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Turn-On-To-T-coil!
This article explores the tremendous opportunity the T-coil program, of
digital hearing aids and cochlear implants, offers to access Hearing Assistance
Technology devices that enhance the user's ability to utilize phones, cell
phones, TV/DVD, entertainment devices such as the iPod and personal amplifiers.
Turn-On-To-T-Coil!
Getting the most from your T-coil
Telecoil is a tiny, wireless receiver that is built-in
to many hearing aids and cochlear implant processors (see sidebar picture).
Originally designed for use with telephones, this
underutilized wireless receiver has great potential to benefit the way you
hear. Wireless transmission to the telecoil receiver is via an electromagnetic field. The
electromagnetic field is transmitted via silhouette ear hooks, neck loop or
room loop and is picked-up by the telecoil receiver. The software program that
controls and shapes the output from the telecoil is called the T-coil program
or "T-coil"
for short. The user's hearing
aid or CI must have a manually selectable T-coil program - usually via a
program selection button or remote control.
If a louder, clearer
signal with reduced background noise and sound distortion sounds appealing - read
on!
“Turn-on-to-T-coil” - no receiver - your hearing aid or CI already has
one!
If you have a T-coil-friendly phone
(not all are!) or one of the new FCC rated “T4” or "T3" cell phones, just "Turn-on-to-T-coil" and start enjoying the benefit of clearer
sound without distracting background noise.
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Research the latest list of “T3” or “T4” rated phones at
PhoneScoop.
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Find out more about the new FCC mandated “T” and “M”
designations at
FCC
Consumer Advisory.
Does your church or library meeting room have a
large-area hearing loop? If so, just “Turn-on-to-T-coil” and enjoy! Wouldn’t
it be great if more public venues installed hearing loops. Consider starting
a campaign to get one installed at your church or meeting hall. Your
advocacy will benefit all hearing impaired people who use that facility.
Did you know that you can loop your TV room?
All you need is a system such as the Univox DLS-50 Room Loop Kit.
Once the room is looped, just “Turn-on-to-T-coil”, fire-up the popcorn and enjoy a
favorite sitcom, talk show or DVD movie. The sound is truly amazing! You can turn up the
Univox DLS-50
volume without disturbing others. You might even find you can
turn-off the sub-titles!
If you are not ready to loop your room, you can connect a
chair-pad loop to the Univox DLS-50 amplifier. It's easy, just slip the chair-pad
loop
under the cushion of your favorite chair and "Turn-on-to-T-coil". Your chair
immediately becomes your personal "loop zone” - there's no loop
wire to install! You'll be able to hear
loud and clear, without turning up the volume and disturbing family members – they’ll love
the Univox DLS-50 even more than
you!
Other devices that create personal induction loop fields
can also be helpful. For instance, the Soundshuttle is used at hotel
reception desks and check-in counters to improve communication for hard of
hearing individuals with T-coil enabled hearing aids. Another device is the
portable Clipboard that creates a personal induction
loop that you take with you as you move
from one office to another.
How about trying silhouette ear hooks or a neck loop?
These T-coil
inductive accessories act as substitutes for conventional headphones or
headsets.
“Turn-on-to-T-coil” for music, talking books,
radio interviews, information and entertainment. Just plug Music Link into
the headphone socket of an iPod, MP3, CD/DVD player
or radio. If you prefer a neck loop you can use CLA7v2 amplified neck loop.
You can even enjoy true left and right channel stereo sound via Music Link's
stereo inductive ear hooks. CLA7v2 merges the two stereo channels so you
don't miss a thing.
Music Link and CLA7v2 can also link you to your PC or laptop's
headphone socket.
Enjoy Internet podcasts or CD and DVD audio. You can type up-a-storm while listening to
music or an online radio station
on
the other side of the world!
Tip - If you experience annoying buzzing (electromagnetic interference) from
your T-coil, while sitting in front of a conventional computer monitor, try
switching to a flat-screen monitor or laptop - that should solve the
problem.
Plug Music-Link or CLA7v2 into an FM
receiver such as the Sennheiser SET 840s. Connect the Sennheiser
SET 840s FM transmitter to your
TV, hi-fi or radio and “Turn-on-to-T-coil”. Now you can enjoy the freedom of listening
to clear, loud audio as you work around the house
and down the driveway too!
