How does hearing loops work

Hearing loops are becoming more common in auditoriums and venues across the country. You can even visit the venue ahead of time to test the hearing loop, and make sure the staff know how to turn on the hearing loop. Have questions? Contact us today to learn more. What Is A Hearing Loop? How Do Hearing Loops Work? Do Hearing Loops Really Work? Ask About Hearing Loops Hearing loops are becoming more common in auditoriums and venues across the country. About Us. Patient Testimonials. My Way to Share.

View All Locations. Hearing Loss. Hearing Loss Overview. Frequently Asked Questions. What Is Tinnitus? The Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss. Hearing Aids. Hearing Aid Overview. Free Batteries for Hearing Aids. Made for iPhone Hearing Aids. The telecoil reduces the background noises, giving better sound quality. A hearing loop system is a wire placed around an area, such as a particular room, a stage, or an altar in a place of worship.

When the hearing loop is turned on, you need to set your hearing device to the telecoil program. The telecoil will pick up the magnetic signal transmitted by the hearing loop and the hearing device will then convert it into sound which you will hear. When your hearing device is used in conjunction with your hearing device telecoil the background noise around you can be greatly reduced while the sound you are trying to hear is clearer.

One of the benefits of a hearing loop is that the transmitted signal fills the whole space, improving the sound quality when the source of the sound is some distance from you, for example a speaker presenting at a conference at the front of the room, and you are seated at the back.

Hearing loops can be found in many different places, especially in public areas. Look for them in places of worship, theatres and cinemas, convention centres, workplaces, lecture halls, train stations, banks and aged care facilities.

You may also find them in retail counters, aeroplanes and public transport. Hearing loops can be portable or fixed. Some people even have them installed in their own houses, to help with situations like hearing the television. Look for the International Deafness Symbol below, which is often used to indicate that a hearing loop has been installed in a public venue. Your hearing practitioner can talk to you about how to use the telecoil feature on your hearing device.

Advocacy groups for people with hearing loss, such as Better Hearing Australia or Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing are also useful sources of information about both the telecoil and the hearing loop. Telecoils and hearing loops. Search Hearing Services Online. Text size: A. All cochlear implant processors have t-coils. When buying a hearing aid, consumers should always ask that a telecoil be included and that the audiologist or dispenser activate the telecoil program at the time of fitting and explain its use.

Note, although one can access a telecoil via a streamer, it is much easier to use if it is installed as a program in the hearing aid. Hearing loop systems serve all people with hearing loss who wish to improve their ability to understand speech and sounds. As with FM and Infrared IR systems, hearing loops also offer accessibility via portable receivers and headphones or ear buds.

You can also use a telecoil equipped streamer, personal amplifier or special telecoil-equipped ear buds and a smartphone. When comparing loop system costs to alternative listening systems, consider this: a system that costs slightly more, but has many more users, will be most cost-effective.

Hearing loops provide the greatest user satisfaction, are always used, and are preferred by staff because they are the easiest to administer and maintain. Also, loop systems require fewer portable receivers and headphones for those without telecoil-enabled hearing aids. The cost of a looped system varies greatly depending on the location, size and construction of the venue. The following ranges are to provide loose estimates only. Hearing loops generally cost less when installations are done as part of new construction or renovation projects.

This is because it may be easier to identify and overcome potential obstacles and because floors and ceilings may already be exposed, reducing labor costs for installers who do not need to lift existing carpets or flooring. Facility managers and decision-makers should choose only trained and experienced loop installers willing to provide references.

Installers should confirm that the installation meets the international standard IEC as developed under the auspices of the IEC International Electrotechnical Commission. This standard defines the strength of the magnetic field, the frequency response and methods of measuring these requirements. It also specifies the maximum levels of electromagnetic background noise.

For more detailed information about hearing loops and proper loop installation and maintenance, download the Hearing Loop Systems: A Guide to Best Practice for Service Providers. This guide, provided by the International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association IHLMA , has been designed to help to ensure that whatever investment is made produces the best possible results for both the venue service provider and the end user.

Loop technology was pioneered in Europe where it is widely embraced and highly successful. When hearing accessibility in the United States was made a requirement of law in under the Americans with Disabilities Act, no distinction was made between loop systems and less expensive FM or IR systems.

This dramatically raised the interest in and availability of hearing loops because loops are the only assistive listening systems that connects directly to telecoil-enabled hearing devices.

Consumer driven, nationwide advocacy for hearing loops began almost 20 years ago when David Myers, Ph. Myers discovered that by pressing a button and activating the t-coils in his hearing aids, the words of the minister came into his ears — directly and crystal clear.

Today, loops can be found throughout the United States, but advocacy continues to push for more and more loops as a way of creating hearing friendly communities.