Hearing Loss Affects Everyone 36 million people have hearing loss –

and the number is growing

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions present at birth 16% of school aged children have hearing loss 1 in 5 U.S. teens have hearing loss 1 in 6 of baby boomers have hearing loss Hearing loss is the third most common condition in people older than 65

A hearing loop provides ACCESS for individuals with hearing loss.

A hearing loop is literally a copper wire that “loops” around the periphery of a room that transmits an electromagnetic field within its loop, allowing a hearing aid or cochlear implant’s telecoil (also called T-Coil) to function as an antenna directly linking the listener to the facility’s sound system

A hearing loop functionally serves to “get people in the loop” by providing access to help individuals with hearing loss understand in hard-to-hear environments such as:

at a distance in background noise in poor acoustical environments

What Is a Hearing Loop?

Artwork courtesy of David Myers.

Example of a Hearing LoopNote:The presenter at the pulpit is miced (1), the magnetic field is generated via a loop driver present on the back wall (2), sound then travels around the periphery of the room via a copper wire (2), which sends the signal directly to an individual’s hearing aid or cochlear implant (3).

Artwork courtesy of David Myers.

What Is a Telecoil (T-Coil)?A telecoil (T-Coil) is a small copper coil that is an option on most hearing aids and is built into cochlear implant processors.

T-Coils are used to receive the magnetic signal transmitted from a sound source. The signal is then processed by a hearing aid or cochlear implant and passed on to the auditory nerve as sound. The sound heard by the individual is already corrected by the hearing aid to match the wearer’s hearing needs.

What if I Don’t Have a T-Coil?

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), complimentary loop listening devices are available at all looped venues.

Photo courtesy of Steve Frazier.

Issue of Ambient Noise

Artwork courtesy of Heinz Nafzger .

noises of seats, footsteps ...

talking

children coughing

Ambient Noise (also known as background noise) can be caused by various sources.

Issue of Reverberation

Artwork courtesy of Heinz Nafzger .

Direct sound

spreaded sound

sound relections

Reverberation: The sound bouncing off walls and ceilings and other objects in the room causing what is described as an “echo.”

ReverberationWhat is a desirable reverberation time?

Reverberation

Speech recognition by degree of loss with reverberation (no noise)(R. Harris & D. Swenson 1990)

Amount of Sound Reverberation

Percentage of Words Understood

Speech recognition by degree of loss with reverberation in noise (+10dB SNR)(R. Harris & D. Swenson 1990)

Reverberation

Percentage of Words Understood

Amount of Sound Reverberation

Hearing Loops and Your TV

Artwork courtesy of David Myers.

Looping your living room helps improve TV listening .

You can still hear environmental sounds (i.e., spouse, doorbell, etc.).

You don’t lose the sound if someone walks between you and the TV.

You can sit anywhere in the room and still hear the TV.

The TV sound is customized to your hearing aids.

Personal Neck LoopsPersonal hearing loops can be worn around the neck to provide the user with the benefit of amplified hearing in both ears.

Neck loops can interface with: Cell Phones Personal FM Systems MP3 Players

Photos courtesy of Loop New Mexico

The Many Uses of Loops Computers Stereo and Surround Sound Systems TVs MP3 Players Phones (Cell and home) Alarm systems Speakers and announcers at pulpits or podiums

Signage: A Hearing Loop is Present

This symbol indicates the presence of a hearing loop and

prompts those with hearing aids/cochlear implants to turn

on their T-coils.

If they don't have t-coil equipped hearing aids/cochlear implants it alerts them to borrow a headset.

Places You Might Find Loops

AirportsSelected areas of Heathrow Airport and both concourses and all individual gate areas of Grand Rapids (MI) Airport are looped.

Photos courtesy of David Myers.

Places You Might Find Loops

Taxi CabsSome of the taxi cabs in New York and almost all taxi cabs in London have had loops installed for the convenience of passengers with hearing loss.

Places You Might Find Loops

Public Mass TransitIn London the ticket windows and customer information points for the tube are looped. New York City is in the process of installing loops systems in a large portion of their subway information booths.

Photos courtesy of David Myers.

Places You Might Find Loops

Stadiums and Event CentersEntire Stadiums can be looped like this recently looped Michigan State University Stadium.

Photos courtesy of David Myers.

Places You Might Find Loops

Places of WorshipAll places of worship can be looped.

Photos courtesy of Juliëtte Sterkens

Places You Might Find Loops

Meeting RoomsLarge conference rooms and/or meeting rooms at places of business and conventions can be looped.

Photo courtesy of Steve Frazier.

Places You Might Find Loops

Checkout CountersWhether at your local pharmacy, bank, or even convenience store the checkout counters can be looped.

Photo courtesy of Loop New Mexico

Let’s Loop America

Promoting loops in your community is promoting hearing aid compatible assistive

technology.

HLAA/Academy “Get in the Hearing Loop” Campaign

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) on behalf of people with hearing loss and the American Academy of Audiology (Academy) on behalf of audiologists announce a collaborative public education campaign “Get in the Hearing Loop.”

An education campaign to enlighten and excite hearing aid users and audiologists, about T-Coils, hearing loops, assistive listening devices and their unique benefits.

For more information on loops, T-Coils, and assistive listening devices, visit www.hearingloss.org.

Looping Has Worked for Others

“Just as my first pair of glasses astounded me as to what I missed seeing before, this loop was, and is, pure revelation--a veritable epiphany in my life…”K.C. Algoma Blvd United Methodist, Oshkosh, WI

“In all new and extensively remodeled buildings,wherever there is a public address system,a loop should be permanently installed.”California Hearing Loss Association, 2002

“Building Plans Should Include Hearing Loops”December 20, 2010 edition of the Post-Crescent News

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!I was in church Sunday and was experimenting with my hearing aid, having almost given up hope of ever understanding a full sentence in the sanctuary. Suddenly, Bang! The loop worked perfectly, and from then on I understood every word spoken by anyone with a microphone. What a delight. . . .What a blessing to have it in our church. Again, thank you for helping us.” (This individual was up in the choir loft.) Allen Davies, Lake Forest, IL 09/02/08