The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Submitted by Clinton Honda.
Clinton Honda, located on 1511 Route 22 East in Clinton, has become the first automotive dealership in the region to install Hearing Loop Technology in their showroom and service departments. These loops offer customers needing a hearing boost in a busy environment “20/20 hearing” as they interact with Clinton Honda staff.
This hearing loop system—designed by EMCOM Systems of Hamilton Township—is a free- standing wireless device that delivers a crystal-clear audio signal to customers’ hearing aids and cochlear implants, via a telecoil (T-coil). Most current hearing devices contain a T-Coil, but Clinton Honda customers without T-coils may borrow a small EMCOM headset to make sure that they hear clearly.
Clinton Honda customer Catherine Large Wetstein of Flemington, who has a hearing loss, spoke to Clinton Honda chairman Steve Kalafer about these devices, and how they can help an estimated 40,000 people in this area (12,000 residents in Hunterdon County alone) who live with some type of hearing loss.
“As a business owner I believe we have an obligation to make everything clear and understandable when communicating with our customers,” said Kalafer. “I am happy to provide help to those who struggle with their hearing any way we can and to be able to contribute to a more positive interaction.”
Hearing loss affects millions of Americans of all ages. About 20 percent of Americans (48 million) report some degree of treatable hearing loss. At age 65, one out of three individuals has some sort of hearing loss. In addition, hearing issues are the most common service-connected disabilities among American veterans: 2.3 million veterans receive either disability compensation for service-connected hearing disabilities or are in treatment for hearing-related issues.
“If we can help and aid even a small percentage of those individuals and improve their experience at the dealership we are more than happy to do so,” said Kalafer. We hope our efforts are a means to installing Audio Loop Hearing Systems in many other businesses across the state.”
Clinton Honda, owned by the Kalafer family, is an authorized Honda Sales, Service and Parts facility. They offer sales/leasing on an inventory of over 450 available new and certified pre-owned vehicles and are open 6 days a week for service and parts. For more information call 908-735-0700 or visit ClintonHonda.com.
For more information on Emcom, call 609-585-5500 or visit Emcomsys.com.
