NRC Installs Assistive Hearing Technologies

College City Sertoma Club, a local chapter of the national nonprofit, selected Northfield Retirement Community (NRC) to be the benefactor of a gift of more than $3,300. The gift was used to install an audio-induction loop in NRC’s Fellowship Hall.

The looping system provides a clearer sound for anyone in the room who has a compatible assistive hearing device, like hearing aids or cochlear implants. According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, nearly 25 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 experience disabling hearing loss, and that number increases to 50 percent in those over age 75.

Since its founding, NRC has leveraged technology to provide the highest quality care to its residents. President and CEO Kyle Nordine shared his thoughts on the acoustic improvements that promote engagement and inclusion, stating, “Providing the best possible care for our residents is always our top priority. We saw this system as an opportunity to enhance the daily activities of our residents and we pursued it. We’re grateful for the Sertoma Club’s partnership and their belief in our mission to put forth technologies that truly improve the experiences of our residents.”

College City Sertoma Club’s gift advances the club’s goal of supporting people with hearing disorders. The looping system works in combination with telecoil technologies (T-coils) found in hearing aids and cochlear implants. The audio-induction loop itself is simple; it is a wire that is installed around the perimeter of NRC’s Fellowship Hall and is connected to a sound system. The system then converts audio waves to electromagnetic signals which are received by the T-coils in hearing aids and cochlear implants.