Advanced Listening’s mandate is to create listening environments for the hard of hearing throughout Canada and they have recently launched the “Let’s Loop Canada” campaign. Based in Victoria and founded in 2012, Advanced Listening was created to address the need for accessibility by the hard of hearing community in businesses and public places. From banks, pharmacies, and restaurants to theatres, boardrooms and lecture halls, the company designs and installs the best listening system for the location. Using both cutting-edge technology and methods, they work to combine crystal clear sound while maintaining discretion for the user.
Following in the footsteps of Europe and the U.K., where assistive listening devices are common, Advanced Listening is changing the way hard of hearing Canadians interact in their communities. As a result of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from a pilot project with Vancity Credit Union in 2012, the company was commissioned to design and install assistive listening systems in all 56 Vancity Branches and their meeting rooms, boardrooms and training centres across B.C. This innovation won Vancity the “City of Vancouver’s 2013 Inclusion and Accessibility Award” in November 2013.
Other forward-thinking companies have endorsed assistive listening technologies and have installed systems in their facilities. These companies include HSBC Bank of Canada – all 155 branches across Canada, BMO Bank of Montreal – James Bay Branch, Island Savings Credit Union – Mayfair Branch, Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association, Amica at Somerset House – Dallas Road, Panorama Recreation Centre, Town of Sidney – Council Chamber, City of Surrey – six Recreation Centres and Thrifty’s Pharmacy – James Bay, as well as theatres, churches, community centres and municipalities.
Advanced Listening is striving to increase education and awareness of assistive listening technologies, with a particular passion for the use of Induction Loops. An Induction Loop or Hearing Loop system is a proven listening technology that transmits sound from a microphone directly to hearing aids with a T-Coil (approximately 75% of hearing aids) and all cochlear implants. The Victoria company believes that this simple and inexpensive technology is the key to making Canada truly accessible for the hard of hearing. The Blue Ear is the International symbol of an Assistive Listening Device. The small “T” displayed at the bottom right hand corner indicates that a “Hearing Loop” (or Induction Loop) has been installed. Look for this symbol on the front entrance of accessible locations.
You can join in efforts to increase the awareness of assistive listening technologies; follow the company on Facebook and Twitter.
