are installed without speech enhancement or speaker voice enhancement systems.

Combine this problem with guidelines surrounding the use of face coverings, taking away another vital communication skill in lip reading and it is easy to see why this new normal, for those with any form of hearing impairment is difficult at best, often downright impossible.

We all realise these are difficult times but we simply can’t afford to isolate those most vulnerable in our communities by making it impossible for them to communicate effectively at a time when doing exactly that is really important.
Shops and businesses of course have a wealth of things to think about in order to ensure their facilities and premises are as safe as they can possibly be. But can we really afford to place the needs of those with hearing loss so far down on that list?

The answer of course is a resounding ‘No’…

At Clear Audio Systems our speaker voice enhancement technology is designed to improve listener experience for the 1 in 6 of us affected by hearing loss. We have designed them for especially for staff working behind plastic protective screening. The systems consist of a set of speakers and microphone for both sides of the partition. In some cases we might recommend a combo unit, used on the staff side where the speaker & microphone are ‘combined’ in order to increase performance.

Our system is easily installed, designed to offer maximum performance and greatly reduced feedback. Like every other UK business we have been working around the clock to make sure our service is safely delivered and accessible at a time when it is needed the most.

We are here to make sure you get the support you need to create a safe and inclusive service for everyone, with help and advice, hassle-free expert installation at a time that suits you and the very best after-sales care.

Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help

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Because of these unprecedented changes, many premises have had to adapt very quickly…

For shops, banks and virtually every service deemed essential, this means putting into place immediate measures to protect the health and safety of their staff and customers. Social distancing and contactless payments form a large part of these new policies, along with limits on the number of customers, specified shopping times for vulnerable and elderly customers and clear floor and wall signage to promote current health guidelines.

Crucially for the 12 million people in the United Kingdom with some form of hearing loss, It also means that plastic screening is now commonplace at many checkout counters and customer service desks amid concerns voiced by unions that the welfare of staff might still not be given as much priority as it should.

Protective screening is of course a valuable and essential tool to help prevent the spread of viruses and while all these measures are necessary and welcome and reassuring in the effort to halt the spread of the Covid-19 strain of Coronavirus, it is also more important than ever to ensure those with a hearing impairment can still access and use vital services.

Clear Audio’s speech enhancement system technology is designed to improve communication through speaking barriers such as protective screening. The highly effective system consists of a set of speakers and microphones to be installed either side of the protective screen. In some cases a combination unit can be installed on the staff side to further improve performance for those with hearing impairments.

The integral components in our speech enhancement systems have been researched designed and created in-house using all the experience and industry knowledge we have gained in our twenty five year history to deliver a reliable solution, with reduced feedback, quick and easy installation and the very best user experience for the customers and staff who will rely on them. If your business has, or plans to install protective screening in a bid to keep your services accessible, there has never been a more important to ensure they are accessible for everyone by installing speech enhancements systems.

Clear Audio Systems is here to make sure you get the support you need to do exactly that through ongoing help and advice, expert installation and the very best after-sales care.

Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help

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This year, between the 4^th and 10^th of May, individuals and organisations throughout the UK will come together, to promote their values and work within the spectrum of hearing impairment and deafness. It is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when so many come together with a common goal and you and your business are invited!

This year’s theme for Deaf Awareness Week is acquired deafness, something that unfortunately can make access to public buildings, businesses and services incredibly challenging, but it doesn’t have to be that way and you and your business can play an important role in making change happen.

At this point you might be expecting a heartfelt plea for donations to the UK Council on Deafness, (the incredible organisation behind Deaf Awareness Week) but that isn’t really what this article is about. Instead there are things you can do for your business, clients and employees that will make a very real difference.

The most important one is taking the time to ensure that your hearing loop induction system is working, particularly if it hasn’t been used or tested for a while. What better time to get it done than the week when you can share with the world that you’re playing your part, doing your bit and ensuring your company’s compliance?

It is important to remember that when your hearing loop is needed it has to be ready and working, if it isn’t then it’s already too late.

