Hand held microphones that can be used with hearing aids

@tonyinmi
Hi,
Yes I did use the neck loop with the Pocket Talker and did not like the sound. I love my TCoil setting as I use it in a looped area and for the car GPS and occasionally for my phone.

I can use in on my Captel landline but I have ear links plugged in that are fine for that . So I would not change the TCoil setting at this point and we have played with that at my Audis office. I trialed the ComPilot with the clip on mics last year and hated that. I did not use a neck loop with that. I don’t think I was aware that you could do so. However I found the ComPilot excellent with TV but still need captions so I don’t see the point of using it just for that. My normal bag is small and I would have to tote around too much stuff in a larger bag and I don’t want to do that.

But hey, please chime in anytime if you have other suggestions that might help me. I use Innocaption and have used the ear links on the TCoil setting but don’t find it that helpful as I still need to see people’s lips. Also, when I swipe answer a call, I’m not “hooked up”. I hear the voice on Innocaption which helps as I am reading.

I’m looking for something wireless now for group conversations that does not require anyone wearing a mic so a handheld mini mic sounds good to me. Most of the android apps require headphones or earbuds. I’m going to browse the play store again to see if there are any that do not. I’ll dig out the pocket talker again and try it with the neck loop again. I like to play around with these things . Before the pandemic I was talking to my Audi about a different brand aid with smartphone apps so I will revisit that again.

Thanks for chiming in !

FL Mary

@imallears, You can always get an additional Tcoil program. No need to "ruin" something that works good in most situations. Ideally, the manufacturers need to give us more control of our hearing aid settings. We have some control, but I would like even more. I wouldn't be surprised if its a marketing ploy to get us to buy hearing aids more often. They roll out more control over time.
For group situations, a table mic may work. Roger makes a nice table mic that I'm anxious to try. I don't know anyone that has it though.
Tony in Michigan

@tonyinmi
Hi
I had an additional TCoil plus mic setting but didn’t like it so had that disabled. But that’s a thought...have her play around with another T setting while I use Netflix on my phone. I left my neck loop in the hot car for several months so now it is kaput. I have had it for many years. Then I remembered I gave my pocket talker away. So I will order another neckloop because my ear links are fragile and remember not to leave the loop in the car.
Do you have a brand neckloop you like? Got the broken one from Williams Sound.

On another journey here and have to get back to the Audi...she only returned to the office in August and is probably besieged at this point. Meanwhile waiting to hear about mini mics and will research them.

Thanks again

FL Mary

@imallears, I have not tried a lot of neckloops. Williams Sound and Listen Technologies comes to mind though. Maybe @julieo4 has some favorites???
Tony in Michigan

@tonyinmi does this discussion thread apply only to hearing aids or also to CIs? (I am essentially deaf in 1 ear, I had hearing aids for a couple of decades and now a CI.)

Hi FL Mary, I use the mini mic and the mini mic 2+ with my N6 Cochlear implant. It does not work with my Widex hearing aid, which is frustrating. Frustrating to have to have a specific brand of HA with a CI to use the accessories. If I had a ReSound HA it would work bilaterally. Long story short. I tried ReSound and did not get the same results I have with the Widex in regular use, so chose to stay with Widex. I will probably switch to ReSound next time around. Prior to using the Mini MIcs, I used the Phonak MicroLink. I absolutely loved that device. I wore out 3 of them! That was prior to having the CI. I was teaching then, and used it with students in physical education classes. The kids were great about using it and knew if I wanted to know what they were saying they had to. Heaven only knows what they were saying without using it! Prior to that I used a Phonak direct audio input hand held mike. It looked like a black cigarette, so people kind of laughed at that. However, that DIA device is what sold me on using a microphone. Funny story...(now). When I started using that DIA mike, which had a long cord that plugged into my HA, I was in a large social setting with casual acquaintances. We, ladies, were standing in a circle talking and I was participating in the conversation. One of the women called me aside to ask what I was using. I explained. Her comment "That's interesting, I never thought you were smart." My response was "Now you know.". I wasn't insulted, but she was embarrassed after saying that. In reality, it gave me the courage to keep using it and letting it show. Back to that earlier statement...when we appear to be helping ourselves, other people are more likely to help us.

Back to hand held mics. The Roger Pen is high quality and expensive, (over $1000), but it works when used correctly. I have one, but rarely use it. Like Tony, I need a streamer to use it. Just don't find it practical. It's good quality is that it can be used with telecoils in any brand of hearing aids or CIs with the streamer. The Pocketalker, which is around $200, works well. The newer model is superior to the older ones. They have been around for a long time. The new one includes a telecoil so people who don't use telecoils equipped HAs can use it with earphones. It's an excellent 'test' device for someone who needs hearing help but doesn't have HAs. There are other brands. Problem is, for the most part you have to buy it to try it, which is grossly unfair. Look for an assistive device demo center to see if they loan items like this out. Our HLAA Chapter has a loan project with several of the devices.

My N6 has a port for direct audio input and I still have a plug in model with a cord to use in a pinch. It works, but the cord is cumbersome. The hand held w/o cord came out after the corded mike. It seems that the manufacture suddenly realized that people do want to hear in noisy settings.

FL Mary, let us know what you decide to try.

Julie chiming in to Tony 🙂 Two of the 4 settings I have on my Widex aid are set to telecoil. It is worth it to me to give up a different option to have them both. I use the neckloop a lot, so my t-coils are in use a lot. My choice.

I've had success with Williams Sound neckloops, also Comtek and Phonic Ear. I am not sure the latter two are even made anymore. None of these have batteries or controls, they are simply plug in and turn your telecoils on; hearing aids and/or CIs. Other brands have batteries that allow you to control the volume and get more power. I have manual volume control on my personal devices, so find those models unnecessary. And, I don't have to have batteries handy if they die. Others may tell you they like the options that come with the powered neckloops. Not me.

@barbb, this discussion is applicable to CI's too. Telecoils and programming are considerations for both.
Tony in Michigan

@julieo4
Wow, a lot of info and thanks so much. I am going to check out the phonak microlink and research the mini mics so I may have to come back to you with a question. For now I will look at a new loop as I have to be careful with these earlinks, which I don't think are made anymore. I don't even remember how old they are . I like to keep them at home attached to my Captel.

That woman's comment is such a typical one. Some people assume you are not smart because you don't always get things right away. I have had similar comments made to me over the years which is why I developed such a pro active assertive stance towards people regarding my hearing. Maybe our puzzled expressions add to their misconception so I am always careful to look intelligent and not too confused. We assume everyone knows about hearing loss but that isn't true. I remember when my father was on life support and the female doctor was addressing all her comments to my then husband. I told her in no uncertain terms to address them to me even if I needed to ask her to repeat. I think that may have been the beginning of my new approach to people.

Thanks again,
FL Mary