Do you know about Telecoils & Hearing Loops in Public Spaces?

@asklar02492 I’ve been setting my Roger Pen in the center of the room and have found it very helpful. The room must have no background noise i.e. window air conditioning. It works with my group because only one person speaks at a time. I borrowed a Roger Table Mic that worked great under the same circumstances but it’s NOT useful at all in restaurants. I’m going to try the Roger select next in restaurants to see if it helps.

Thanks for the information! So far I've only purchased the individual MIC that speakers are supposed to attach to their lapels. I'll ask my audiologist about the Roger Pen! Ann

@judysmayo
Thanks for the info....so great to have information from someone who has used it. The problem with a lot of these ALDS is they fail when the background noise is too loud. This is when we need it most.

Regards from FL Mary

Just now happened on references to telecoil and hearing loop while web surfing. Now I have to find out if I even have it on my current hearing aids. Let me just say THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMON KNOWLEDGE. I cannot wait to go to a concert and actually hear the music clearly without being hurt by the sound levels. Hearing loop needs to be in many more places.

to nightwatchrenband

Yes definitely hearing loops need to be more widely publicized. There are very few in my area in Western Mass. When I think about requesting more (I'm just vaguely considering it at this point) I always get hung up on three things: 1. People need to have the telecoil as part of their hearing aides to use them (I'm not sure many people around here would have the feature since there are few places the telecoils are available and the audiologists aren't pushing them), 2. They're expensive for a venue to install ($10,000 or more) so it's a lot to ask for and 3. They only help out in situations where there is a microphone or other central source of sound. All that aside, however, it's a great idea and I will looking more closely at the HLAA article and the info on Mayo Connect. Ann

It can be frustrating. Knowing that you have a telecoil is only good if you have looped spaces. With regard to costs, the range is very wide. A counter-top loop for 1-to-1 conversations is well under $1000 and requires no installation. Depending upon the size of a room, a full room loop can be anywhere from $1500 to over $10k. Seems like a lot to ask of businesses -- but there is a federal tax credit available for this work, and there are many benefits for customers/patients/visitors and the employees who need to communicate with them.

@pegbell
Hi,
I would like to add to this about looping entertainment venues such as theaters and auditoriums.
A starting point to convincing the powers to be that make the decisions about installing loops might be
to inform them that the entire theater or auditorium does not have to be looped. A section or couple of rows
could be looped and reserved for those who need the area. If the area is not filled to capacity for a show, for
example, then the remaining seats can be filled by those who do not need a loop. It will cost less and no
seats would go unused. The looping section can always be expanded if needed.

Regards from FL Mary

Here’s a link for info about tax credit for accessibility improvements for small businesses
https://www.ada.gov/archive/taxpack.htm

The Induction Hearing Loop is OLD NEWS everyone. It is found in Europe for the last decade and has been in the US for the last 5 years. The Hearing Loss Association of America has been teaching and promoting this 'old' technology for some time but the problem is those who should be helping all of us use it, don't want to show and tell us about it. https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/hat/hearing-loop-technology/
The reason...it requires telling us about the little coil in our hearing aids - not all hearing aids have them remember... but this telecoil (t-coil) needs to be 'turned on' and also needs to be used in an environment that has an electromagnetic field or room that can hear within the loop system. It works like a mini WIFI system for your hearing aids. Granted, the loop sound system can't always be found everywhere because it has very specific standard with which it functions in order for you to hear with your aid/CI. Request need to be made to have the loop placed in rooms/auditoriums, houses of worships, theaters, etc and then specific measurements, assessments of the building, foundations, layouts of how the loop can be done for the benefit of the recipients must be made along with other considerations of the installers, all contribute to the cost of laying the induction hearing loop.
It's always much easier to lay the loop in a building that is being built than after the fact or if any renovations are being considered. That is why, if you all know of any renovations being considered around you, always be the first to offer your townships, cities the idea of placing the hearing loop for ADA accommodations for hard of hearing community involvement. They would be surprised at the number of people that are HOH nation wide especially in libraries. There is federal monies available for libraries to loop their community rooms and special computer rooms... Go after your libraries... I did in WI...and most of our libraries are looped now.
Also, ask your audiologist to tell you about the tcoil and show you what it is and how to use it. It helps you use your cell phone, it helps you use assistive listening devices and can be connected to other devices. Learn about it. IT's new and old - all in one.

I'm late to the discussion here. I just joined Mayo Connect.
We installed a hearing loop in our church last year. I was amazed at how many hearing aid users couldn't use it.
First of all most of the users are veterans and the VA did not supply them with t-coil equipped hearing aids. I had to specifically ask for mine and VA then provided them.
Second. Most folks either didn't know if they had t-coils or didn't know how to use them or the t-coils weren't activated by the audiologist.

What a shame on all accounts.