Hearing Loop Systems: A Tried and Tested Solution for Hearing Aid Users

Hearing aids are extremely effective at enhancing a person’s hearing, but when used in a crowded environment they can easily bombard the listener with unnecessary noise. Large, open spaces such as audotoriums, places of worship, concert halls and movie theaters can be particularly difficult. The good news is, hearing loops systems provide a solution to this problem, allowing hearing aid users to easily distinguish the sounds they wish to focus on.

Hearing loop systems take advantages of the telecoil feature that is included in most hearing aids. The original purpose of these telecoils was to work with the magnetic fields created by telephone hardware. People who had a telecoil could enjoy a clear phone conversation without having to worry about background noise. These same telecoils can be used by today’s hearing loop systems, which create magnetic fields on a much larger scale.

A hearing loop system has several components, starting with some type of audio input (usually from a dedicated microphone feed or a public address system). The input travels into a hearing loop amplifier, which then drives a current through one or several cables that are looped around the venue. Properly installed loops do not have dead zones, which means that anyone with a telecoil who is inside the loop can pick up on the transmitted audio.

Despite the fact that several newer technologies like FM transmission neck loops are being installed in public and private venues, traditional audio loop systems continue to offer several unique benefits. The fact that hearing loop systems are reliable, relatively easy to set up and work with the telecoils already installed in many of today’s hearing aids makes them popular with facility managers as well as with guests. Listeners also appreciate their more subtle nature, which allows them to enjoy a concert, presentation, or worship service without the self-consciousness that can accompany wearing a neck loop.

Despite their initial set-up cost, hearing aid loops are an efficient and effective way to make sure all visitors to a venue are able to enjoy their experience.