Kinney Drugs, which operates stores in Massena, Potsdam, Canton, Ogdensburg and Gouverneur, has listening devices to assist the deaf and hard of hearing in communicating with pharmacists.

The services include hearing loop technology and video remote interpretation services.

The hearing loop is a special type of sound system that provides a wireless signal, which is picked up by hearing aids or cochlear implants when they are set to the 'T' (telecoil) setting. The telecoil allows the sound to go from the hearing loop directly through the hearing aid or cochlear implant to the listener's ear. This reduces the surrounding noise and helps the person with the hearing aid or cochlear implant to hear more directly and clearly.

To use a hearing loop, patients simply flip on the t-switch on the hearing aid or cochlear implant to activate the telecoil. For individuals who are new and unfamiliar with this technology, their audiologist or hearing instrument specialists can advise as to whether their hearing device has a telecoil, and if so, how to access that setting. Patients who have a hearing device without a telecoil, or those without hearing aids or cochlear implants, will also have the ability to benefit from the hearing loop technology through the use of a portable headset receiver that is available upon request at the Kinney Drugs pharmacy counter.

“At Kinney Drugs we strive to provide all our customers with the highest quality pharmacy services and exceptional customer experience,” said Jim Spencer, president of Kinney Drugs. “The roll out of this new technology at the pharmacy will help ensure that our patients who have a hearing loss receive clear communication necessary to support their health care needs.”

Another auxiliary aid option that is available upon request is video remote interpretation (VRI) services. VRI uses videoconferencing technology on a tablet to provide live sign language interpreting services.

For more information on assisted listening devices at Kinney Drugs, visit www.kinneydrugs.com/hearing-loop.