Local Hearing Assistance
A Note about this Directory…
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires movie theaters and other public places to make accommodations for disabilities, but how often do people with hearing loss request these devices? Sometimes all you have to do is ask!
A number of patients and their family and friends comment that they no longer attend movies or events due to having hearing loss. Therefore, we visited a number of area movie theaters and establishments and informed them of our intention to produce a directory of assistive listening devices available in the area. From our visits and trials of the equipment available we created a directory for your reference.
We plan to regularly add to and update this directory with additional or revised information. This is by no means a complete listing of all area locations; we hope this directory will grow by way of your feedback and input. If you know of an organization or business that you would like us to contact to include in this online directory please email us at ears@thehearingclinic-dsm.com.
We welcome any comments and feedback you would like to share!
–The Hearing Clinic
Name: CENTURY 20 JORDAN CREEK
Location: 101 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines
Phone Number: 515-267-8981
Name of Device: Ultra-Phonic Headset Model 1RH-501 Ultra-Stereo
Type of Device: Infrared
Number of Devices Available: 20 headsets
How to Obtain: Ask at the box office
Deposit Required?: Leave I.D.
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Yes, checked and tested daily
Signs in theatre: Yes, at the ticket counter
Miscellaneous Information:
- Can use this system in any movie
- Has on/off switch and a volume control
- Uses 2 AAA batteries
Trial Results: Headsets worked well. The Clarity Professional C120 Wireless Headset worked really well here too. (we have this system in our office for people to try with the TV)
Name: CIVIC CENTER
Location: 221 Walnut Street, Des Moines
Phone Number: 515-243-1285
Name of Device: Sennheiser
Type of Device: Infrared
Number of Devices Available: Numerous sets
How to Obtain: Ask at the desk with the sign, West Lobby Coat Check Desk
Deposit Required?: Leave I.D.
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Yes, Rubber tips are cleaned after each use
Signs in theatre: Yes
Miscellaneous Information:
Trial Results: We were not able to try this system out yet
Name: COBBLESTONE 9 THEATRES-CARMIKE CINEMAS
Location: 8501 Hickman Rd, Urbandale
Phone Number: 515-225-0986
Name of Device: Star Sound by Phonic Ear Headset
Type of Device: Infrared
Number of Devices Available: 1
How to Obtain: Ask at the box office
Deposit Required?: May have to leave I.D.
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Unknown
Signs in theatre: No
Miscellaneous Information:
- Volume control on the bottom of the headphone
- on/off switch on the top,
- certain theatres have stronger signals than others
Trial Results: Had a lot of static
Name: FRIDLEY-COOPER CREEK CINEMAS
Location: 1325 Copper Creek Drive, Pleasant Hill
Phone Number: 515-266-2676
Name of Device: Williams Sound Personal PA
Type of Device: FM
Number of Devices Available: 3-4
How to Obtain: Ask at the box office
Deposit Required?: No I.D. Required
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Unknown
Signs in theatre: No
Miscellaneous Information:
- All 3-4 headsets need to be used in the same movie.
- First come first serve for which movie the box is hooked up to.
- Single earbud or headset available. (You could bring and use your own headphones)
- Volume control on system with headset
- No volume control on the system with the single earbud
Trial Results:
Name: MERLE HAY MALL CINEMA
Location: 5800 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines
Phone Number: 515-252-0804
Name of Device: Williams Sound Pocket Talker PPC Receiver
Type of Device: FM
Number of Devices Available: 2
How to Obtain: Ask at the box office
Deposit Required?: No I.D. required
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Unknown
Signs in theatre: No
Miscellaneous Information:
- Put earpiece in ear and hang other piece over ear,
- program switch on one set to find best reception (we used setting 4),
- Second system does not have a program switch
Trial Results: Cleanliness is questioned, take alcohol wipes
Name: NOVA 10 CINEMAS
Location: 4553 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines
Phone Number: 515-270-8221
Name of Device: None available
Type of Device: N/A
Number of Devices Available: 0
How to Obtain: N/A
Deposit Required: ?
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: N/A
Signs in theatre: No
Miscellaneous Information: N/A
Trial Results: N/A
Name: SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA
Location: 401 West MLK Jr. Parkway, Des Moines
Phone Number: 515-274-6868
Name of Device: William Sound Personal PA
Type of Device: FM
Number of Devices Available: Numerous sets
How to Obtain: Ask at the box office
Deposit Required?: Leave I.D. or car keys
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Yes, They use new earpieces each time
Signs in theatre: No
Miscellaneous Information: No closed captioning but they can provide the script
Trial Results: N/A
Name: WYNNSONG 16
Location: 5233 Stoney Creek Ct, Johnston
Phone Number: 515-331-0500
Name of Device: Star Sound by Phonic Ear Headset
Type of Device: Infrared
Number of Devices Available: 10
How to Obtain: Ask at the box office
Deposit Required?: Leave I.D.
Device(s) Cleaned & Checked?: Inspected once a month
Signs in theatre: No
Miscellaneous Information:
- On/off switch on top
- Volume control located at the bottom of 1 headphones
Trial Results: some static, some headsets better than others
Name of Device: Williams Sound WIRRX14-2
Type of Device: Rear window captioning
Number of Devices Available: 12
Deposit Required?: Leave I.D.
Miscellaneous Information:
- Sits in the cup holder and allows you to read the LED screen
- Requires being in one certain theater for this to work
- The movie changes once a week
- Volume control on both ears on the headphones
- There are special headsets with actual sound or narration