I am racing past my mid-60s. Like many people of my age and generation, I cannot ignore the fact that I don’t hear as well as I did when I was younger. I know I am not alone, and I know that Baby Boomers are especially vulnerable because we were the first generation that systematically blasted unhealthy noise levels directly into our ears, on purpose.
Hearing Loop Illustration
As a result, I pay more attention to news and information about hearing loss and remedies. I recently listened to a radio broadcast that described a very promising use of technology for people who suffer from hearing impairment. It is called the “Hearing Loop.” The website HearingLoop.org is dedicated to this technology. Here is a quote from that site:
People with hearing loss can dream of a future when hearing aids might also serve as wireless loudspeakers, delivering clear, customized sound from inside their ears. They can dream of communities where worship places, auditoriums, business windows, and home TV rooms all broadcast their sound through these in-the-ear loudspeakers. Thanks to the refinement of “induction loop” systems–which magnetically transmit sound to hearing aids and cochlear implants with telecoils (T-coils)– that future can be now!
The “loop” part of the system is a wire loop that is large enough to encompass the area in which an assembly of hearing-impaired people might want to hear amplified sound clearly. Examples are church auditoriums, airline terminals or even your living room or office. The signal generated by the loop is received by a tiny special circuit built into sound receivers, like hearing aids. The advantage of the loop system is that it receives the broadcast signal directly and not by means of a microphone. This eliminates the echo, or reverberation, that is familiar to hearing aid users. For example, if you equip home media area with a Loop, your hearing aid will act as the speaker for the television set directly. Previously, the television set broadcasted its sound signal through its own speakers, which produced a sound. Then your hearing aid received the sound by means of a microphone and rebroadcasted it through the hearing aid speaker, potentially resulting in significant distortion and feedback. With the Loop system, your hearing aid receives the electronic sound signal directly from the television set. The result is amazing.
The radio broadcast I mentioned included a couple of sound demonstrations illustrating the difference between a regular hearing aid and a hearing aid equipped with a Hearing Loop. Click here to listen to one of those demonstrations. I think you will be surprised.
Loop systems are currently much more common in Europe than in North America. This is surprising because there is a large population of hearing-impaired people in North America. However, the number of locations that are loop-equipped is growing rapidly in the United States and Canada. The number of devices that can receive loop signals is increasing, as well. For example, The New York City Taxi and Limosine Commission has issued a request for public comment from interested parties on how to address the needs of persons with hearing loss in public for-hire vehicles. Specifically, it aims to explore induction loop technology. Anyone who has even a slight hearing loss can appreciate this!
Telecoils are relatively inexpensive additions to hearing instruments. When they are within a hearing loop, they double their usefulness. In additional to their traditional use they enable the instrument to serve as a customized, wireless speaker. They also enhance phone listening. All landline phones currently manufactured in the United States are equipped with loop transmission capability. More and more cell phones are available with the technology, as well. The U.S Federal Communications Commission now requires digital phone manufacturers to make telecoil-compatible phones available at every price level.
Hearing-impaired individuals should try to ensure that any kind of sound receiver they purchase is equipped for this new technology. People and organizations who advocate for the hearing impaired should vigorously promote the equipping of public places for the techology, too. It is going to have a significant effect on our quality of life!
