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Commendations of Hearing Aid Compatible
Assistive Listening
The first international “Hearing Loops” conference,
hosted in late 2009 by the European Federation of Hard of
Hearing People, was attended by nearly 100 people from fifteen
nations, nearly all of whom were people with hearing loss
or hearing industry and organization representatives, including
the executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of
America. As the conference concluded, the conferees adopted
a resolution recommending that
- hearing aid manufacturers, manufacturers of cochlear implants,
physicians, audiologists and hearing instrument specialists
shall communicate the benefits of hearing aid/cochlear implant
telecoil receivers for phone listening and assistive listening
and educate people who are hard of hearing accordingly.
- venues and service points where sound is broadcast shall
offer assistive listening, such as induction loop systems
designed to the IEC 60118-4:2006 standard, that broadcast
sound directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants, enabling
them to serve as customized, wireless loudspeakers (without
the need for extra equipment). (Source: www.hearingloops.org)
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) "as a
matter of policy HLAA does not endorse one technology over
another." But it has supported hearing aid compatibility
for phones (which communicate interference-free sound to telecoils).
And it has declared that:
"It is the position of [HLAA] that telecoils be given the
prominence they deserve as a valuable hearing aid feature
that will allow the expanded use of assistive listening
devices."
~Hearing
Loss Association of America
HLAA executive director Brenda Battat also states, regarding
the exciting 2009 New York City proposal to loop 488 subway
booths, that "HLAA strongly supports the plan to install
assistive technology at NYC subway booths. This is welcome
news for subway riders who use telecoil equipped hearing
aids and cochlear implants. It will greatly increase access
especially when coupled with prominent signage and subway
staff training in how to communicate with people with hearing
loss" (with permission to quote).
Some affiliate state and local HLAA chapters are now endorsing
assistive listening that communicates directly via hearing
aids (with hearing loops being the currently feasible technology
for doing so). Examples:
"On behalf of Michigan's hard of hearing persons, HLA-MI
recommends that Michigan's public places, as defined by
ADA and MPDCR, and where sound is broadcast, install assistive
listening systems that broadcast directly through hearing
aids and cochlear implants. . ." more
"In all new and extensively remodeled buildings, wherever
there is a public address system, a loop should be permanently
installed. . . . When there is a loop, all a hard of hearing
person has to do to be able to hear, is click on the T-switches
on their hearing aids."
~Hearing
Loss Association of California
"Loop
New Mexico is an initiative undertaken by the
Hearing Loss Association of Albuquerque. . . ." (See
also "Let’s
Loop Tucson" from the independent Adult
Loss of Hearing Association.)
"[Although] no one system is going to reach all hard
of hearing people . . . loop systems are preferred for houses
of worship because personal receivers and especially headphones
are often a problem. There is good evidence that many people
do not extend themselves to identify their need, collect
personal receivers ahead of time, and wear rather noticeable
headsets. Such receivers are always required for FM and
infrared systems."
~Rochester
HLAA chapter
Britain’s Royal National Institute for Deaf People
(RNID)
notes that "Induction loops are vital to ensure accessibility
for hearing aid wearers," and offers suggestions for
installing and checking them.
Various hearing leaders have also voiced support of the overarching
concept of increased functionality for hearing aids:
Terry Portis, former executive director HLAA (quoted
with permission):
"Our country will never be accessible for people
who are hard of hearing unless we make hearing aid compatible
assistive listening a reality."
Sergei Kochkin, Better Hearing Institute executive director
(in the Hearing
Journal):
"Clearly the utility of hearing aids must be improved
if we are to achieve wider-scale acceptance of hearing
aids as a solution to hearing loss. In an earlier paper,
a wireless solution was proposed for hearing aid users.
In simple terms, this paper recommended:
•Miniaturized internal wireless receivers in every
hearing aid. . . ."
Santa Rosa, California, audiologist William Diles in the Hearing
Journal:
"We've installed loops in over 1500 homes. . . .
Our patients often find the telecoil/loop program to be
their favorite hearing aid feature. Having a loop in their
home greatly improves their satisfaction with the hearing
aids, as we've confirmed through satisfaction surveys.
Since the loop is a hearing-aid compatible solution--as
opposed to headphones, which are incompatible and compete
with our core product--it gives patients one more reason
to enjoy their hearing aids."
Bjørn Christ, past-president ReSound USA in the Hearing
Journal:
"Loop systems and telecoils have a tremendous advantage
over current and upcoming technologies as regards cost.
I am hard-pressed to come up with competing technologies
that will seriously challenge the performance/price equation
of loops in the next 5 years. And from a cosmetics/stigma
point of view, telecoils are even finding their way into
micro-BTEs these days."
American Academy of Audiology Career Award in Hearing winner
Mark Ross in the Hearing
Journal:
"If we could . . . make it known that [telecoils]
are also effective and convenient receivers for assistive
listening devices (ALDs), then their potential benefits
could be fully realized in the U.S., as they have been in
some other countries. . . . It takes only a little reflection
to appreciate the advantages of a telecoil over traditional
FM or IR systems. As long as the consumer has his or her
hearing aids on, the "receiver" for an assistive
listening system (ALS) is always handy. It is not necessary
to remove one's hearing aid or to borrow and return a receiver
supplied by a facility. Furthermore, when using one's own
hearing aids, a person can be assured that the system is
working appropriately and that the hearing aid programming
options are retained. All a consumer has to do is enter
the looped facility and switch the hearing aids to the T
position, or to M/T if simultaneous acoustic access is also
desired. Nothing could be more convenient."