Nervous about going to a presentation where there isn’t a
hearing loop or CART service? No problem, just give the presenter your
COMTEK belt-pack FM transmitter, with lapel microphone, and
“Turn-on-to-T-coil”. You’ll hear the presentation loud and clear, via your
FM receiver and inductive neck loop, without missing a beat.
You can relax and listen while simultaneously recording the presentation for
later review – now, that really is cool!
The next time you borrow an FM or infrared assistive
listening device, at a movie theatre or concert hall, why not plug-in your
own inductive ear hooks or neck loop, and (you guessed it)
“Turn-on-to-T-coil”. Just think, you won’t have to remove your hearing aids
to use their headphones or stethoscope-style ear buds and wonder who wore
them last or if the management has a policy about cleaning and hygiene!
T-coil for cell phone, cordless
phone, desk phone
and Skype (VOIP) Internet phone conversation.
With the help of a corded or wireless Bluetooth headset, you can enjoy clearer, hands-free
conversations without annoying and distracting background noise. When you “Turn-on-to-T-coil”, you can hear phone conversations with two
ears instead of one – now that sounds like a benefit worth exploring!
Plug-in a T-Link inductive headset or CLA7v2
amplified neck loop into any
cell phone with a standard 2.5 mm headset socket (even if the cell phone is not T-coil friendly).
If it doesn't have a 2.5 mm headset socket, there are adapters available.
For wireless, hands-free communication with your Bluetooth enabled
cell phone try using a T-coil inductive, Bluetooth headset or
Bluetooth neck loop such as the Beetle or Artone.
Now you are
ready to enjoy all those "free" night and weekend minutes – you can talk until you
drop!
Hands-free calling doesn’t have to end with your cell
phone. You can do the same thing with any cordless or desk phone that has a
2.5 mm headset socket.
Using CLA7v2 amplified neck
loop you can use the CS-M22C connector cable to attach to a Plantronics
M12 or M22 Vista series phone amplifier used in many office and call center
environments.
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Get more information about
T-Link.
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These days, many of us are spending more information gathering, communication and entertainment time in front of
computers: T-coil can help here too!
Music Link plugged into the audio socket of a computer's sound card
will deliver great music and audio.
For Skype, and other voice-over-IP (VOIP) communications, just connect a lapel microphone to
the microphone socket of your computer's sound card. Using Skype, MSN Messenger or other VOIP
applications, you can talk to your
friends for free, and make international phone calls for just cents per minute.
How about using Bluetooth Beetle H-3ST with neck loop
or ear hooks for wireless connectivity with your laptop or PC? If your
computer does not have Bluetooth built-in, you can accessorize
you PC or laptop with a Bluetooth USB adapter, such as the Jabra A320s.
Now
you can listen to Internet radio, music CDs and make Skype calls (VOIP telephony)
without being tethered to your computer.
Improved speech comprehension for presentations,
one-on-one and small groups or meetings
A wired personal amplifier with neck loop such as
Pocketalker Ultra can help with one-on-one conversations.
A wireless FM transmitter and receiver system, such as
Comtek AT-216 or Contego, can help when the speakers are further
away at a lecture or boardroom meeting.
Remember,
when you “Turn-on-to-T-coil” you bring sounds closer and reduce
background noise; two very beneficial strategies, for
improving speech comprehension, that your T-coil has to offer. Enjoy!
Note:
Products mentioned in
this article may not be compatible with all devices. For instance, a
standard 3-pole 2.5mm plug will not be compatible with a 4-pole 2.5mm
socket. Some manufacturers choose to use proprietary connectors that require
the availability of appropriate adapters for compatibility.
It is strongly recommended that buyers purchase from a reputable dealer with
a clearly stated no-nonsense return and refund policy.
While consumers cannot protect themselves against occasional disappointment,
they should ensure that they are able to get their money refunded and return
unsuitable merchandise.
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The neglected and underutilized
telcoil wireless receiver
Univox DLS-50
Home Loop Amplifier
Univox DLS-50 Chair Pad
Home Loop Kit
Music Link
stereo ear hooks
COMTEK AT-216
wireless FM personal
assistive listening
system
Sennheiser SET 840s
long-range, stereo FM receiver and transmitter
T-Link single
inductive ear hook headset with built-in microphone
CLA7v2
Powered Neck Loop
Beetle H-3ST stereo
Bluetooth lapel clip transceiver headset with built-in microphone, neck loop
and ear hook.
Artone Bluetooth Neck Loop
- T-coil inductive neck loop and Bluetooth transceiver with built-in
microphone and interchangeable colored faceplates
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