WHAT IS AN AUDIO LOOP?

An audio (induction) loop is a wire loop (or thin loop pad) attached to an amplifier.  It creates a magnetic field that broadcasts sound, in pure, undistorted form, directly to people who are within the loop and have a hearing aid containing a telecoil.  

 ADVANTAGES OF AN AUDIO LOOP

• Pure Sound - undistorted by background noise
• Personalized Sound - customized by your own hearing aids to correct for your specific hearing loss.
• Normal Volume - for you & others in the room with you (TV/VCR no longer has to be too loud for others--a "Marriage Saver"!).
• No Headset or Neckloop (inconspicuous) - uses hearing aids (containing telecoils).

 Here are a dozen advantages of loop systems.  They . . .

Are hearing aid compatible.  This also means there's no need when at worship to juggle between hearing aids out/headset on (during sermons) and hearing aids in/headset off (during singing).

Can harness, at no added expense to the hearing aid wearer, the same telecoil technology used by hearing aid compatible telephones.

Require (for those with telecoils) no pickup and remembering to return portable receiving units and headsets.

Require purchasing/maintaining/replacing fewer portable receiving units (for those as yet without telecoils or heading aids).

Operate on a universal frequency (FM systems operate on differing frequencies, requiring receivers for each venue).

Serve those with most new cochlear implants (which come with telecoils) as well as those with hearing aids (especially those most needing assistive listening, who generally have behind-the-ear aids, which generally include strong telecoils).

Are inconspicuous.  Loop systems offer an easy and invisible solution to an invisible problem, thus are much more likely to be used.

Work in transient situations.  They can serve the hard of hearing at ticket counters, teller windows, airport gate areas, train stations, etc.--venues where other assistive listening systems are impractical.

Contain sound.  Because sound broadcast through hearing aids is contained within one's ear, there is no risk of leaked headset sound bothering others nearby.

Afford flexible use.  Can allow either direct listening or loop broadcast modes, or both.  Also typically allow M/T (mic + telecoil) settings to allow both assistive listening from PA system or TV and normal listening of conversation or singing from people nearby.

Deliver personalized in-the-ear- sound--sound customized by one's own hearing aids to address one's own hearing loss.

Are, for all these reasons, much more likely to be used--and to be increasingly used,  once installed (as people purchase future aids with T-coils).                  

                                                          David G. Myers, PhD