Many businesses and venues have installed assistive listening hearing loops to accommodate those with hearing loss. However, these loops remain all too often unused because people do not know how or where to find them.

Do not make hearing loops a secret. Advertise them on social media and in ads. Tell people where they are. It is not only the right thing to do but it is also a wise business move. Become the hearing-friendly store or venue in your area and beyond. Don’t exclude the roughly 20% of adults with hearing loss. They could become potential clients, members, or sponsors.

There are 4 major issues that work against locating loops:

• Once installed and certified according to IEC standards, the hearing loop is not reported to sites that list loops, such as Loop Locator, LoopFinder, Google Maps or the local loop advocacy sites, such Loop Minnesota in our State. But remember, these sites can only list what is reported to them. Also, many business and venue owners are unaware that they can list their assistive hearing loops under the “Accessibility” details on Google Maps.

• There is no signage. Either none was ever posted at the looped location, or it might have fallen off. And so, although the loop is present, nobody knows. Check on the signage! See pictures above.

• Lack of promotion. Businesses and venues do not mention listening assistance such as hearing loops on their websites or in their advertising materials.

• Loop assistance is never mentioned to audiences or customers. Remind people before presentations, meetings, or worship services that a hearing loop is in place. Also, tell those who do not have telecoils in their hearing devices – as well as those who simply want to hear better in a large and noisy place – where they can get a loop receiver or listener.

If you know of hearing loops that are not advertised, not listed on Google Maps or that do not work properly, inform the business or venue owners. Or, if you do not want to do that, let us know at Loop Minnesota and we will contact them.

In the end…

Loops are meant to be used – not to be ignored or hidden. Be found. Make your hearing loops a standing feature of any promotional materials. After all, this is a matter of equitable access to communication so that all are included and nobody is left out. So, where’s that loop? Tell us. We all want and need to know.

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Join us as a member at loopminnesota.org. Contact us! Help us get Minnesotans in the hearing loop. Together we can do it!

Also, visit my website where I write blogs on all sorts of topics related to hearing and hearing loss  https://hearing-loss-talk.com/