Submitted by the Audiologists at Midwest Hearing Center
Many people who wear hearing aids still struggle to understand in some of life’s more complex listening environments, such as houses of worship, meeting halls, and theaters. Distances, surrounding noise, and reverberation often degrade the speech signal to the point that it becomes incredibly difficult to hear and understand.
Sadly, many people with hearing loss eventually give up on hearing in these situations and end up missing out on many of the activities they once enjoyed. This does not need to happen. There IS a way for people with hearing loss to hear in these situations and to continue to live a very full and active lifestyle. In fact, many of them already have the key to success hidden inside their existing hearing aids. This key is called a telecoil.
What Is a Telecoil? What Is a Loop?
Telecoils, also known as t-coils, are literally tiny little coils of wire often built into the electronics of a hearing aid or cochlear implant processor. These amazing little devices have been built into some hearing aids for decades. The t-coil is most widely used to allow hearing aid wearers to hear more clearly on landline telephones. When the t-coil is activated, the microphone is either turned off or reduced so that an electromagnetic signal emitted from a phone or loop system can be heard more clearly.
It is important to note that the audio device must generate a fairly strong magnetic field in order for the t-coil to receive the signal. To “loop” a room, a wire is installed around the perimeter of the room. Once the wire is run around the perimeter of the room and plugged into a loop amplifier, a usable magnetic loop has been created.
This method cuts out the factors of distance, reverberation (echoes), and interfering noise and can deliver clear sound into both ears straight from the desired source, regardless of where the person is sitting within the loop. Another benefit of the room loop system is that it can accommodate many people at one time within the same loop.
Turn On Your Telecoils to Benefit… or Borrow a Headset.
Loops are becoming more and more common as word of their usefulness gets out. They are often available in churches, public meeting halls, and theaters. Many of these places even have headphones available for those whose hearing aids are not equipped with telecoils. Looping systems are also available for personal use and can be set up in a home to connect to the TV or stereo.
Today, t-coils are built into two-thirds of hearing aids as well as all cochlear implants. The number of people able to benefit from the technology is growing.
Change is Coming.
Sadly, it is still the case that the vast majority of people who could benefit from these technological advances do not know about them. This clearly needs to change and IS changing. Looping has been popular in Europe for many years and is gaining traction in the United States. Getting the word out about telecoils and looping systems can benefit many people. Many theaters, arenas, transportation systems, and churches are already looped.
For more information about telecoils, to find out if one is present in your current hearing aid, or to learn more about looped systems as well as other assistive listening devices that could benefit you, visit www.hearinglosshelp.org, or talk with your audiologist.
To learn more about our Midwest Hearing Center audiologists and the hearing healthcare services they provide, please call 309-691-6616 in Peoria or 309-284-0164 in Morton. Visit us at mw-ent.com.