@hedgerow and all. This is absolutely true. People who sell hearing aids, whether they are hearing instrument specialists or audiologists should be required to demonstrate how telecoils work before selling the product. I will never understand why this is not legally required.

We all need to understand the difference between BlueTooth (BT) technology and telecoil technology. BT brings sound from cell phones directly to the hearing instrument. Also from TV with an intermediary device. It can also help in noisy social settings with a small hand held microphone that is unique to the brand of hearing aid you are using.

And now comes a new more advanced form of BT called Auracast. A few new hearing instruments have Auracast included, but not many. It's coming, but it will take several years to be commonly available. Meanwhile, it is logical to insist on the t-coil option.

T-coils can be used with systems other than hearing loops. In places with assistive listening systems other than loop systems, you need to borrow a receiver related to the systems transmitter and plug a neckloop into it. It works just like being in a room installed with a hearing loop. Those systems are known as Infrared systems and FM systems. Many places use them rather than loops.

I still use a neckloop with my laptop and a small portable radio which I prefer to using my cell phone if I want to listen to music. Some of the older stuff is easier to use and works just as well as having to be tied to your cell phone all the time.

I have been using hearing aids since the 1970s. I'm a bimodal user of both a hearing aid and a cochlear implant now. I am so thankful for the education I've received from others like me. Hearing Other People's Experiences give us HOPE.

I strongly suggest you go to https://centerforhearingaccess.org/ for further information on these technologies.

If there is an HLAA chapter in your area, get involved. http://www.hearingloss.org

Julieo4