by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A man wrote:
I received the T-Links and hooked them up to my ClearSounds amplified telephone model CSC50. They function as advertised however in my particular case the sound that I get is just not quite loud enough. This is true even though the telephone amplification is turned to its high limit and my BTE hearing aid volume controls are set at the highest level. What do you suggest? Is there some way of amplifying the signal? The other party has no problem hearing my voice. The sound is useable but I miss a lot of the words. If I could just amplify the T-Links a bit I would be satisfied.
I hear you. Sometimes I’m in the same boat, just need a bit more volume and not able to get it. Here are two things for you to consider.
1. Not all phones are created equal. Some don’t have as loud a signal on to the t-coil jack as others do. Thus you need more volume to run them. You can try plugging the T-Links into other phones and see which one gives you the most volume.
2. Not all t-coils are created equal. The t-coils in your hearing aids may not be strong enough in the first place, or are not set up to provide full volume. This is an internal adjustment done by your audiologist.
For example, using my new hearing aids with their t-coils on my Walker Clarity amplified phone is a waste of time. There is just not enough volume to hear with, but my old hearing aids have wonderful t-coils and I have lots of volume when using this same phone.
Obviously, I need to get different t-coils in my new hearing aids to bring them up to “snuff.” You might need to do the same. Also note that many dispensers never set the t-coils up properly in the first place.
In addition, orientation is important. If your t-coils are oriented in the wrong plane, you won’t hear well if the T-Links require a different orientation. (This is true for all devices that use t-coils such as phones and room loops as well.) Some t-coils are oriented to pick up better from vertical loops and others from horizontal loops. With my new hearing aids, I have to have the ear hooks raised off my ears about half an inch before the sound comes in loud and clear. But when they are sitting down on my ears, I don’t hear much at all. With my old hearing aids, I hear wonderfully well with the T-Links seated properly.