(Mark Ross also writes, in another Hearing
Journal issue, that "The telecoil
is by far the most convenient TV assistive listening device
I've ever used, and I've used them all (hard wire, FM, infrared)."
Sample comments from persons with hearing loss,
audiologists, and audio experts (with permission):
----- Original Message -----
To: David Myers
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:33 AM
Subject: T-coil loop
My husband and I are travelling in Norway. We were lucky
enough to get tickets for Swan Lake at the new
Oslo Opera House. I notice that it had been looped for T-coil.
I flipped the switch on my [cochlear implant] processor,
and the sound came in beautifully. This was stark contrast
to a concert we went to at Avery Fisher Hall (Lincoln Center)
in NYC the night before we left, where I borrowed an ALD
which brought in mostly static. I thought of your article
in the HLAA magazine and your work to get Western Michigan
looped. Bravo. When I get back, I'm going to bring this
to the attention of the administration at Lincoln Center.
Greetings from Norway,
Julia Rosenblatt
----- Original Message -----
cc: David Myers
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 2:34 PM
Subject: Why I haven't sent more pictures
. . . the induction loop is so common that there isn't always
signage for it.
"All the churches have them," the organist at
the Stavanger Cathedral told me yesterday. I haven't seen
a sign in any church. I tested it out at the worship service
this morning. Sure enough, when I switched on the T switch,
the sound came in so clearly that I was sure I could have
understood every word of the minister had she not been speaking
Norwegian. I've been told it's the law to have them. Perhaps
someone in the Norwegian government can verify it. The sound
quality was so good, I could get rhapsodic about it.
----- Original Message -----
To: David Myers
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 3:35 PM
Subject: Hearing loop comment in Oshkosh
Thank you Dave for giving us a great new way to put smiles
on people’s faces...See comments below. We spent three
hours at the Algoma blvd. United Methodist Church and at
every service we encountered comments and expressions of
gratitude like this one. Amazing. My test-engineer/skeptical
loop installer husband was totally "converted"
after this morning.
Juliette
Good morning again:
I am home now and I can't stop smiling. The system went
way beyond meeting my expectations. I was in awe. From the
very first words Barry spoke, I could understand every word.
It was wonderful. Every minute you and Max have spent on
that system is worth it 10 times over. It was great to sit
in wonderment and watch the faces of the people as they
"tuned in." What an overwhelming experience. Thank
you so much. I thought I would never again be able to experience
a church service where I could hear every word and be able
to follow along with the music knowing I was singing the
correct note and verse. Usually Pam tells me what verses
we are singing - today I could tell her!
----- Original Message -----
To: David Myers
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:02 PM
Subject: Re: loop stuff
David,
. . . I've set up my home loop system and it is very helpful!
Thanks again,
Deidre
[Deidre Downs, the 2005 Miss America, has significant
hearing loss.
----- Original Message -----
10/22/2002 8:50:14 AM
To: David Myers
Hello David,
. . . .The Michigan [HLA—see above] resolution does
not appear to conflict with existing or upcoming federal
rules and would be a great benefit to people who are hard
or hearing. . . .
Marsha K. Mazz
Technical Assistance Coordinator
U.S. Access Board (www.access-board.gov)
----- Original Message -----
8/6/2002 8:50:40 PM
To: David Myers
. . . Never in my audiology career has something so simple
helped so many people at so little cost.
Jerry Owens, Audiologist
----- Original Message -----
6/23/2008 11:50:53 AM
To: David Myers
David,
When ASCOM was introduced to the reemergence of loop systems,
we were reluctant to promote this technology as most people
did not have compatible hearing aids. What we did not consider
was the influence consumers could make on this technology.
When individuals with hearing loss had a chance to experience
the hearing loops or talk to someone who had, the demand
for both hearing aids w/coils and loop systems increased
dramatically. After installing our first loop system and
seeing the reaction from the individuals with hearing loss,
we immediately shifted our sales focus to loop systems.
It has been several years since we have installed an RF
hearing assistance system. The two biggest problems from
a user's standpoint with RF systems are: A) The user must
pick up a belt pack and earpiece from the sound technician,
building manager, or host. Problems with this can vary:
Is the facility even marked as having hearing assistance
available and who do you see about getting one? nobody can
find the devices, nobody knows how to use them, they are
in bad repair and do not work, the batteries are dead and
replacements are not available, just to name a few. B) The
earpieces are not tuned specifically to the individual level
of hearing loss making them, in some cases, useless after
finally finding one. It is like wearing someone else glasses
to see."
Todd Billin
ASCOM Inc.
----- Original Message -----
2/3/2003 10:12:19 PM
To: David Myers
Hello David,
Audiocoils [telecoils] transform hearing aids into "personal
communication systems" . . . I am glad to be a part
of an initiative that makes such a significant difference
in someone's ability not only to communicate but to participate.
Sincerely,
[Audiologist] Karen Van Doorne
"The experience of actually hearing such clear sounds
was thrilling and hard to describe. One has to experience
the improvement. It seemed overwhelming."
Donald Vandebunte [A hard of hearing churchgoer after experiencing
his church’s new hearing loop]
Date: Sun, May 31, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Subject: Hearing Loop Article May 2006 in Hearing Journal
To: David Myers
Dear Dr. Myers:
I can certainly attest to the spread of the loop system
in Michigan. Before we installed our [church’s] system
I telephoned a number of facilities listed by a loop vendor
as having installed such a system. I was amazed to discover
that not a single installed site had anything but vociferous
praise for the product!!! One would expect at least one
nay-sayer in a group that large (22). But there was not
a single one!!!
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