Induction Loops: Completing the Hearing Aid

by Cheryl Heppner

June 2009

Editor: Induction loops are wonderful devices that must seem like magic to those who don't know about the technology. They allow a person with a hearing aid to activate the telecoils and have a personalized public address system broadcasting directly to their hearing aids!

This workshop was presented by Scott Peyton and Terry Simon from Wireless Hearing Solutions (http://www.wirelesshs.com)

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Induction loops have been used everywhere in Europe for 40-50 years, but much of the U.S. has gone in a different direction with FM and infrared listening systems. In Terry Simon's Spring Lake, Michigan induction loops are used everywhere. A big part of the reason is that his wife, Peg is an audiologist there.

Dr. David Myers was a big influence on the Simons. He gave persuasive presentations about the advantages of the induction loop and shared his experiences in Europe, where as a hard of hearing guy he discovered that the widespread use of induction loops with his hearing aids helped him function better than people who could hear. Dr. Myers has since looped the entire city of Holland, Michigan through the use of grant money and volunteers.

Terry Simon was also influenced by an audiologist in California by the name of Bill Dials, who started giving induction loops to all his patients. The results were startling. Dials found that of 71 patients to whom he gave those loop systems, their satisfaction with the hearing aid rose dramatically. Originally they said their new hearing aid was okay, but as soon as they started to use it with the induction loop, they reported that they really loved the hearing aid.

Terry Simon and his wife started to copy what Dials was doing. Terry used his background in industrial design and product development to become involved with installing induction loops and now it's what he does. He has a hearing loss he attributes to "noise trauma from working in factories."

Why an Induction Loop?

Hearing aids and cochlear implants can do a lot for hearing, but when there is a room with a lot going on - several conversations, noise from a heating or cooling system for example - their limitations become apparent.

Terry Simon played short sound tracks to illustrate what a person with a hearing aid hears in the noise of a cocktail setting, then in an acoustically prepared classroom, and then through use of a telecoil. The demonstration showed the advantage that any type of assistive listening system can provide by eliminating background noise and delivering audio directly to a person's ear.

Infrared listening systems have low consumption and don't burn a lot of batteries, but with both infrared and FM systems you must use a headset to hear instead of the hearing aid you've had fitted to be optimal with your unique hearing loss. [It was later noted that sometimes you can use a silhouette to avoid this problem].

If using a headset without silhouette with infrared and FM systems, you may be unable to hear well enough to talk with anyone else in the room. In addition FM systems can cause spillover of sound if they are installed in two adjoining rooms unless they are using different channels.

Bluetooth solutions don't work well because they are too large to go on the hearing aid and pull too much energy (translation: a big drain on battery life). The band used by Bluetooth is regulated by the government to a limited number of frequencies.

More About Induction Loops

Induction loops allow you to take advantage of a hearing aid that has been adjusted to your hearing loss. Since they are magnetic loops that transmit the same signal anywhere in the world, they can come in handy in all sorts of places. Inside the Grand Rapids airport in Michigan, for example, you can walk through the terminals and pick up announcements as you go by using the induction loop system. Induction loops can also be installed at drive-through windows, in train stations, and all kinds of other locations. There is an induction loop on the floor of U.S. House of Representatives.

The challenge is that people who install audio systems are used to FM and infrared and often unfamiliar with induction loops.

Induction loops systems can be engineered so there is no spillover. Where there is "loop bleed" it may be possible to create sound canceling.

Terry Simon worked with an architect who was so thrilled with the result of the induction loop installation that the architect now intends to make induction loops standard in his plans.

Telecoils

Originally called a "telephone coil," the term has been shortened over time to telecoil or t-coil.

The telecoil in your hearing aid is small and can cost about $25. If not installed in the hearing aid, a telecoil can be added for $50-70.

A loop allows you to be inconspicuous when using the technology since there is no need for you to wear anything in addition to your hearing aid. You can choose to have a direct feed from the induction loop to the telecoil or to mix it between the telecoil and microphone.

Telecoils don't use any electricity and they don't affect the battery life of a hearing aid. Because they are in the super low frequency range, telecoils do not create interference.

About 67% of new hearing aids have a telecoil. Arizona and some other states are now requiring that hearing aid dispensers inform patients about telecoils.

Using Induction Loops

You can sit on an induction loop instead of wiring a room because it creates a small personal magnetic field.

People who got personal induction loop systems for use with television programs liked them so much they started asking their churches and public places to install them so they can have that same experience elsewhere.

A loop system and FM system can be used side by side and complement each other.

Critical Factors

It is critical that your hearing aid's telecoil be adjusted by someone who uses a loop system. In Europe where induction loops are common this is not a problem, but here in the U.S. some audiologists don't know how to do it. Peg Sass-Simon, M.A., CCC is available to call audiologists who need technical support to adjust hearing aids to work with induction loops.

The level of the telecoil (decibel output) can be adjusted in most hearing aids.

It is also critical that installations include an education program with a qualified audiologist. Fluorescent lights may cause a hum, and a good audiologist may be able to adjust the telecoil to reduce that hum.

Adding a sound field system to the induction loop system can increase buy-in of hearing people who otherwise are unaware that the induction loop is working to provide improved audio.

Installation of an Induction Loop

The company's ballpark cost for an induction loop system for a church with 300-500 people is under $4,000. For a school the cost can be $2,400; less than the cost of one child's FM system.

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