Around 1 in 6 of us live with hearing impairments of some kind, if you provide a service or employ colleagues to make your business run smoothly, it would be a great time to give a little thought to those of them who might live with hearing impairments and other hidden disabilities. They might be members of your own team, they might be customers, either way they will feel included, respected and valued.

What better accolade could there possibly be for your business…

There will be a whole range of national and local events during Deaf Awareness Week, promoting social inclusion and the challenges that deaf people face in today’s workplaces, as well as the many positive aspects of deafness.

Make sure you play your part; more information on Deaf Awareness Week can be found here and if you are looking for help or advice on any aspect of hearing loops, get in touch with us today.

The post Are You Ready for Deaf Awareness Week 2020? appeared first on Clear Audio Systems - Hearing Loop Specialist.

Would a complaint be your first reaction or would you just feel bad and want to get out of there as soon as possible.
Exactly…

Now imagine someone feeling that way about your business or service, it isn’t a nice idea yet it does happen to the 1 in 6 of us in the UK who live with some form of hearing impairment. It can be avoided simply by ensuring your hearing loops are correctly installed, regularly maintained and periodically tested.

What are the legal requirements?

The Equality Act 2010 protects those who wear hearing aids as these individuals are classed as having a disability, that means that those who run businesses and provide services are obligated to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled service users, customers and colleagues.

The act also tells us that information provided must be available in formats accessible to everyone so for example, Braille versions of documents and aids for the visually impaired and auxiliary services and aids for those who cannot hear.

It is also important to note that even the very best induction loop system is next to useless if no one knows it is there are how to operate it, so staff training is an excellent policy and adequate signage is mandatory.
Public buildings must also conform to certain parts of the Building Regulations, published by the Department for Communities & Local Government. Venues are expected to ensure that everyone can participate in activities such as concerts, lectures and presentations.

The Benefits for everyone

An inclusive, accessible service is a very good selling point for your business; it creates a positive image and a culture of accessibility that should make for happy customers and motivated, forward thinking colleagues. It also means you are guarded against claims of discriminatory practice.

Every building and every business are different, that means their hearing induction loop needs are different too. Clear Audio Systems develop, install and maintain every type, from portable induction loops to amplifiers, signal enhancers and vocal enhancement systems. We work with the smallest front desks to the biggest stadiums; get in touch today to see how we can help you.

The post Are your Hearing Loops up to Standards? appeared first on Clear Audio Systems - Hearing Loop Specialist.

These are all questions that still get asked a lot by businesses across the country.

That means, frustratingly that awareness around hearing loops still has a long way to go to reach the levels it has in many other countries, even though we are all fortunate enough to live in an age when technology can do so much for us.

All at the touch of a screen we can control the climate of our homes, order food, pay bills and perform a thousand other tasks, so why do hearing loops remain such an enigma? They rely on relatively simple technology compared to our smart devices and for those living with hearing impairment; they are without doubt a godsend.

The reason for that is simple, hearing loops empower the 10m people in Great Britain who live with some form of hearing loss with the ability to do many things much more easily. That might be paying money in to their banks, enjoying their TV box sets without the need for subtitles, paying for goods or services and playing a more active part in work meetings and conferences.

Ten million people equates to roughly one in six of us. If you are a decision maker in your organisation, would you really want to alienate that many potential customers? A section of society worth around £4bn every single year…
Some businesses may already have hearing loops installed which see little use, so maybe they take a back seat when maintenance decisions are made, after all it is installed and ready to use when needed…right?

Possibly not…

If your hearing loop is outdated how sure can you be that it will work when it’s needed? How sure can you be that your employees have the training needed to operate it? How sure are you that you even need one?

The Equality Act 2010 requires that you have one; you might also say that the reputation of your business requires it to be working well. So if you’re asking the question for the first time, what is a hearing loop and do I need one then the answer is a resounding yes. They are amazing for your customers and just as much so for your company’s compliance and equality policies.

