Arizona Bill Requires Education about Telecoils

Editor: The Arizona legislature is considering a bill that requires audiologists and hearing aid dispensers to inform consumers about telecoils and their function. Is this a great idea or what?

Note that Florida already has such a law!

Here's the press release from the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing

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Background

Magnetic coupling technology called "telecoil," "t" coil, "audio switch" or "t" switch has been available for hearing aids and cochlear implant processors for a number of years. This technology enables Deaf and Hard of Hearing users easy access to sounds not just from telephone equipment, but from a number of other electronic audio equipment such as radio, CD players, MP3 players, movie theaters, assistive listening devices, public address systems and so on.

Why a requirement for consumer education on telecoils?

Many consumers - especially first time hearing aid users - are unaware of the potential benefit of this technology. Consumers often fail to inquire about telecoils when they purchase hearing aids, or fail to notice and use them properly if they already have them. Audiologists and hearing aid dispensers in Arizona are not required to educate their clients about the benefits of telecoil technology.

The case for a law requiring telecoil education for hearing aid consumers

· Telecoils were initially provided on hearing aids to help the user hear better on the telephone. The Telecommunications Act of (1996) required all phones to be compatible with telecoils.

· Also around 1996, audio loop equipment became available for large area public address systems in places such as meeting rooms, theatres, churches, airports and so on. This equipment works with telecoils to increase the quality of sound for the hearing aid user.

· Consumers have a right to be educated about technology that will assist in providing them with a better quality of life.

· With the cost of hearing aids well into the thousands of dollars, consumers have the right to be educated about every facet of that purchase and how to best use their hearing aids.

· As Arizona's baby boomer generation gets older, and increasing numbers of people continue to move to the state, the numbers of Arizonans with hearing loss are only expected to dramatically increase. Currently, there are about 450,000 people with hearing loss in Arizona. That number is expected to increase 20 percent by 2010.

The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing fields many calls from hearing aid consumers who are uncertain how to use their telecoils or are unaware if their hearing aids even have the technology. These consumers say they were never educated about telecoils at the time they purchased their hearing aids.

The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing proposes to open the Arizona Department of Health statute 36-1909 and add the following language:

36-1909. Bill of sale required

A. A hearing aid dispenser or dispensing audiologist shall deliver a bill of sale to each person supplied with a hearing aid by the hearing aid dispenser or the dispensing audiologist or at that person's order or direction.

B. A bill of sale shall contain the hearing aid dispenser's or the dispensing audiologist's signature and shall show the address of that person's regular place of practice and the number of that person's license, a description of the make and model of the hearing aid and the amount charged. The bill of sale shall also state the serial number and the condition of the hearing aid as to whether it is new, used or rebuilt.

C. A BILL OF SALE SHALL CONTAIN LANGUAGE VERIFYING THAT THE CLIENT HAS BEEN EDUCATED ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE "AUDIO SWITCH," ALSO KNOWN AS THE "TELECOIL," "T COIL" OR "T SWITCH" TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING INCREASED ACCESS TO TELEPHONES AND ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEMS REQUIRED UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990.

D. A BILL OF SALE SHALL CONTAIN LANGUAGE EDUCATING CLIENTS ABOUT THE ARIZONA TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ASSISTIVE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES TO ARIZONA RESIDENTS WITH HEARING LOSS AS DEFINED IN ARIZONA STATUTE 36-1947.

Contact: Liz Olson, Policy Planner & Public Relations Coordinator
(602) 364-1579
elizabeth.olson@acdhh.state.az.us

About the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing