Closed captioning at the movies in TV

[Ohiogirl]

My sister is severely hard of hearing, with about 80-90% hearing loss in both ears. Mine's probably at 10-20% and declining. She has hearing aids, I probably will soon. We both own in the Villages but aren't retired yet. She tells me the movie theaters (last time she checked, which I think was last year) only offer an amplifier, which for most people who are severely deaf, doesn't help as much as closed captioning.

I think the theaters in our hometown of Columbus, OH offer one or 2 showings per week with cc. I realize it's distracting and annoying to those who are not hearing impaired, but surely there are enough hearing impaired people in TV that it would be advantageous to offer, say, a twice a week cc showing of each moving (once during the daytime and once in the evening, to accomodate people's work or activity schecules.

Does anyone know if this has changed? The amplifiers really don't help her level of hearing loss. Even with expensive, high-powered hearing aids, she doesn't get much more than 25% hearing ability. She's pretty much reduced to watching DVD's with cc down here.

[Taltarzac]

My sister is severely hard of hearing, with about 80-90% hearing loss in both ears. Mine's probably at 10-20% and declining. She has hearing aids, I probably will soon. We both own in the Villages but aren't retired yet. She tells me the movie theaters (last time she checked, which I think was last year) only offer an amplifier, which for most people who are severely deaf, doesn't help as much as closed captioning.

I think the theaters in our hometown of Columbus, OH offer one or 2 showings per week with cc. I realize it's distracting and annoying to those who are not hearing impaired, but surely there are enough hearing impaired people in TV that it would be advantageous to offer, say, a twice a week cc showing of each moving (once during the daytime and once in the evening, to accomodate people's work or activity schecules.

Does anyone know if this has changed? The amplifiers really don't help her level of hearing loss. Even with expensive, high-powered hearing aids, she doesn't get much more than 25% hearing ability. She's pretty much reduced to watching DVD's with cc down here.

I have not seen any equipment for Closed Captioning in TV theaters but have seen rear window closed captioning at some of the theaters in the Tampa/St. Pete area. These are AMC theaters. http://www.moviewatcher.com/jsp/amg.jsp The Orlando area AMCs also have some shows with rear window closed captioning.

The Regal theater chain's Hollywood 16 in Ocala has some Open Captioning shows too.

[HMLRHT1]

I have seen that here at an AMC theater in Phoenix AZ. There is a mirror on the back of the seats and there is a display at the rear of the theater just under the movie projector. It works quite well, but it is not for all showings.

[DeafDeaf]

Just let you all know that I have filed the complaint with US Dept of Justice that the local theatres refused because they claimed that they are not required to provide the captions. My defense is that the ADA states that the movie theatre must be accessible and I ask how can it be for Deaf patrons. It is still pending at the US DOJ.

[Ohiogirl]

I will be interested to hear the outcome of your suit. Do you have a hearing date yet?

[DeafDeaf]

The US DOJ has the back logs of ADA complaints - it will take some times such as years. A hearing date may not be necessary - it is part of process first to convince them. If not successful, a court may occur.

[Ohiogirl]

Thanks for the update. Just had a hearing test and will likely be getting my hearing aids soon - was worse than I thought (although I DID notice that more and more people are mumbling.

Does anyone know the general costs of a closed caption system for theaters? I am certainly not a techie, but since televisions have them, seems like some similar technology would be available without being too expensive.

[zcaveman]

Unless you had special glasses or monitors for the closed caption people you would have to have a special showing so that those that do not need or want closed caption would not be bothered by the CC lines. And I do not think that you would be able to eye switch fast enough to read the CC and see the movie at the same time since the screen is so large.

I know that I sometimes have problems watching a movie and reading the CC on a TV screen.

Just my thoughts.

[saratogaman]

And what about the lack of closed-captions for VNN?

[Martha Kaye]

Just let you all know that I have filed the complaint with US Dept of Justice that the local theatres refused because they claimed that they are not required to provide the captions. My defense is that the ADA states that the movie theatre must be accessible and I ask how can it be for Deaf patrons. It is still pending at the US DOJ.

Good for you. Many of us are deaf and its one of those situations that nobody cares unless it affects them. Closing your eyes does not make someone elses suffering go away.

