Movie Theaters and Hearing Aids: You Can Enjoy the Show!

Do you avoid going to the movies because of your hearing loss? You’re not alone! But here’s some good news—movie theaters and hearing aids can work together better than ever before.

My Story And The Movie

Years ago, I didn’t enjoy going to the movies. The sound was too loud, or I had to turn my hearing aids up high. That made some parts too loud and others still too hard to hear. The music was often louder than the talking, and I missed important lines. I would ask the person next to me what was said, but I worried I was bothering other people. One time, someone even shushed me. That was embarrassing!

Things Have Changed For Hearing Aid Users

Now, movie theaters and hearing aids can work together much better. Many theaters offer special tools to help people with hearing loss. One option is an amplified headset. It sends the movie sound right to your ears and lets you turn the volume up or down just for you. This works great for some people.

But headsets didn’t help me. The sound still wasn’t clear enough.

Captions Made It Better

Then I found captioning—and it changed everything.

There are two types of captions at the movies:

• Open captions: These show up right on the movie screen for everyone to see. They show what people are saying and describe sounds like “door slams” or “music playing softly.”
• Closed captions: You borrow a small device at the box office. It shows captions just for you. Some fit in your cup holder. Others are glasses that show the words in front of your eyes.

With captions, I don’t miss anything. I can follow the story without asking someone next to me.

You Can Enjoy The Movies Again With Your Hearing Aids

If you stopped going to the movies, it might be time to try again. Movie theaters and hearing aids can work better now. Ask for a captioning device at the box office. It’s usually free, and the staff can help you use it.

You deserve to enjoy the show—just like everyone else!