They work very simply and are designed for use by hearing aid users, sending a wireless signal direct to the hearing aid itself. Users can choose to hear all the ambient sound in an area or, by switching their hearing aids to the “T” setting can focus on the sounds being picked up by the hearing loop’s microphone with the ambient sounds filtered out. They are not conspicuous, can provide clear, high quality sound for multiple users and allow them to communicate effectively.

Hearing loops systems (also known as induction loops) are much more than the ‘reasonable adjustment’ needed to ensure your customers are not discriminated against. If they are fitted professionally, inspected and maintained periodically and used by well trained employees they give everyone the best possible experience of your company and its services.

That has to be worth considering.

For more information, help and advice on hearing loop systems contact our friendly and knowledgeable team on +44 (0) 1383 820011 or via our website.

The post Your Quick Guide to Hearing Loops appeared first on Clear Audio Systems - Hearing Loop Specialist.

Our ethos has remained unchanged, from back when the technology was in its infancy a quarter of a century ago, to the systems we are used to seeing and using on High streets and in services across the country today.
Bearing all those things in mind, it is with considerable pride that we have been awarded membership of the International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association.

This prestigious industry body acts as an authoritative voice to government, legislators and advocacy organisations and provides information, help and advice to facilitate the promotion of hearing loop technology. They also present statistics and act as a technical centre for excellence, defining the very best standards and codes of practice for our industry.

Membership of an organisation of this calibre is dependent on a number of factors which we are delighted to have met. Their code of conduct includes recognition of our responsibilities to ensure the provision of a genuine benefit to end users, full compliance with relevant performance standards and accessibility legislation. Membership also depends upon the active promotion of good practice across everything we do and engagement with others in our field including audiologists, charities and government agencies to promote the principles and benefits of hearing loops and speech enhancement systems.

For us as an organisation, our award of membership to the IHLMA is the perfect affirmation that our ethos, ever since those early days back in 1993 has set us upon and kept us on the right track. Our goal; to provide the best possible access for those with hearing impairments in both public and private environments and to recognise the positive impact that might have, is one that is shared by The International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association.

Not only does our newly awarded membership give us an immense sense of pride, it also renews our vigour to continue driving the standards, the technology and the levels of service we have provided for the last 25 years to new heights. We cannot wait for the next 25 years and everything that they might bring, for us as an organisation and for those who depend upon our services.

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For some it might mean the quality of their products, for others it might mean the efficiency of their services. Yet all of them, from banks to bookshops and from tailors to tube stations have one very important thing in common.  They have to make it easy to engage with every one of their customers and vice versa.

Now let’s think about those with hearing impairments, you might assume that only a fraction of the population lives with this kind of invisible disability, but like most invisible disabilities, the actual facts and statistics make for startling reading.

Hearing loss is the second most common disability in the UK, affecting 1 in 6 of us. That’s around 2 million hearing aid users and a staggering 6 million more that would actually benefit from hearing aids. Almost a million people are severely or profoundly deaf and around 12,000 people use cochlear implants.

But how are these facts and figures linked to building your brand, how do they inform what good customer service means?

Simply put, there is a potentially massive client base out there that experiences life slightly differently due to hearing impairment. They may avoid certain shops, services or premises, not because the service is poor or the products substandard. They might find it difficult to communicate, to hear and be heard, to engage in a way that everyone else takes for granted, they may even feel embarrassed or troublesome.

If your premises are not equipped with the technology to offer that same level of service to this considerable section of society, then you may well be missing out.

At Clear Audio Systems, we offer every kind of speech enhancement system and induction loop equipment. From portable induction loop systems all the way up to complete vocal enhancement and hearing loop systems.

The quality of our products, our extensive after sales support and ongoing maintenance will ensure you have the exact equipment you need, set up professionally and working exactly as you and your customers need it to, from day one.

That means the very best, inclusive customer service for all your customers and what better foundations on which to build a brand?

To learn more about us, why we are market leaders in our field and how we can help to provide you with bespoke solutions, get in touch today.

Source – Hearing Link

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However it is also worth noting that much better quality induction loop and speech enhancement systems have never been more affordable. Since their inception around 25 years ago, the technology is now at the point where evolution of design, combined with newer materials and technology has empowered manufacturers with an ability to offer equipment that performs exactly how you need it to, when you need it, at a fair price.

