Enjoy the Show

Closed captioning Closed captioning

Do you feel like going out and having a good time with your friends and family? How about going to a comedy show or a movie?

That might seem daunting if you have hearing loss. However, some venues offer systems and accommodations to help hard-of-hearing people understand the show.

Theatres

You can ask for an FM1 (frequency modulation) system at no extra cost in some venues. This wireless communication tool allows you to listen to the performance directly in your ears through a headset. Voices are amplified while background noise that interferes with understanding is masked. This system also lets users adjust the volume to understand better.

Movie Theatres

Many theatres have induction loop systems2 for moviegoers who wear hearing aids. The movie’s soundtrack is streamed directly from the audio equipment to the hearing aids with these systems. The aim is to reduce ambient noise and help people understand speech better.

Closed captioning is another good way to enjoy a movie. The system sits in the seat’s cup holder, showing the English or French subtitles for the film. Just look for “CC” or “CC/ DS” in the theatre’s listings to find out the screening times and theatres where this service is available. It may be interesting to look for foreign films since they’re generally already subtitled.

Finally, many theatres have showings specifically for those with sensory concerns3. They’re quieter than regular showings, which is more comfortable for some people. If you constantly find movie theatres too loud, this could be a good option if you still want to enjoy a movie and some delicious popcorn!

Find out about the systems and accommodations near you.

Émilie Gendron

Specialized educator practising in Saint-Romuald

References: 1. L’utilisation d’un système MF : Bénéfices et limites en milieu scolaire - AQEPA

Provincial. (n.d.). AQEPA. https://aqepa.org/lutilisation-dun-systeme-mfbenefices-et-limites-en-milieu-scolaire/ 2. Crouzet, G. (2019, July 10). Boucle magnétique : 8 questions pour tout comprendre.

Okeenea. https://okeenea-produit.com/blogs/accessibilite-erp/boucle-magnetique8-questions-pour-tout-comprendre 3. Cineplex, Closed Caption “CC” Viewing System. https://www.cineplex.com/

Theatres/ClosedCaption