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Turn-On-To-T-coil!
This article explores the tremendous opportunities the T-coil program, of
digital hearing aids and cochlear implants, has to offer to significantly
enhance the user's ability to use phones, cell phones, TV/DVD, and personal
entertainment devices such as the iPod.
The author highlights several Hearing
Assistance Technology devices that utilize the T-coil wireless receiver to
enhance the user's listening experience.
Turn-On-To-T-Coil!
15 ways to get the most from your T-coil
by Paul
Willington
Yes, I'm talking about that neglected and
underutilized component, built-in to many hearing aids and cochlear
implants, called the T-coil wireless receiver. Originally designed for use
with telephones, this little coil of wire has great potential to benefit the
way you hear.
If reduced background noise, reduced sound distortion and a clearer, louder
signal from the sound source you wish to hear sounds appealing - please read
on!
“Turn-on-to-T-coil” for work and leisure.
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If you are the lucky owner of a T-coil-friendly phone
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.
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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.
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Did you know that you can loop your TV room?
All you need is a system such as the Univox 2A 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 2A
volume without disturbing others. You might even find you can
turn-off the sub-titles!
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A simpler version of #3 is to connect a
chair-pad loop to the Univox 2A 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 "induction loop zone” and 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 2A even more than
you!
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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
rather clever, portable Clipboard that creates a personal induction
loop that you take with you as you move
from one office to another.
How about trying a corded or wireless Bluetooth powered neck loop or inductive ear hooks?
These T-coil
accessories act as substitutes for conventional headphones or headsets, and provide the
link to other devices such as FM and infrared receivers and Bluetooth
computers and cell phones.
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“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.
You can even enjoy true left and right channel stereo sound via Music Link's
stereo inductive ear hooks - the sound is amazing!
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Music Link inductive, silhouette-style ear hooks, 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.
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Plug Music-Link ear hooks into an FM
receiver, such as the Sennheiser SET 820s. Connect the Sennheiser
SET 820s 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!
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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!
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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, 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!
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Ever heard of a “Bluetooth gateway”?
A Bluetooth gateway
allows connectivity to an iPod, or other compatible audio device,
without ever having to miss an incoming phone call. Yes, this is for those
people who truly want it all! When your Bluetooth
cell phone rings, the audio source automatically fades so you can take the
incoming call from your Bluetooth cell phone. After you hang-up, the audio
automatically returns to it’s previous level. Now that’s what I call
multi-tasking!
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Learn more about Bluetooth
Beetle H-2ST.
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Learn more about the MyTalker Bluetooth gateway at
Tekkeon.
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Learn more about the Jabra BT325s Bluetooth
gateway at
Jabra.
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Learn more about the Jabra BT320s Bluetooth
gateway at
Jabra.
"Turn-on-to-T-coil" for cell phone, cordless
phone, desk phone
and Skype (VOIP) Internet phone conversation.
With the help of a
Bluetooth or corded inductive 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!
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Plug-in a T-Link inductive headset (with built-in
microphone) or CLA7 powered 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
to solve that issue.
For wireless communication with your Bluetooth enabled
cell phone try using a T-coil inductive, Bluetooth headset or
Bluetooth neck loop such as the Beetle, Artone Bluetooth Loopset
or MaxIT Bluetooth Loopset.
Now you are
ready to enjoy all those "free" night and weekend minutes – you can talk until you
drop!
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Get more information about
T-Link.
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Learn more about Bluetooth
Beetle.
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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. And, if your desk-phone doesn’t have a headset
socket, your local RadioShack can take care of that with a
headset switch – part no. 43-2017.
Using T-Link or a ClearSounds CLA7 Powered Neckloop,
you’ll experience the same benefits of a stronger
signal, reduced background noise and improved comprehension.
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Get more information about
T-Link.
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Check out RadioShack's headset switch at
RadioShack.
These days, many of us are spending more of
our information gathering, communication and entertainment time in front of
computers: T-coil can help here too!
"Turn-on-to-T-coil" for computer, CD and DVD audio as
well as voice-over-IP communications such as Skype.
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Music Link plugged into the audio socket of a computer's sound card
will deliver great music and audio to your T-coil.
For Skype, and other voice-over-IP (VOIP) communications, just connect a lapel microphone to
the microphone socket of your computer's sound card. NoiZfree-PC is
designed to connect to both the headphone and microphone sockets of your
computer 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.
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How about using a Bluetooth Beetle, Artone Bluetooth
neck loop or MaxIT Bluetooth neck loop for wireless connectivity with your laptop or PC? Just 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.
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Get more information about Bluetooth
Beetle.
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Check out Jabra's Bluetooth USB adapter at
Jabra.com.
Well, I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity about various
ways to utilize your hearing aid or CI’s T-coil wireless receiver.
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!
Paul Willington is a
hearing assistance technology
consultant. He writes about hearing assistance
technology from his home in Michigan, USA.
You can contact Paul at:
PaulWillington@TecEar.com
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 T-coil
Univox 2A
Home Loop Amplifier
Univox 2A Chair Pad
Home Loop Kit
Soundshuttle
Portable Induction Loop
Clipboard
Portable Induction Loop
Music Link
stereo ear hooks
COMTEK AT-216
wireless FM personal
assistive listening
system
Sennheiser SET 820s
long-range, stereo FM receiver and transmitter
T-Link single
inductive ear hook headset with built-in microphone
ClearSounds CLA7
Powered Neckloop
Artone Bluetooth Neck Loop
- T-coil inductive neck loop and Bluetooth transceiver with built-in
microphone and interchangeable colored faceplates
MaxIT Bluetooth Neck Loop
- wireless connectivity between your hearing aid and cell phone
Beetle H-2ST stereo
Bluetooth lapel clip transceiver headset with built-in microphone, neck loop
and ear hook.
RadioShack Headset Switch
adapter for desk phones
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