[zcaveman]

And what about the lack of closed-captions for VNN?

This was discussed last year. You might try and do a search for it. But the gist is that they have no intent to put CC on VNN. Too expensive. Not much to watch on there anyway with the endless news loops.

[saratogaman]

If it is true that they have no intent to provide closed captioning on VNN, is that not both arrogant and discriminating? Whoever "they" are -- and it doesn't take too much to figure out who "they" are -- it is so pathetic and weak that "they" make it a point to exclude and discriminate against those who have lost or never had hearing? Would "they" sing a different tune if a member of their own family couldn't hear?
The Villages is a wonderful place to live, but a certain family has a lot to learn about humanitarianism and their professed claim to being Christians -- what about the notion of caring for the least of our brethren? How silly of me...there's no place for that on the profit-and-loss statement!
I must go to a different church.

[chelsea24]

Just let you all know that I have filed the complaint with US Dept of Justice that the local theatres refused because they claimed that they are not required to provide the captions. My defense is that the ADA states that the movie theatre must be accessible and I ask how can it be for Deaf patrons. It is still pending at the US DOJ.

Good for you! Thanks for doing that! My husband has a cochlear implant and is about to get the second. I've never seen the "mirror" type devices mentioned in a previous post, but that would be wonderful.

Yes, the ADA stipulates that all hotel rooms must provide Closed-Caption TV's and we don't have to ask much anymore, but years back, we did demand and would get a Closed Caption TV brought in.

We'd love to go to the theater, but the devices they provide now just don't work.

Please let me know if I can help in any way. :thumbup:

[Ohiogirl]

Unless you had special glasses or monitors for the closed caption people you would have to have a special showing so that those that do not need or want closed caption would not be bothered by the CC lines. And I do not think that you would be able to eye switch fast enough to read the CC and see the movie at the same time since the screen is so large.

I know that I sometimes have problems watching a movie and reading the CC on a TV screen.

Just my thoughts.

I agree that the closed captioning bothers most people with good hearing. Am not asking that every showing have closed captioning - just a day showing and an evening showing per week, or even a day and an evening showing per movie for the run of the movie - published or available at the box office or on internet so deaf/hard of hearing can plan ahead.

As far as switching eyes from action to captioning - I think those who need/use closed captioning develop the skill. I am a fast reader, but my sister who is nearly deaf beats me by a landslide. I am sure she developed this skill as a coping mechanism early on, probably in grade school, in order to keep checking on the teacher or surroundings to keep up.

[zcaveman]

As far as switching eyes from action to captioning - I think those who need/use closed captioning develop the skill. I am a fast reader, but my sister who is nearly deaf beats me by a landslide. I am sure she developed this skill as a coping mechanism early on, probably in grade school, in order to keep checking on the teacher or surroundings to keep up.


I am hard of hearing and have been using CC for many years. I have not been to a movie theater in over 15 years as I hate crowds in theaers. I am just saying that if the CC is on the bottom and big enough to read and the screens are the same size as they used to be it seems to me it would be extremely difficult to do all of the up and down movement to read the CC and enjoy the picture.

[billethkid]

Is it a 40% loss?
70%?

Is the word deaf for those who hear nothing? Zero!!!

That means all others have a hearing impairment and thus what is the magic number/level?

I have 40% loss in one ear and 60% in the other. I do not refer to myself as deaf! Relative to deaf, I am blessed!!

So good luck in your DOJ approach. Have your home work done and that should be to the letter of the law with facts, numbers et al and not just an emotional pitch.

btk

[graciegirl]

Can you rent movies with closed captioning? I have about the same hearing ability as Billethekid. I am so blessed that my "hearers" pretty well correct that.

The last thing I would like is to have all of the rest of the theatre have some level of distraction or be uncomfortable at all for my benefit. I think the idea of having separate showings with closed captioning offered several times a week is a good one.

I had never thought about closed captioning being a problem until now.....BUT Sometimes when I am on the computer and there is some animated thing going on, some advertisement on another area of the screen, it really annoys me and makes me very distracted.

I think that this is something that we are born with too. Whether or not we can filter out other images in our visions view comfortably or uncomfortably.

