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The value of telecoils in hearing aids
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Jul 8, 2020 | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
It seems a lot of hearing aids don't have t-coils because there are too few looped facilities. And there are too few looped facilities because people don't have t-coils and ask for them. We need to promote hearing loops more and raise awareness of their potential. I'm appalled at how many audiologists don't promote t-coils.
I'm trying to get VA to install hearing loops in my local clinic and my request has been denied twice. I requested a room loop and counter top models for check-in. VA has more patients with hearing loss than any other provider, yet some facilities refuse to provide hearing loops. I'm not giving up yet.
We installed a loop in our church 2 years ago. My guess was that 95% of hearing aid users did not have t-coils in their hearing aids, or had t-coils that were not activated, or had active t-coils but didn't know how to use them. A lot of these folks were veterans and I told them to go to VA and tell them to provide t-coils. They will generally do this IF the patient demands.
So, since the audiologists aren't promoting t-coils I guess it is on us to advocate for ourselves.
Replies to "It seems a lot of hearing aids don't have t-coils because there are too few looped..."
What about also trying to get legislative change through ADA? Telecoils are cheap for manufacturers and probably used to be generally installed to enable us to hear landlines. In my experience manufacturers will do the minimum required but will follow laws.
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WE WANT TO HEAR! Right? We spend big bucks for hearing aids. They should be able to do everything they possibly can do to make better hearing possible. The new thing is to push BlueTooth streaming. BT is great, but it has limitations. I use it, but I would not give up a telecoil to have it. I want both!
The real issue is 'size'. Look at all the ads for hearing aids. Everyone of them promotes "invisible"; "so small no one will know you're wearing it", etc. The industry is marketing denial. The smaller the device the fewer components inside it. Therefore, telecoils are being left out due to space in new designs. Telecoil components base cost is less than $30, and probably more like $2. On the other hand, BT added to a hearing aid will increase the cost considerably. Makes you wonder how important the profit issue is doesn't it?
Telecoils can be used in many unlooped settings. They can be used with FM systems and with Infrared systems by simply adding a neckloop to the receivers required with FM and IR. As I mentioned earlier, those neckloops can connect to many other audio devices we need to hear on to use. I carry one in my purse to use with my cell phone. Yes, I can use a BT clip, but the neckloop is easier, and I don't have to worry about something clipped on my shirt.
Another issue here is education. To teach a person to use a telecoil, the fitter has to be willing to take the time to show a person how it works. They should install a hearing loop in their office so then can demonstrate it. They should show the patient how to use a neckloop with a computer, cell phone, radio, etc. It takes time and TIME IS MONEY. It's a shame that people have to learn about things that work from people who use them rather than from the people who sell them. I doubt that anyone would choose to buy a car without air conditioning. You don't need it all the time, but when you do, you sure don't want to be without it. Telecoils are like that. When it comes to hearing aids we need to think like consumers, not patients.
People with hearing loss have a right to 'communication access'. We have an invisible disability. It is a disability nevertheless, and it is covered under the American's with Disabilities Act. However, that act also says we have to ask for what we need. When we don't know what we need we are stumped. Learn, do the advocacy. Get out and educate instead of hiding those hearing aids. HLAA is working very hard to promote hearing loop technology, but it takes people everywhere to do the educating.
Obviously, this issue is dear to my heart. Sorry for such expounding. YOU are the solution to this, along with 40+ million other hard of hearing people in the USA. I'm sure that Canada has millions too.