But that is only one side of the coin because, like so many other things in life, there is also the choice to purchase cheaper and vastly inferior products.

These systems might seem too good to be true, they might proudly exclaim to be so simple to install that you can do it yourself. Those savings may be considerable but then again that could be due to poor quality materials and unreliable design.

Hearing induction loops are installed nationwide now, thanks both to legislation and forward thinking, inclusive policies, in everywhere from banks and building societies to churches, hotels and shops.

Each and every one of those places provides some form of service to the people who pass through their doors, a service upon which their reputation depends. With a cheap, low quality hearing loop, that service and reputation could be jeopardised.

In other words the cheapest  hearing induction loop systems can all too often be the ones you end up paying the most for…

Instead, why not choose a market leading specialist, with fair pricing and maintenance packages to suit your budget?  An organisation with the skills and knowledge to provide a system tailored to your very own space, one which will run correctly and will include all the specialist advice and ongoing support that you and your service users will ever need.

So many things can affect the efficiency of an induction loop system as invariably things will change over time. Desks and offices might relocate, buildings themselves might change and all those things can have a serious impact on the sensitive electronics that are a vital part of your induction loop system.

With Clear Audio Systems you get a partner, a group of like-minded professionals who want exactly the same for your service users as you yourself do. We have done just that for the last 25 years and we know what makes the very best hearing loop and speech enhancement systems because we’ve been right there since the start, developing the technology and driving the changes that have brought about the best systems of today.

All of our products are designed and built in the UK and all combine our ethos of providing the very best equipment at a price that is fair…

For more information on induction hearing loops, amplifiers and how your premises can be compliant and inclusive, get in touch today.

The post What are the true costs of a hearing induction loop? appeared first on Clear Audio Systems - Hearing Loop Specialist.

For any of us, the frustration of being unable to get our point across, to feel isolated or the cause of problems are all things we seek to avoid in our daily lives.

Yet those of us who live with hearing loss often find themselves feeling at least some or all of the above things and in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital, medical centre or surgery, all places where communication is vital, those frustrations can be far worse…

The importance of communication in a healthcare setting is paramount to diagnosis, treatment, and the giving of comfort or assurance. Not to mention other things that non hearing impaired people might take for granted, such as simply being called for an appointment or to hear vital advice around medication and after care.

Individuals with hearing loss make up Britain’s largest disabled group, with one in six people living with some form of hearing impairment. That equals around 11 million people and in an increasingly ageing population, that figure is steadily rising yet both the provision for hearing induction loops in hospitals or healthcare services and the experiences of those who rely on them while visiting such places is still far from standard.

Compliance throughout the UK’s healthcare sector is generally very good, but that is only half the story and doesn’t always mean that communication for individuals with a hearing impairment is a positive experience.

Hearing loops need regular, professional maintenance and testing. The British Standards Institute has also revised its guidelines for future-proofing premises and services, with a shift away from accessible environments for the hearing impaired and much more towards the inclusivity of a shared space, equipped for their needs.

The onus for hearing loops in healthcare now firmly lies with the trust or service provider, not just to provide these inclusive spaces and adaptations but also to ensure they are working as effectively as possible.

What these things mean for hospitals and healthcare providers is relatively simple. Getting specialist advice is very important, on-site surveys, installation and ongoing maintenance should form an important part of policy. Annual site surveys, ongoing functionality checks and regular maintenance can be done in a way that doesn’t interrupt your service and ensures your induction loop systems do exactly what you and your service users need them to, in your own bespoke environment.

Clear Audio Systems has over 25 years of experience in developing, installing and maintaining induction loop systems and speech enhancement equipment across a wide variety of premises and services, many of which include the medical and healthcare industries. Working with our clients to provide that inclusive, safe and confidential service to each and every person who uses it is just as important to us as it is to the hospitals and service providers we partner.

For more information on induction hearing loops in healthcare settings, amplifiers and how your hospital or healthcare premises can be compliant and inclusive, get in touch today.

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