Martin Jurek was having a hard time hearing all the actors during a performance of No Sex Please, We’re British at the Tidemark Theatre.
He figured if someone with good hearing had difficulty making out some of the words, it must be even harder for those who are hard of hearing.
So Jurek, who co-owns the Campbell River Hearing Clinic with wife Jana, decided to donate a hearing assistance system to the theatre.
“I noticed it (was hard to hear) the first time I was here for a play,” said Jurek. “So I figured others, especially those with hearing loss, would have a hard time too.”
The system uses a transmitter which is plugged into the microphones onstage. When the mic picks up the sound, it is transmitted wirelessly to an FM receiver and listened to through a headset. The receivers are tiny boxes which are easy to hold and have volume controls so the users can adjust the sound themselves.
The system can also be used with hearing aids. Hearing aids with t-coils can use a t-coil loop instead of a headset and those with hearing instruments that have wireless options can connect directly to the FM receivers at the Tidemark.
Jurek said he hopes the system will help a number of his clients who stay away from live shows because of hearing difficulties.
To start, there will be eight receivers with headsets available at the box office on a first come, first served basis.
To have hearing aids set up with the Tidemark’s hearing assistance system call the Hearing Clinic at 250-914-3200 or drop by, 780-D 13th Avenue.