I am a new fan of Hearing Loops – also known as Induction Loops, a form of assistive listening system.

For years now, I’ve struggled with my decreasing ability to hear.  I wear bilateral hearing aids but large venues and background noise are frustrations. Meeting rooms are particularly tough – you know the kind where everyone sits around a large table, sometimes at quite a distance, and talks together.  I frequently can’t understand more than one person – either they are too distant, their voice too soft, or can’t get a clear line of sight. I lose track of the conversation and struggle to keep up. I recently joined a group that meets in a room with an induction loop assistive listening system and I’m fully included in the conversation again!

This technology utilizes microphones at the sound source and a loop system that broadcasts the sound.  I, like many others, have a telecoil in my hearing aids and when I switch the aids to the Telecoil setting, I only hear what is coming through the loop broadcast. The sound is loud and clear, very effective.

I just learned that this technology is used all over Europe, and in settings beyond meeting rooms or performance halls.  The local drug store might have a microphone for the pharmacist and a loop system to broadcast the sound.  A hearing aide  user has only to switch their hearing aids and hear private information, meant only for them, through their hearing aide.  Museum exhibits might have loops built in so that users could hear descriptions while standing by exhibits.

I’m impressed with the technology.  Now I need to start looking for the International Symbol.  Note the little T in the corner alerts you to the presence of Induction Loops.

For more information, see Let’s Loop America.