T-coil issues

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.

@h2h
The link http://www.centerforhearing/
did not work.

@sushilkbirla--oops, needs to be http://www.centerforhearing.org Apologies as I must have left off the .org.

Thank you for letting me know. Harry

@itsmeagain
The Williams Sound pocketalker might help at the theatre.

@itsmeagain Thanks you for sharing. I'm thinking, however, that this $250 device (Williams Sound pocketalker) wouldn't work better than my $3K hearing aids (with t-coil). But you never know! Thanks again.

@h2h -- well I still left a word off...geez

http://www.CenterForHearingAccess.org

Now that should work! If not, you could also just google the name Center for Hearing Access and it should come up as well. Sorry about that everyone.

@itsmeagain Thanks you for sharing. I'm thinking, however, that this $250 device (Williams Sound pocketalker) wouldn't work better than my $3K hearing aids (with t-coil). But you never know! Thanks again.

@jdalylew I agree that the Pocketalker isn't the right solution for the theater. This all relates to the 'signal to noise ratio' SNR The Pocketalker is a hand held hard wired device that has to be plugged into a neckloop or headset and is best used in a one on one situation. It can reach a ways with a long cord that runs across a room to a TV for example. Not in a theater. There you need a wireless connection, which is what the telecoil should provide if there is a loop, FM or Infrared system there.

Most of the more recent hand held microphones are wireless. They can be used at a greater distance but it's rather inconvenient to have to attach them to the PA system you want to hear. They work well in a car when clipped to someone's shirt, or in the cocktail party environment when you are talking to one other person and hold it in your hand or set it on the table.