When you walk into a church, auditorium or other public building you don’t know whether the area has a hearing loop installed unless someone tells you, or you see signs on the walls. This is because loop systems are typically invisible when installed. Unfortunately, many hard of hearing people don’t even know what the signs […]
How to Make a Double-Wire Loop
To make a double wire loop, get a roll of standard 18 gauge speaker wire. (With speaker wire, the two wires lay side by side like in a normal extension cord.) I use Radio Shack’s speaker wire Double wire loop layout(Catalog No. 278-1104) which costs $19.99 for a 100 foot roll. If you look at […]
Two Basic Kinds of Loop Amplifiers and Why the Current Amplifier is Better for Loop Systems
There are two basic kinds of amplifiers-voltage amplifiers and current amplifiers. Amplifiers designed specifically to work with loop systems (like the Contacta HLD3) are current amplifiers. Amplifiers that drive normal loudspeaker systems are voltage amplifiers. Current Amplifiers If you are setting up a loop system, using a current amplifier is much easier than using a […]
Using T-Coils to Couple Your Hearing Aids to Various Audio Devices
I’m a bit confused about how to use the t-coils in my hearing aids with various assistive listening devices and other audio devices. What do I need to do? What do I need to get? This article explains the pros and cons of using neckloops, silhouettes and ear links in coupling audio devices to your hearing aids via their t-coils.
Loop Systems—The Best-Kept Secret in Town
Every once in a while I hear hard of hearing people talking about “loop systems.” What are loop systems? How can they help hard of hearing people hear better? Are they expensive?
This article explains what induction loop systems are and how to set them up and use them for beautiful clear sound.
Hear the Dramatic Difference Loop Systems Can Make to Your Understanding of Speech in Church
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Properly-installed loop systems can help hard of hearing people hear and understand speech dramatically better in meetings, churches and other public venues. Here in the United States, audiologist Juliette Sterkens has been working hard to increase the awareness of people with hearing loss to the benefits of loop systems. She has […]
What to Do When Your TV Doesn’t Have RCA Audio Output Jacks and You Want to Hook a Loop Amplifier to It
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man explained, I have a new Vizio flat screen TV, but it doesn’t have any audio output jacks, nor even an earphone jack. It only has an ‘optical’ output called SPDIF, whatever that is. I don’t have a cable box, satellite box or anything with audio out jacks—just the cable […]
Using Loop Amplifiers with Multiple Microphones
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man explained: I am looking at a loop system for my home to be used with the telecoils in my hearing aids. I want to use it primarily to help me converse when a lot of people are in the house. I have a couple of questions. 1. How […]
Hearing the TV and People Talking at the Same Time—Another Perspective
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. In response to last month’s article “Room Loops—Hearing the TV and People Talking at the Same Time“, a man wrote: I am a huge fan of my home loop amplifier and thought I’d contribute my experience because what you said about listening to another person while watching TV. I agree […]
Room Loops—Hearing the TV and People Talking at the Same Time
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote: With a room loop system, will I be able to understand people in the same room at the same time if I’m listening to the TV through my hearing aids telecoils? The short answer is, “That depends” There are two ways you can accomplish this if you so […]
Room Loops Really Work!
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man wrote: Thank you for both your wonderful website (http://hearinglosshelp.com ) for the Univox 2A loop system I just installed. I found the system by “googling” for a loop system. Your website is very user friendly and I felt that I could trust the content. I have a moderate […]
M/T Setting When Using Room Loops
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady wrote: If my dad gets some new hearing aids in the not too distant future, the loop system will work better for him. His hearing aids only have either the T [t-coil] or M [microphone] setting, not the M/T setting. When it is on the T setting, he thinks […]
Electric Guitar Picks Up Loop System Signals
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man explained: I found an interesting effect with my induction loop system. Seems if you turn up an electric guitar, the sound from the induction loop gets picked up by the guitar pickups and broadcast through the guitar amplifier. Ever heard of this before? Yes, you are not the only […]
Six Questions About Room Loops
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. Room loops (inductive loops) are wonderful to help hard of hearing people hear their TVs and stereos without blasting everyone else out of the room (or house)! However, few people really understand these loop systems. Here are six questions about such loops a man asked me. I think my answers will […]
A Dozen Advantages of Loop Systems
by David Myers, Ph.D. 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 […]
Room Loops and Spillover
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady explained, Our Senior Center has two rooms looped: the computer room where people learn computer skills, and the “lipreading room” where a lipreading class is held. These rooms are next to each other. Each has a separate loop that was installed a few years ago. My friend that is […]
Double Wire Loops
Here are the advantages of building double wire loops as opposed to single wire loops.
Interference When Using Loop Systems and T-coils
Tricks to reducing interference when using Loop Systems with the t-coils in your hearing aids.
Loop Systems–Double-Wire vs. Single-Wire Loops
Double-wire loops or single-wire loops. Which is better for use with t-coils in hearing aids?