IN THE LOOP: An induction loop system, also called a "hearing loop," captures electromagnetic waves produced by a microphone, PA system or telephone receiver and broadcasts these signals directly to the hearing aid in a person's ear, provided that hearing aid is equipped with a tiny copper telecoil wire that can pick up the signal.
Image: IMAGE COURTESY OF HEARINGLOOP.ORG
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Whereas standard behind- and in-the-ear hearing aids work well in relatively quiet, more intimate settings, these devices often lose their effectiveness in larger, public spaces where background noise puts the hard of hearing at a disadvantage. Although the technology to solve this problem—induction-loop systems that broadcast sound directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants—has been available for years, implementation has lagged, advocates say, because not enough is being done to promote their use.
An induction-loop system, also called a "hearing loop," captures electromagnetic waves produced by a microphone, public address system or telephone receiver and broadcasts these signals directly to the hearing aid in a person's ear, provided that it is equipped with a tiny copper telecoil wire that can pick up the signal. (Hearing loops can also broadcast signals to cochlear implants, which are surgically implanted electronic devices that bypass damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve.) A hearing loop could be as small as a piece of wire worn around the neck (called a neck loop) or a large as a ring of cable placed around the perimeter of a room or space.
Normally, a hearing aid captures sound with its microphone then amplifies this sound for the wearer, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. A hearing aid equipped with a telecoil can cut through ambient noise by shutting off the normal microphone, enabling the wearer to tune in directly to the sounds being broadcast. Telecoils can also pick up magnetic signals emitted by landline telephones, which means someone wearing a telecoil-equipped hearing aid can set the phone receiver down and still hear what the person on the other end of the line is saying. Most cell phones are not compatible with hearing aids, although some are equipped with Bluetooth that can wirelessly pick up sounds from Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. (A downside to Bluetooth is its power consumption, which greatly cuts down on a hearing aid's battery life.)
Telecoils work somewhat like Wi-Fi for hearing aids, enabling them to serve as customized, wireless loudspeakers, says David Myers, a psychology professor at Hope College in Holland, Mich., and creator of HearingLoop.org, a Web site that advocates for the technology.
Hearing aid–makers are increasingly equipping their devices with telecoils. More than 60 percent of hearing aids come with telecoils, up from 37 percent in 2001, according to a study in the April 2008 issue of The Hearing Journal (.pdf).
Still, although there are about 36 million Americans with hearing loss, says Myers (himself hearing impaired), hearing-loop technology has not been as widely embraced in the U.S. as it has in other regions of the world, particularly in northern Europe. Myers first became aware of the technology more than a decade ago while worshipping in Scotland's Iona Abbey, where the building's poor acoustics prevented him from clearly hearing the service being performed. At his wife's prompting, Myers switched on his hearing aid's "T" (for telecoil) setting to see what would happen. "The sudden clarity was overwhelming," he adds, "an experience that I have since had in countless other British venues, from auditoriums to cathedrals to the backseats of London and Edinburgh taxis."
Since then, Myers and others have worked to introduce the technology to an increasing number of venues in the U.S. Myers alone went to hundreds of western Michigan venues, including 40 rooms in Grand Rapids's DeVos Place Convention Center and both concourses and all gate areas of that city's Gerald R. Ford International Airport (.pdf).
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9 Comments
Add CommentI too advocate for this simple and effective technology in Wisconsin. It is my opinion that the ADA SHOULD recommend Hearing Loops as they are preferred by the hearing aid users over FM and IR systems. The hearing aid users ALWAYS have their own assistive listening device with them and therefore there is no need to pick a device as is required by the FM or IR technology. And... how do you know you are going to have trouble hearing a particular speaker or show until you are sitting down for the presentation?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI recently heard a story of a person who went to the Weidner Performing Arts Center in Green Bay. She picked up a device, made her way to her seat (with difficulty as she uses a walker), sat down, turned the infra-red ALD on at the start of the show... only to find out it was not working. I asked her what she did then... she told me she just sat there... and never heard a word. This would not have happened to her had the Weidner employed hearing loop technology.
Juliette Sterkens, Audiologist
Fox Valley Hearing Loop Initiative
Wisconsin
While I have not really done any advocating, I am an avid user of loops. I have two neck loops and a room loop. I would love to see more articles and attention to this very important subject. Keep up the good work.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUntil all audiologists are required to give detailed information on this, most new hearing aid users as well as many that have had HA's for years, will not truly understand how simple it can be to actually hear clearly in public venues. If they don't know what a t-coil is, they won't know to push the button and try it out when they are in a looped venue. Severe under-utilitzation of the technology already in place in most hearing aids. And, a true dis-service to those that could certainly benefit from it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWithout people like David Myers and Juliette Sterkens advocating for these loops, the general public as well as the ones with HA's would not know a thing about them.
Tami Klink
Wales, WI
'Hears' to Life! Column: http://www.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/communityblogs/hears.to.live.html
HLAA Lake Country Chapter
I, too, am an avid user of hearing loops. My neck loop allows me to enjoy all the neat stuff in mp3 and iPod format.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA great disadvantage to FM and IR systems is that the corrective function of the hearing aid (equally as important as amplification) is usually bypassed (some FM and IR systems do allow a neck loop to be connected which seems to be quite a trek to get from mike to hearing aid!).
As a personal friend of David Myers, I was introduced early to the loop system. I worship regularly at Hope Church in Holland, Michigan and use my hearing aid system there. With the open basket tubes to get sound in the ear and the fourth mode which which allows me to hear spoken sounds through the loop system and at the same time to hear direct sounds when the congregation is singing and speaking responses, I feel like a full participant in worship for the first time. Marlin Vander Wilt.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs David Myers found, in the UK loops have been common for many years and National Health Service hearing aids (free on authorisation by NHS consultants or clinical assistants) are all fitted with the pick up coil.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisChurches on the whole have standardised on the loop, but regretfully all theatres have standardised on the Infra-red system. Public buildings, and schools and colleges must provide assistance for aid wearers by law including loop type equipment
The limitations are, speakers who don't like mikes, technicians who are are not well trained, and some systems which are badly installed. Users also often need to ask were the loop is and choose a seat accordingly.
I suspect in building with long reverberation times like Iona Abbey even those of normal hearing might benefit from an in ear amplification.
Incidentally the UK equivalent of the Hearing Loss Association can be found here:
http://www.rnid.org.uk/
Interesting that Dr. Meyers found out about induction loops only a decade ago. I've installed a number of them in various churches in Ontario, Canada - the first one was in 1983. Back then, loop knowledge was a scarce commodity. I look forward to installing many more in the future. www.betterhearingsolutions.ca;bill@betterhearingsolutions.ca
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisReally, This is the great information about the hearing loss. I think,A hearing aid captures sound with its microphone then amplifies this sound for the wearer, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. A hearing aid equipped with a telecoil can cut through ambient noise by shutting off the normal microphone, enabling the wearer to tune in directly to the sounds being broadcast.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this<a href="http://www.audiologic.net.au/">hearing tests</a>
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