To think that cinemas should cater for people with hearing problems?

[jenfraggle]

I am partially deaf and unable to watch tv without subtitles. I have tried hearing aids but they just don't work for me. It's not a case of needing the volume louder, it is the clarity of the sound which means that I miss a lot of what is said.

I have the same problem with going to the cinema. Even though it is loud, I just can't work out enough of the dialogue to be able to follow and enjoy the film. The only films I've been to see in the last few years are the Harry Potter ones as I know the story so can follow even if I can't hear.

I want to see American Reunion but none of the cinemas around here have any subtitled performances. I've tried looking further afield but it looks like I would have to leave the county and this is a bit overkill just to see a film. Why do they advertise that they do subtitled performances but when you look at the schedules, this could mean one performance of one film at one cinema every few weeks?

I realise that most people don't want subtitles and would not expect every single performance to have them but surely it's not too much to ask for there to be at least 1 a week of each film at each cinema?

There was one subtitled show at my cinema, according to the website.
It was this morning!

I've had 2 different sets of digital ones. I tried each set for months but while initially they seemed very loud, after a while ended up blocking out more sound. I kept having to take them out to hear people :o

The hospital did say that there was a big chance that they wouldn't help me due to the type of loss that I have but it was worth trying them just in case.

I wear a digital hearing aid, but don't use the loop system..I just turn the sound down on my hearing aid so it doesn't distort...AND I wear glasses and have had no problem with wearing 3d glasses over my own. I watched Hary Potter and Kung Fu Panda 2 quite happily. I would quite like to see a subtitled movie though. I often put subtitles on the tv to make sure I understand what's going on.

oops really should read posts better. Realised there was nothing about 3d glasses! Sorry

Aw, that's a pain Jenfraggle I have digital ones and TBH I prefer the old analogue ones as they picked up everything! I remember going home and having a bit of a cry after they gave me the digital ones as they felt weird. They're fine now that I'm used to them but I must have different type of loss.

I'm not keen on the loop system that they have at the cinemas either! It sounds really quiet, IMO. I'm not even sure how to get it on these digital ones and I can't turn them down either - I have to go to hospital and get the levels changed if it's needed.

Do you wear hearing aids? Most theatres and cinmas have a loop system which makes it easier for hard-of-hearing people to hear better with their aids. I don't know how it works though because I've not been to a cinema or theatre since I began to wear aids.

Sainsbury's local store here has a checkout with a loop system but it's usually devoid of staff.

Most theatres and cinemas do not have induction loops! Except at the ticket office...
What they tend to have is an infra-red system, which you need to get a headset for (if you don't wear aids or have standard high-freq loss only) or a neckloop (to work with aids).

Almost invariably they don't work, or rather don't work for me as there has to be direct line of sight from transmitter to the receiver, ie noone in front of you, and usually there's no neckloop, or the batteries are dead, or I don't have £20 in cash as a deposit, or it's not switched on, or something.

Let's just say at one point I had offers of a pair of free tix to five different West End shows...

And don't get me started on 'idiot-proof' hearing aids. Apparently over 90% of people going to audiology want something that is a miracle cure doing everything automatically and as 'discreet' as possible. For gods' sake it's a hearing aid not a neon sign saying you're into kinky sex! So the audios forget to offer you volume control/manual switches/funky colours/glittery earmoulds despite all those being available on the NHS. Though it's the manufacturers that currently sell no aids with off switches...

I'm actually OK with films that are British or have people speaking clearly, but US action movies or any comedy I can't understand as there's too much background noise (kaboom or laughter) or unclear speech. I do have to take MrNC or someone with me though to explain the odd bit, and to help me to a seat as I can't stand up in the dark or with flashing images around. I wish at least the slot for a subtitled film would be posted a couple weeks in advance so I could arrange babysitting more easily - I've only actually seen one subtitled movie (and MrNC and I were the only ones in there on a Monday night). I did love the Rear Window technology where you get given a screen to clamp onto the armrest which reflects a dotmatrix thing displaying the text backwards at the back of the auditorium, which they use at the IMAX in the New York Natural History Museum, but apparently most users didn't like it,

Hi
I have hearing difficulties too - have had really bad tinnitus for about 5 years, since I was 30. I do wear hearing aids but tbh they often don't help because you are right, it's about the clarity of the sound rather than the volume. I actually know loads of people who use subtitles all the time at home, as tv can sound mumbly. My husband struggles to understand speech sometimes and his hearing is fine!

