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Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to use T-coil inductive ear hooks,
neck loops and room loops?
Users must have a hearing aid or cochlear implant processor with a manually
selectable T-coil program - usually via a program selection button or remote
control.
Automatic program selection will not work because the electromagnetic
signal from these types of transmitters is not strong enough.
What is a T-coil or telecoil?
"T-coil", "telecoil", "T" program
or even "telephone coil" are all equivalent terms
used to describe the induction loop wireless receiver.
The induction loop receiver is housed
inside a hearing aid or CI (cochlear implant). The receiver picks up the electromagnetic
field from a telephone handset, induction loop system, silhouette ear hook or
neck loop which is then converted
into analog sound.
The
T-coil or telecoil is only activated when the, hearing aid or CI, "T" program is
selected by the user. Selecting the "T" program automatically disables the
hearing aid or CI
microphone. This is beneficial because it eliminates "feedback whistling" and
reduces distracting background noise.
Some hearing aids have an optional "T+M"
program where the T-coil ("T") and microphone ("M") are active simultaneously.
This
may somewhat negate the
benefit of reducing background noise. Another option for hearing impaired users
with two hearing aids is to switch one aid to the "T" program, leaving the other
to pick-up environmental sounds.
Which products can I use with my iPhone?
iPhone uses a 4-connector, 3.5mm headset socket for microphone and stereo audio.
When I switch to the
"T" program I hear buzzing - what's going on?
Any buzzing that you hear in the background when using the T program comes
from electromagnetic interference (EMI). EMI can come from electrical wiring,
fluorescent lights, TVs and CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitors or other
electrical devices - yes, even your car!
Dont panic!
Here are some simple tips for dealing with EMI.
1. Be a
detective!
-
Turn on your
T program and walk around your home or office space. Buzzing if any, may
vary in strength from one location to another. Notice which areas have the
least EMI and which have the most. Try to identify the source of the EMI as
you move closer and further away from it.
2. Implement
solutions:
-
EMI from wiring
or lighting may not be something you can easily control or change, but what
about relocating your desk or chair? In any case, you would be smart to be
facing people as they enter your living space so that they do not surprise
you, and you are immediately aware of their presence.
-
Replacing a CRT
computer monitor with a flat-screen LCD monitor or laptop computer is a very
practical and worthwhile solution. The benefit is well worth the expense and
will even give you more desk space and bring you into the twenty-first
century!
-
Another EMI
management technique is to reduce the volume level of the EMI and increase the
volume level of the sound source you wish to hear. If the background buzzing
is reduced to a lower level, you may not even notice it! Achieving this
involves two steps:
-
First, reduce
the T program volume level so that the loudness and annoyance of the EMI
buzzing is reduced as much as possible. You can do this via the volume
control on your hearing aid or you might even consider getting your
audiologist to turn down the T program volume level.
-
Second,
compensate for the decrease in hearing aid volume by increasing the
induction loop field strength from the sound source you wish to hear. This
can be done easily by increasing the volume setting on the induction loop
amplifier, iPod, MP3 player, computer, cell phone or telephone etc.
Now you should
be experiencing the best of both worlds: reduced buzzing from EMI and louder,
clearer audio listening from the sound source you wish to hear..
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