[zcaveman]

Can you rent movies with closed captioning? I have about the same hearing ability as Billethekid. I am so blessed that my "hearers" pretty well correct that.

The last thing I would like is to have all of the rest of the theatre have some level of distraction or be uncomfortable at all for my benefit. I think the idea of having separate showings with closed captioning offered several times a week is a good one.

I had never thought about closed captioning being a problem until now.....BUT Sometimes when I am on the computer and there is some animated thing going on, some advertisement on another area of the screen, it really annoys me and makes me very distracted.

I think that this is something that we are born with too. Whether or not we can filter out other images in our visions view comfortably or uncomfortably.


95% of the DVDs I rent either have closed caption, subtitles or subtitles for the hearing impaired. Some of the older ones ad several new ones do not have any of the above. I rent from Blockbuster and have to check to make sure the DVD has CC or subtitles before I rent it.

[HMLRHT1]

Hearing impaired is just that. Most can get by with a hearing aid. If it becomes a profound loss ( 75-80%) then you border on being deaf. If it is a profound loss then you have the option of getting a cochlear implant or corrective surgery if possible. Or if you are completely deaf an implant is usually your only option. Most theaters have headsets that people with minor hearing problems and those whose use hearing aids can benefit from these. For the people who use hearing aids and cochlear implants you would set your unit on T coil and hear the movie. Some theaters have tested reverse close captioning. There is a mirror like object on the back of the seat in front of you and the words are displayed on the wall behind you reflecting on the mirror. Once you become accustomed to close captioning, it becomes second nature to you. I must admit that it can be annoying at times and especially so for those who don't need it. But it is a necessary evil. But I would not trade being able to hear for being deaf, ever!

[redwitch]

Okay, I'm strange and I know it. I'm fortunate to have no hearing loss other than a refusal to hear a whine (motherhood teaches you such wonderful tricks). I actually like closed captioning.

Many times, a theater has the volume so loud it is painful to me. There's nothing like some plugs for my ears and closed captioning to let me see/hear everything comfortably. Also, when my daughter was little I got into the habit of having closed captioning on the television to help her reading. She'd get a nickel for every mistake she caught between what was vocalized and what was written (typos didn't count). So, I've been in the habit of reading dialogue for many years.

I do understand some would find CC distracting but I really can't understand not having some CC showings. So, here's a vote by one who can hear that CC should be included.

Maybe we could start a petition signed by theatre patrons? I'd certainly be happy to spend an hour or so a week on this if someone wants to get it started.

[DeafDeaf]

Please be advised that the term, “hearing impaired” is unacceptable. Here is the explanation:

The term "Hearing Impaired" is a technically accurate term much preferred by hearing people, largely because they view it as politically correct. In the mainstream society, to boldly state one's disability (e.g., deaf, blind, etc.) is somewhat rude and impolite. To their way of thinking, it is far better to soften the harsh reality by using the word "impaired" along with "visual", "hearing", and so on. "hearing-impaired" is a well-meaning word that is much-resented by deaf and hard of hearing people.

While it's true that their hearing is not perfect, that doesn't make them impaired as people. Most would prefer to be called Deaf, Hard of Hearing or deaf when the need arises to refer to their hearing status, but not as a primary way to identify them as people (where their hearing status is not significant).

Hope that you and your people respect by refusing to use the outdated and offensive term.

[thistrucksforyou]

I agree that the closed captioning bothers most people with good hearing. Am not asking that every showing have closed captioning - just a day showing and an evening showing per week, or even a day and an evening showing per movie for the run of the movie - published or available at the box office or on internet so deaf/hard of hearing can plan ahead.

As far as switching eyes from action to captioning - I think those who need/use closed captioning develop the skill. I am a fast reader, but my sister who is nearly deaf beats me by a landslide. I am sure she developed this skill as a coping mechanism early on, probably in grade school, in order to keep checking on the teacher or surroundings to keep up.I am half deaf , but i could probably hear the movie if everyone else would quit talking through it !:22yikes:

[DeafDeaf]

This link may be of interest to you.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F11%2F30%2FBAMJ1GJO 6I.DTL