I never go to the cinema for this very reason and just wanted to say YANBU!! I get annoyed that you can't get subtitles on catch up tv - which I think is quite shocking myself.

amicissimma TBH, I think with these ones are set to the type of hearing loss that I have, so I've never really felt the need to turn them up or down. I think that if a sound is too loud the hearing aids cut it a bit (although I could be wrong). The only time it bothered me was when DH had a Bluetooth thingy in the car, for his phone to be hands free - I got some feedback but I went to the audiologist and she sorted it and I suppose it's no different to someone with normal hearing ie. if something is too loud they can't turn their hearing down :o

I was at the cinema on Friday, to watch American Pie Reunion strangely enough (hey, nobody judge - it was my coming of age film) and when it first came on I thought "hell, that's loud". I don't know whether they turned it down or not but my ears seemed to get used to it.

I think they do have showings sometimes where somebody signs. I don't know if you know sign language, OP?

I sometimes use subtitles, particularly if the DC are in bed and I don't want to have the TV too loud and it drives me mad when they don't work!

My new digital hearing aid does seem to be an improvement on the old one and I did have to return to the audiologist just to have it changed. I'm supposed to wear two, but find it much better with just one (much too loud with two and too difficult to hear people whispering to you).

I find, being hard of hearing, I miss quite a lot of crucial information, so have got quite good and piecing things together to try to get the whole picture. It's actually quite a good life skill and useful when picking up snippets of information and gossip!

YANBU, i have stopped going to the cinema now as like you its not the sound but cant make out the words and the actors sound really mumbly. I have subtitles permanetly on in the house and think im just too used to them now, i wont watch a programme or movie that doesnt have subtitles (a big bug bear of mine).

My hearing is very bad also and have been really interested to hear peoples opinions on hearing aids. I cannot watch tv without subtitles and find conversations on the phone extremely difficult. I have got a hearing aid, but it just makes everything seem distorted and loud rather than an improvement in my hearing. And when I tried it at the cinema I picked up the film that was playing in the screen next door!

This is very interesting to me also!
My hearing has always been a little ropey, but DH says he's noticed it getting worse recently... I have noticed I have permanent tinnitus too.

Where did you go first for help? GP or someone else? I am under 40...
Thanks

I went to my gp, membrillo. I am 41 and recently my hearing has got quite bad so I am hoping to get another NHS hearing aid (digital one) to see if things improve. Tinnitus is also a problem. My father has tinnitus and significant hearing loss. My brothers don't, not sure if it is heriditary in my case.

Membrillo go to your GP and ask. Failing that, you could always ask for a hearing test in Boots but I'm not sure whether you'd have to pay there.

I was born deaf, mine's nerve damage so I don't know much about losing your hearing later but I should imagine that they would give you a hearing test if you asked for one. I have them regularly.

Lovelynewboots do you wear your hearing aid all the time? If not, I would really recommend that you do - it takes some time to get used to. Your hearing does sound distorted at first - I've had it every time they've changed my hearing aid and it makes me want to scream at them but after a while it does sound normal :).

Thank you both

I need a new one RobinSparkles and I am going for a hearing test on Thursday. I think you are right and I will try and give it more of a go. Don't think I gave it much of a chance before but my hearing has got really bad recently so I need to be a bit more proactive about helping myself.

Membrillo - I had to cheat in my GP's hearing test the second time I took it to get referred to the hospital for a proper test. First time round I was told by my GP that I should ask people not to mumble! When I did get a referral to ENT, I was very quickly given hearing aids and soon after had an operation.

Scholes34, bloody gp! I shall bear that in mind when I go for my hearing test.