by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A man wrote:

I have an appointment this Thursday to get new hearing aids with T-coils. I am truly excited about all the new better hearing avenues this will add to my “not too good hearing” life. I’m an accountant and, as you can imagine, I have to dress up every day for work (shirt & tie). I really like the features of the MaxIT Bluetooth Neckloop, but have one quick question:

Does the bluetooth apparatus have to remain on the loop necklace or is the necklace something I can remove and just keep the bluetooth piece in my shirt’s breast pocket?

The MaxIT Bluetooth Neckloop is one integrated piece. The “dongle” part contains the bluetooth electronics and battery. The “necklace” is really a neckloop. The bluetooth dongle wirelessly “connects” to your cell phone, while the neckloop “connects” to your hearing aids via their t-coils. Thus both parts are necessary. The neckloop is not just a lanyard to hold the dongle, but a vital part of the whole device.

Therefore, you need to wear the neckloop around your neck the way it was designed to work. However, if you want it to be reasonably invisible, wear the neckloop under your shirt and let the bluetooth dongle stick out the front of your shirt (so you can get at the buttons on it to make/answer calls), but it can be hidden behind your tie.

You can learn more about the MaxIT Bluetooth Neckloop, or order one for yourself by clicking on the above link.