Hearing loops are one of the most highly regarded technologies to be developed for hearing impaired individuals in the last decade. This technology was repurposed from telephone tech that was created to work with handsets. Now it is being used to improve the hearing abilities of individuals around the world. Since this technology sounds far more difficult than it actually is, we are going to examine the way that the hearing loop is built, where they are in use, and how the hearing loop works.
What Is A Hearing Loop?
Do not let the name confuse you, the device is actually much simpler than it sounds at first. The first part of the hearing loop is the hearing aid. The hearing aid is linked to the device and allows the user to hear better than they would without its presence. The second part of the hearing loop is the actual cable that comprises the “loop”. This is a long cable that typically circles a room and is used as a signal amplifier within the buildings. Next we will look at the way that hearing loops are being used.
Where Are They Being Used?
Hearing loops are currently being used in the realm of meetings and office buildings. They are mostly found in public buildings like town halls and the like, but they are quickly gathering support from other areas as well. People with hearing loss are able to use these hearing loops to hear specific speakers in these buildings, making their daily lives much easier. Another area that people are looking to implement hearing loops is in public transportation. Whether you are in a taxi or on a bus, there are many time when being able to fully communicate with the driver can be helpful. All in all, hearing loops look to be an incredible technological success.
How Does A Hearing Loop Work?
A hearing loop is a rather simple device that uses old technology in a new way. The actual loop of wire that encircles the room was used as a signal amplifier for telephones when handsets were first introduced. Now they are used to gather sound through a microphone and then translate that sound into electromagnetic signals. Once it becomes a signal, it is amplified throughout the room so that it can be captured by a telecoil.
The benefit to this is most modern hearing aids already come with a telecoil built into them, and they only need to be activated through a t-switch. The t-switch allows the hearing aid to pick up sound from the room and translate it into sound in the hearing aid. This makes it possible to hear what is being said without relying on loud speakers and without random changes in sound quality. Overall, it has already transformed many public spaces into hearing-friendly areas.