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T-coils Have Been Around Since WHEN?

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A lot of people think that t-coils and loop systems are a relatively new invention. I’ll bet you’ll never guess just how long t-coils have been available in hearing aids.

If you’re like most people, you probably guessed some time in the 1970s or 1980s. If you guessed that, you’d be way off base. In actual fact, the first hearing aid to have a t-coil was a vacuum tube table model that Tel-Audio came out with back in 1936!

Two years later, in 1938, Multitone of Great Britain produced their model VPM (vest-pocket model)—the first wearable hearing aid with a t-coil. Here in the USA, it took until 1946 before RadioEar produced their Multipower “Phonemaster”, the first American hearing aid with a t-coil. Since the 1950s, t-coils have been standard features on a number of hearing aids.

As some of you may know, I am the owner of the largest on-line hearing aid museum in the world.

Recently the museum acquired a Sonotone Model 200 transistorized body-style hearing aid made in 1956 with a built-in t-coil. That is nothing unique. But what was unique is that it came with a small loop pad that you could hook up to your TV and so listen to your TV via this loop pad. (I’m not aware of any other of these loop pads still in existence!)

You hooked the loop pad to your TV by simply clipping two alligator clips to the TV’s speaker wires. Then you set the loop pad down beside you and placed the body of your hearing aid on the loop pad and turned the mic/t-coil switch to the t-coil position.

If you’d like to see this Sonotone 200 hearing aid set on the loop pad, it is shown on the 11th picture down. Cool isn’t it? (For more information on this loop pad, click on the “Sonotone Miniature Loop Pad” link beside this picture.)

Compare this antique loop pad to a modern loop pad that is in use today.

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Hearing Loss Research & Resources

Free Visor Cards

Download your free Visor Cards for hard of hearing or deaf people here.

Loop Systems

Loop your home or meeting room. Discover how you can hear wonderfully clear sound again when listening to the TV/radio, etc, or when listening to a speaker at a meeting.

Loop systems are one of the best-kept secrets in town. To learn more about Loop Systems and what they can do for you, click here.

Take Control of Your Tinnitus—Here’s How

If your ears ring, buzz, chirp, hiss, click or roar, you know just how annoying tinnitus can be. You do not have to put up with this racket for the rest of your life. This book teaches you many things you can do to help bring your tinnitus under your control so it no longer bothers you.

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Sounds Now Too Loud for You?

Hypersensitive to Sound front coverIf some (or all) normal sounds seem so loud they “blow the top of your head off”, or make you wince or jump, or cause you headaches or ear pain, or affect your balance, or result in fear or annoyance of sounds so you feel you have to avoid these sounds, this book is for you!

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Hearing Phantom Sounds?

When hard of hearing people begin hearing phantom voices or music, they immediately worry they are going crazy. It never crosses their minds that they are sane and are just experiencing Musical Ear syndrome.

To learn more about the strange phantom sounds of Musical Ear syndrome and what you can do about them, click here to read a comprehensive article about Musical Ear Syndrome.

Or get the book—Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

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Center for Hearing Loss Help

Neil G. Bauman, Ph.D.

1013 Ridgeway Drive, Lynden,
WA 98264-1057 USA

Email: neil@hearinglosshelp.com

Phone: 360-778-1266 (M-F 9:00 AM-5:00 PM PST)

© 2025 Center for Hearing Loss Help – Help for your hearing loss, tinnitus and other ear conditions

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life [which also includes perfect hearing] through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 6:23]

"But know this, in the last days perilous times will come" [2 Timothy 3:1]. "For there will be famines, pestilences, and [severe] earthquakes in various places" [Matthew 24:7], "distress of nations, the sea and the waves roaring"—tsunamis, hurricanes—Luke 21:25, but this is good news if you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for "when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads [and rejoice] because your redemption draws near" [Luke 21:28].