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I have Unitron hearing aids with the telecoil feature. Unfortunately I had to insist on getting them with telecoils and received the same response that I'm going to guess others on this string have recevied when asking about telecoils and that is, 'there's new technology coming, it's old technology, there aren't many places here with hearing loops..." All BS, other than perhaps it is old technology, but it is still the gold standard when a hearing loop is installed correctly and the facility properly maintains it and ensures it is working properly by frequently testing it. For some reason audiologists across the country give the same BS answer to their customers as I've heard it from people on numerous zoom HLAA meetings. I would like to get a straight answer as to why audiologists don't support telecoils. Aren't they supposed to want us to hear as well as possible? That's why I feel we are just customers and really patients. Ok, off my soapbox.... Perhaps the theater actually has an FM system and in that case, as Julie mentioned, you need to check out a receiver and neck loop, which they should have. And, of course the music or actors all need to be mic'd in order for these systems to work. If they aren't using microphones they won't work. With my Unitron HA's, I go to my HA App on my phone, which the AuD installed in order for me to access phone calls with the bluetooth, and in this app is where I turn on my telecoil function. Within this window there are three slide bars, two volume ones, one for each ear, and also a "balance" slide so I can choose how much of the surroundings I want to hear vs being in full telecoil mode. As Julie mentioned, the best site, IMO, for all kinds of non-biased informaiton about hearing aids, and more, is the http://www.CenterForHearing Access.org website. Full of educational informaiton. And, Julie mentioned Auracast coming out, if getting new hearing aids insist on both a telecoil and Auracast features to be fully ADA Access Ready HA.
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@h2h
The link http://www.centerforhearing/
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@h2h Well said. Thank you. I hate to say this, but I am convinced the major problem out there is that stigmas that have accompanied poor hearing for generations is still alive and well. We are 'lesser'. We are not smart. We don't communicate well. We aren't fun to be around, etc.
The truth is that many people with hearing loss, especially those who are 'hard of hearing', not culturally Deaf, are lonely, depressed, isolated, frustrated, fearful, and uninformed. Many are afraid of losing their jobs. Many are led to believe something will help them only to find out after spending a huge amount of money that help isn't all it was advertised to be.
It is much easier to feel sorry for ourselves and complain to those who are willing to listen (which we find dissipating in numbers among friendships due to their frustration with us), than it is to seek support, ask for better hearing products and advocate for communication access that works in places where we need it to participate. To advocate and be proactive, one has to come out of their hearing loss closet and be respected and visible. The huge majority prefer to sit in hiding and live a different life than they once enjoyed. Sad.
My focus is on the 50+ millions of Americans who experience adult-onset hearing loss. They do not get the support that kids get in childhood. No aural rehabilitation. speech reading training, etc. Few of their primary care providers understand hearing loss, thus are not able to give them helpful information. This should be a unit in university curriculums for doctors and nurses. It's rarely there.
If they chose to try something it usually starts with a person who sells hearing aids. That could be a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) with a high school diploma or a doctorate degree audiologist (AUD). They are all licensed to prescribe and sell hearing aids. That is how most make their income. Reality: Hearing aids, which are medical devices are sold like consumer products. Buyer Beware. If the buyer doesn't know what options are available, it's unlikely they are going to get options that require time to demonstrate and sell. If advertisements for hearing aids included information about telecoils, and other options that can connect us to sound systems that are out there, people might be encouraged to ask more questions. Those ads all focus on small size and perfect hearing, which we know isn't there.
Do you think any of this has to do with that stigma issue? If I don't talk about it no one will know I have it, or perhaps it will go away? Is it easier to just stop doing things you once enjoyed? Would relationships be better if you were able to talk openly about what you need from them?
Learning to help yourself is a huge key to living WELL with hearing loss when the person who has it is open to learning. That's where discussion groups like HLAA come in. HLAA has a lot of information. On the other hand, if one could gather 3 or 4 people with hearing loss to come together and talk about 'it', they might learn a lot from one another. That is how HLAA chapters start.
We have seen so many good things happen in the last 40 + years thanks to the small number of people with hearing loss who have become educated advocates, but there is a long way to go. Definitely insist on telecoils and Auracast if you buy hearing aids now. Also insist the seller take time to teach you how to use them
The Center for Hearing Access and HLAA are your best resources.