New York City Installs Hearing Loops on its Subways

Empty subway in NYC

I just read on the blog Eh? What? Huh? that New York City is installing hearing loops on its subways. Subway riders who have a telecoil or T-switch on their hearing aids will be able to switch to it and hear announcements directly in their hearing aids.

Here's a story from NPR about this loop; it's an interview with David Myers, who created hearingloop.org. He says, "Hearing Access Program in New York City has been instrumental in New York City Transit's installing hearing loops in the subway information booths, right underneath you." (Hearing Access Program is a nonprofit dedicated to improving accessibility for people with hearing loss.)

As somebody who is always a little intimidated by places that have a lot of noise and important announcements going on at the same time, I think this is very neat - and a wise investment by New York City.