http://www.hearinglink.org/hearing-loop-awareness-week
So off I went into Salisbury to check a few loops out. I had my forms to fill in and I was looking for clear signage, a working loop and staff knowledge
I started at Sainsbury's because I know they have loops and I wanted to check that my HA was working...
Sainsbury's were good, but they mic needed shifting. The staff knew all about loops and were helpful
Library - terrible. A big sign on their desk but no working loop, didn't know what it was, where it was and left waiting while they farted about for 20 minutes. Said they would sort it out.
M&S - woeful! 3 hearing loops, none of them worked and no one knew how to test them or even how to turn them on.
Debenhams - woeful again. Great signs inside and outside the shop, but when I asked about the loop, most staff didn't know what or where it was and they hadn't had any training. It was discovered in an office, where it had been for months. I waited for 30 minutes while they fetched it and set it up. I was so frustrated I could have wept because the manager of the shop had called me some months ago telling me that he was going to sort this out. Anyway, it hadn't been charged, so wasn't working. I said I would come back in an hour. I did and there had been a change of staff, they were also clueless. The portable loop was still sitting on the counter charging up, but no one was there to help me.
BHS - hit and miss. They had 2 loops, I could tell they were on, but I wasn't hearing anything. The manager came and tested them for me (another long wait) He couldn't understand why. I was beginning to think my HA was on the blink at this point! But no, because...
Holland & Barratt - worked like a dream and the little assistant was lovely. Thank goodness that one worked because it was the one I pushed for.
Boots - the first girl at the counter looked at me like I was speaking another language, but fortunately the girl next to her was on the ball and went to fetch the portable loop, which only took a moment. It was charged and it worked.
I was exhausted after this and came home. It actually took hours to do just those few places. I wasn't expecting great things, but I was disgusted at the lack of training the staff were given and the bloody cheek they have in proudly displaying a hearing loop sign and then it not working. Shameful. This must be the same up and down the country. No wonder deaf people aren't using their loops. What's the point?
