Hearing aids - experiences with systems (such as hearing loops) in theatres

[JennyWreny]

I wear NHS Phonak hearing aids. I've been to the theatre a couple of times recently and had bad experiences with their hearing loops. The first time I missed 20 mins of the play and the second time I had to give up with the loop and just rely on my aids, missing some words, including a bit where everyone laughed and I had no idea why :(

I've since discovered that some theatres have access schemes that you can join which give discounts so that you can sit in an area where their system works best for a cheaper price (because it usually seems to be the middle of the stalls £££).

I was wondering if anyone has had good experiences or tips. Maybe I just need to manage my expectations. I was also considering going along to our local lip-reading classes/group.

Ah no I don't go to the theatre often enough to have experience of this.

But it's so annoying when everyone laughs but you've missed the joke isn't it ☹️

Thanks for replying @purpleme12 - it was just a couple of words I missed but it was the punchline of that joke - grrrrr.

I just had a look at some lipreading videos and found if I know the context it's surprising how much I could understand. Think I'll do some of the practice videos to see if lipreading can help me.

JennyWreny, have you heard of Stagetext? Give them a Google. They caption performances all over the UK. I also have a pair of NHS Phonaks and have given up on theatre and cinema that isn’t subtitled as I just can’t follow it and the loop systems never work well, regardless of where you are sat as many of them aren’t charged properly. Hth.

Thank you @figlover, I hadn't heard of Stagetext before. I'll definitely look out for some captioned performances and give it a go. I notice they have special glasses with captions at the National which sounds interesting too.

@figlover I've just booked tickets to a captioned performance of My Neighbour Totoro (next Feb - 10 months and counting!) - I couldn't see it listed on the Stagetext website so I guess it's another company that's doing the captioning but hopefully will be good.

Thanks again for the suggestion.

My son is deaf and I have been to lots of captioned performances with him. He is older now and not really interested but I still get emails From the National access list - the service is really good. The only downside was if we went as a family we had to sit Separately as each access ticket got one carer.
Was recently at the Barbican at a captioned performance by chance and still found myself looking at them

I guess the only downside is that you are restricted to dates with the captioned performances. Think there was only one captioned evening performance for My Neighbour Totoro, but I figured as it was next February then I can easily keep that day free.

I'm very interested in the "smart caption glasses" at the National. I'm thinking about booking something there so will try to use those. Advantage is you can use them in any performance after a certain date (presumably it takes them a while to set them up for each play).

My DH wears hearing aids. We've had numerous occasions where he's missed half, or in some cases all of a performance as the hearing loop in the venue isn't turned on. It makes me so angry! Last month we went to a performance and he made a point of asking about the loop system at the box office. Oh yes, they say proudly, we have a loop system. Great! What they don't tell him, or give him is the bit of kit you need to use it. First half of play is completely incomprehensible to him. When he complains at the interval they give him the kit, only to find that the loop system isn't working! So he had a great evening (not).

He did write & complain, and we've got some free tickets. But that's not the point, and it's not the first time this has happened. It's great having the tech installed - but venues need to test it, to make sure it's switched on (duh!) and train front of house staff! It's really not rocket science

I totally hear you @AngelasEyelash , it's happened to me so many times and they think they are ticking the access box. Been fobbed off with replacement tickets several times too. A memorable one was the sound track to the Stepford Wives film being the action-packed adventure playing next door complete with explosives and machine guns. That's why I have given up, unless it subtitled or captioned.

Great that you have found another performance @JennyWreny . I fact, that has such rave reviews I might book it too!

What kit do they need to give you for this?
Do they always need to give you something for the loop?

My daughter is an access host at a west end theatre. She would be able to explain how their loop system works and I’m sure her management would be interested in feedback.

They have captioned & signed performances too.

I'm going to message my cinema tomorrow to see if they do anything like this