Dining out can be tough for persons with hearing or language problems. Culver’s in Eureka is unveiling technology to make the process easier.

The restaurant is now offering a pen and pad system called Order Assist™ that lets customers communicate with staff and write their orders for faster service and less chance of error.

The service is available for both counter and drive-through customers. Drive-through customers can press a button to alert staff, then fill out the order form and hand it to the server. Returning customers at the counter and the drive-thru can prepare their order forms in advance and cut down on service time. The Eureka restaurant is the only Culver's in the St. Louis area to offer the service currently.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says approximately 36 million adult Americans report some degree of hearing loss.