Hearing aids can change the lives of anyone with a hearing impairment. Even though modern hearing devices incorporate state-of-the-art technology, manufacturers struggle to provide solutions in tricky listening environments.
To overcome the most significant challenge hearing aid wearers face, venue managers may choose to install a loop system for hearing aid users in public locations.
These audio induction loop systems cut out background noise, making life simpler for sufferers of hearing loss.
Hearing looping systems are specialized sound systems dedicated to hearing aid wearers because they filter out background noise in complex listening environments. You can commonly find hearing aid loop amplifiers in public places, such as cinemas, auditoriums, churches, and town halls.
In hearing loop locations, the system sends out a wireless magnetic signal designed to be picked up by hearing aids. These systems work with t coil hearing aids. As long as the device uses a t-coil, it can receive the signal from the loop system. Thankfully, most modern hearing aids already come with telecoil technology.
Hearing loop installers integrate these systems into public places where hearing aid wearers would traditionally have difficulty. These systems use a microphone to pick up sounds and an amplifier to process the signal and transfer it to a loop cable. The loop cable is nothing more than a fixed wire spread across a specific perimeter. In some hearing loop locations, the loop cable will cover an entire building.
A hearing aid loop amplifier will only work with hearing aids that use telecoil technology (also known as a t-coil or a t-switch.) Essentially, the t-switch detects the magnetic signal and amplifies that signal, enabling the hearing aid to hear the noise in the foreground and minimize background disturbances.
If a facility cannot afford the hearing loop system cost, they may choose to issue neck loops, devices worn around the necks of hearing aid wearers.
Primarily, hearing loops perform best when venues use them to highlight one sound, like a speech. Churches, town halls, and senior centers are, therefore, the best locations for the installation of hearing loop systems.
Several factors influence the sound quality experienced by a hearing aid wearer, such as:
While hearing aids are getting better at interfacing with looping systems, they can still be relatively ineffective for processing music. Looping systems often fail to differentiate between the music and the background noise, leading to a low-quality hearing experience.
For many facilities, the cost can be a barrier to hearing loops installation. However, large public buildings should have these systems to increase accessibility for the hearing impaired. If your business cannot afford to install a complex system, you have options. The flexibility of hearing loop systems makes them such valuable devices. They come in smaller, more budget-friendly forms like a neck loop or a behind-the-ear adapter.
These versions may be used in passenger vehicles or even plugged into a designated sound source, such as headphones. Some are even designed for only one or two listeners.
While hearing looping systems are essential in many public spaces, they are beneficial in private locations, as well. These systems can cover an entire building, but they also work well in smaller areas, such as a living room.
In short, hearing loop locations are welcoming and accessible to those who have a hearing impairment. If you suffer from hearing loss, you can download apps that pinpoint locations nearby with hearing aid loop amplifiers available.
Installing a hearing loop system is relatively simple. You can install them beneath the floor, on the floor, on the walls, or the ceiling — depending on what phase of construction your building is in.
Ground-level installations will typically use flat copper tape beneath surfaces like carpets. Loops installed at higher levels will use plastic trunking attached to the interior’s features.
For facilities, the complexity of the installation is not the problem. The hearing loop cost, however, can be prohibitive.
For a small space, it can cost between $2,500 and $4,500 on average, which is about the cost of a pair of the latest hearing aids. On the other hand, larger public arenas, such as churches and senior centers, may see installation costs as high as $5,000 to $35,000.
In the case of huge venues, such as performing art centers, the cost can be as high as $100,000 to $150,000.
While beneficial, building managers may decide whether to bear the hearing loop cost based on their target demographics.
Hearing looping systems are extremely beneficial for wearers of hearing aids. While state-of-the-art hearing aids have become better at filtering out background noise, looping systems remain the gold standard for public areas.
If you want to benefit from public hearing loop systems, start your journey to better hearing now and contact EarPros. We can help you book your free hearing test with a licensed audiologist in your area, so get in touch now.
