Increasing Hearing Capability in Loud Public Places and Meetings: The Advantage of the Hearing Loop

Individuals with hearing impairments no longer have to sit in silence, afraid that they can’t respond appropriately to questions put to them in a business meeting because the background noise is overwhelming the details. Thanks to the hearing loop, this has all changes, leveling the playing field for hearing impaired people. It’s true that hearing aids assist those with hearing loss hear better but sometimes those same people have a hard time hearing within public places or crowded conference rooms because of the extra background noises. This is where hearing loops come in: present within many conference rooms, lecture halls and public transportation areas. They provide an advantage to the hearing impaired community due to the emergence of more community awareness for hearing problems as well as more affordable technology.

What Are Hearing Loops?

Necessary in conference rooms and meetings, hearing loops offer hearing impaired people a better way to connect sound with their existing devices. This is all done without extra cumbersome equipment. In fact, you may not even know the hearing loop is there, it’s that unassuming. Operating under the principle of two basic forms of technology: the hearing aid itself and a cable that circles a room, the hearing loop has a cable that detects detailed sounds within that particular area. This is so people with hearing aids can detect crystal clear detail on conversations where they are being spoken.

A Closer Look

A more detailed look at the technology behind hearing loops shows us this two-part system involves placing a loop strategically around a room or area to help those with hearing aids pick up directed sound. Working in tandem with t-switches present in modern hearing aids and cochlear implants, this telephone technology-inspired device is a godsend to many. The transmission sends electromagnetic signals to telecoils in hearing aids, using the same components in handset telephones responsible for a higher range of frequency and signal when not on their home base.
The hearing aid user gets a clear, crisp sound that he would otherwise miss out on with a hearing aid alone. You can use this with a microphone for even better sound should you require additional amplification. Spurred on by this telecoil technology, hearing loops are perfect for detecting electromagnetic sounds that are transmitted to the user.

Implementation

Hearing loops offer a unique component to any hearing impaired individual in a group setting. Particularly useful in conference rooms across America, as well as public areas, hearing loops are being considered a law in many states and nations.