Hearing the TV with hearing aids

There is some confusion here. Telecoils are components that are built into personal technology like hearing aids or cochlear implant processors. Some of the hand held microphones that work with hearing aids and cochlear processors also have telecoils.

Telecoils are not built into theaters, etc. In order to use a telecoil equipped personal device, the venue where you want to listen must have an induction loop installed. (Hearing Loop). That loop system makes it possible for the public address transmitter to send the signal directly to the telecoil in the personal device. This bypasses background noise and makes hearing easier.

Sorry so confusing, but this discussion is confusing.

Auracast is another technology that functions similar to the way telecoils and hearing loops work. The personal device (hearing aid or cochlear processor) has to have the 'receiver' to connect with the 'transmitter'. Auracast is not readily available yet.

Telecoils are receivers. Loop systems are connected to a sound system that transmits sound to those receivers.

Auracast is a very new technology that does basically the same thing. However it is not readily available yet. When it is available, the receivers in hearing aids and cochlear processors must be able to relate to it. A reality is...if a venue has a hearing loop they will not have to jump to a new technology. They will be compliant.

Sorry this is so complicated. Loops and telecoils have been around for decades. They work well. They meet the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act. So do FM and IR systems that are installed in some arenas...those require receivers that must be requested at those venues.

Telecoils/loops and eventually Auracast will make it possible to pick up desired sound from a transmitter.

A venue is in compliance with any of these technologies. YOU MUST ASK FOR IT BY USING THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY. If they don't have it, and you continue to request it, they are learning the ropes. Hopefully with this kind of advocacy, they will get the message and install it. Know what you are asking for.

This kind of confusion adds to the reluctance of venues to follow the rules. WE HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING TO DO. The ADA also says they don't have to install this technology if it's cost prohibitive.

Lots of work to do out there. Are you willing to go public with your hearing loss to get venues to meet your needs?

What if they develop Auracast and no venues use it.
There aren’t that many people that have hearing loss.
That is how we are treated in this country. And you wonder why there is a stigma attached to it.
It is kind of like being handicapped in Europe and you have to go to the bathroom in a restaurant. I guess you can just hold it.
Come on people with hearing loss. We can do better than this can’t we?

AVA is a speech to text application that can be used on your phone or computer. It provides captions. http://www.ava.me

Live Transcribe is another one. Another I just learned about at the national HLAA convention is MyEar. I'm still trying to figure it out, but when it was demonstrated for me it was very good.

It wasn't too many years ago that the idea of speech to text was just a dream. These apps are developing rapidly now.

The following statement is from Google:
A live transcribing app converts spoken words into written text in real-time. These apps are useful for accessibility, communication, and various other purposes. One popular option is Google's Live Transcribe, available on Android. Other apps like Otter.ai and Descript offer more advanced features, including integrations with other tools and audio/video editing capabilities. (I believe this is now also available on iPhones.)

The hard part is learning how to use them. I suggest you get information online and then ask your audiologist to help you learn how to use the app. I suspect many will have to learn right along with you.

Of course this uses up precious time at an appointment and some will be unable or unwilling to spend that time. WE STILL SHOULD ASK THOUGH. This falls in the 'counseling' arena. Many people with hearing loss need more personal counseling support.

This also may be a topic at an HLAA chapter meeting. If you live in an area where there is an HLAA chapter, consider requesting this to be a topic at a future meeting. Living WELL with hearing loss in today's world is possible, but you have to be willing to reach out, ask questions and take the time and opportunities available to you to learn.

Auracast will appeal not just to people with hearing loss, but also to the general public. It is a form of Bluetooth technology that works with many devices people use.

Consider this: You are in a noisy sports bar where there are numerous TV sets broadcasting different events. You are only interested in one of those events. Auracast will let you tune in to that one TV broadcast without background noise or interference from other broadcasts. This will work with devices like iPods as well as with personal hearing devices. People with typical hearing will be using this technology right along side of those of us who use hearing technology.

Because this is 'universally usable', it will take hold in a way that telecoils have been unable to. Everyone struggles to hear in noisy places. That will include airports and other places where announcements are made. Telecoils will still be worth having because many places already comply by having loops installed. They will not have to add Auracast.

Meanwhile, it is logical and wise to ask for your hearing aids and cochlear processors to have telecoils AND Auracast included. The latest Cochlear America's N8 processor has both. So do a few hearing aid brands.

It pays to be a knowledgeable consumer with hearing devices just as with any other products we buy. (Think kitchen appliances, cars, etc.) They all offer variables. It is in our best interest to know the right questions to ask when buying them. Audiologists will often tell you they don't tell buyers about all these options because people then think they are trying to sell them something they don't need. Reality is: These options should be demonstrated so people know what they are either getting or giving up when buying.

I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but the telecoils in your hearing aid can help you hear your TV at home. I hired an AV guy who put in a telecoil system in my home and I can hear the TV directly through my hearing aid and Cochlear implant. They can be simple systems, like putting one under your favorite chair or more complex systems such as putting them under your flooring. It is amazing how well I can hear the TV!!!!