1. Loops and Telecoils Introduction Let’s Talk Audio Loops
Why hearing loss matters.
Why aren’t hearing aids and CIs enough?
What are our Assistive Technology Options?
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
Assistive Listening Systems (ALSs)
Let’s Talk Audio Loops
How do they work?
Why do consumers like them?
Why venues like them?
Advocacy

2. It Matters

3. It Matters

4. The Big Three Distance Noise Reverberation
Double the distance; QUADRUPLE the loss
Varies with frequency (highs don’t “travel” well)
Noise
What you want to hear is easy to lose in the din
The “signal to noise” ratio matters
Reverberation
Even without noise, sound you want to hear gets “spread out” as it bounces around the room
Hear the “straight line” first, but then delayed versions of the same thing at lower volume.

5. Speech

6. Plus a Little Noise

7. More Noise

8. Too Much Noise

9. Reverberation Reverberation and echos reduce speech intelligibility
Loops solve the problems of distance, of background noise and of reverberations. Sound doesn’t travel in a straight line to your ears, it bounces all around and arrives at different times. That makes it very hard to understand, especially if you have some hearing loss. Using your telecoils in a looped facilitiy, the sound goes straight into your hearing aid and you can turn off your hearing aid microphones so you don’t hear background noise.
Reverberation and echos reduce speech intelligibility

10. Reverberation Reverberation and echos reduce speech intelligibility
Loops solve the problems of distance, of background noise and of reverberations. Sound doesn’t travel in a straight line to your ears, it bounces all around and arrives at different times. That makes it very hard to understand, especially if you have some hearing loss. Using your telecoils in a looped facilitiy, the sound goes straight into your hearing aid and you can turn off your hearing aid microphones so you don’t hear background noise.
Reverberation and echos reduce speech intelligibility

11. Sound recordings & Spectrograms (Out vs. In Loop)
Recording: LeRoy Maxfield Montage: Richard Einhorn Images courtesy: Sam Atcherson, PhD
4/6/2019
“The second lesson: Be patient therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.”
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

12. Hearing Aids and CIs Best in Quiet and Close
Why We Need ALDs*
Hearing Aids and CIs Best in Quiet and Close
Not so good at a distance
Not so good in noise
Not so good when sounds bounce around
ALDs can solve those “Big Three” problems
Bring the sound you want to hear right to your ears
Eliminate or at least reduce the noise
Eliminate the reverberation (bounced sound)
Minimize the loss of signal from conversion
Make a HUGE difference in how much you understand
* Assistive Listening Devices

13. There are many different types of Assistive Listening options
Transmission
FM (analog radio)
InfraRed (light)
Bluetooth (digital radio)
Wired (electronic)
Loops (magnetic)
Types
Personal “devices”
Area “systems”
All of these have
advantages and
disadvantages, but
can help.
Tonight we’re going
To focus on Loops.

14. FM Type Assistive Device sends the audio via FM waves to the user:
Broadcast:
Often found in Churches
Often used in Schools
Requires you to pick up and return a device
May not work with hearing aids unless a neckloop is used
Personal
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

15. Infra-Red Assistive Devices send audio to the user via infrared signals
Mostly used at theaters
Line of Sight
Broadcast
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

16. Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz Radio
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

17. T-coil in Hearing Device
Why do hearing device users love loops?
Sound
(Voice from speaker)
T-coil in Hearing Device
Hearing Loop Amplifier
Loop
wire
Microphone
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

18. Other Telecoil Sources
Neckloop
Chairpad
Silhouette
Desktop
Headphones
Phones

19. What is needed to hear in a loop?
A telecoil or T-coil equipped Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

20. Where to find this T-coil or telecoil?
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

21. On a scale from 1 to 10 rate your ability to hear in the venue using hearing devices only (no telecoil)? 1 = "I heard nothing" = "I heard every word“
n=866
Average=4.9
Only 14% of respondents
indicated their listening experience was an 8, 9 or 10
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

22. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your ability to hear in the venue using the Telecoil in the Loop? 1 = "I heard nothing" 10 = "I heard every word“
n=866
Average = 8.7
Over 85% of respondents
indicated their listening experience in the loop equaled an 8, 9 or 10
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

23. A few quotes from hearing loop users:
Love it, love it, LOVE IT!!!
Recently I attended a meeting at the Convention Center and was able to hear well even though I was in the back!
Probably the first time in 20 years that I have have been able to hear the sermon clearly…
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

24. Why Consumers like Hearing Loops
Broadcast sound in form of magnetic waves wirelessly to hearing aids with T-coils
No need to pick up a separate device
No receiver, neckloop or headphones
Universal Worldwide system
No Hygienic concerns
Totally discrete
The microphone in the heairng aid can be turned off. This way you will not hear the background noise nor the sound that is bouncing off the walls or ceilings (Ie the sound that is coming from all aroeund you and the sound that the hearing aid ahs difficulty sorting out and you will only hear the sound that is picked up by the mic from the PA system
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

25. Why Venues like Hearing Loops
SHOULD
Why Venues like Hearing Loops
>
Most users won’t need receiver
Nothing to pass out
Nothing to retrieve (or lose)
Nothing to maintain
No batteries to charge
No limit on how many can benefit
Low Cost (per user and long term)
The few users Users without telecoils can use a T-coil receiver with headphones or earbuds.
Happy T-coil users (Customers/Parishioners)
The microphone in the heairng aid can be turned off. This way you will not hear the background noise nor the sound that is bouncing off the walls or ceilings (Ie the sound that is coming from all aroeund you and the sound that the hearing aid ahs difficulty sorting out and you will only hear the sound that is picked up by the mic from the PA system
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

26. What if a person doesn’t wear a hearing aid or if their device doesn’t have a telecoil?
Portable loop listeners with headphones
Serve those without hearing aids or T-coils
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

27. UniVox Loop Knowledge, Conny Andersson
To be effective loops need to meet The IEC Standard
International Standard
(IEC )
Even frequency response Hz
Uniform magnetic signal strength across the listening field
Acceptable level of electromagnetic interference
International
Electrotechnical
Commission
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

28. Universal symbol for hearing loop installed
T= T-coil
(Telecoil)
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

29. Find Hearing Loops here…
St. Raphael Catholic Church - Oshkosh, WI
4/6/2019

30. Oshkosh Grand Opera House
Find loops here:
Oshkosh Grand Opera House
Fort Atkinson
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

31. And here:
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Juliette Sterkens, AuD

32. At Pharmacy Counters & Check-outs
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Juliette Sterkens, AuD

33. Library Information Desks Minocqua
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

34. And the largest hearing loop in the Midwest:
Juliette Sterkens, AuD
4/6/2019

35. Back in June 2010 – less than 2 dozen places were looped in the Fox Valley
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

36. Progress in Wisconsin January 2014: Nearly 450 looped venues
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

37. Concerns:
Cost to install or hide the wire can be higher but less $/user than using FM/IR technology & good for business as users prefer 8 to 1
(Cost less on remodel or on new construction.)
Occasionally, existing EMI can be difficult to resolve prior to a loop installation (Trained installers can solve these problems.)
With the world going wireless will some form of FM or Bluetooth® technology replace loop systems soon?
(Not likely anytime soon.)
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

38. Cost discussion In the home: $250 - self installed
Church *with basement access: $2500 to $5,000 depending on the sq. ft.
Church *without Basement access Cost varies depending on sq. ft. & carpet work
Medium sized auditorium $15,000+
Large auditorium $50,000+
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD

39. Look for Signs Websites Finding Systems www.aldlocator.com

40. From ALD Locator

41. Wake Area

42. Advocacy Know of a potential site? (let HLAA-NC know).
Emphasize the benefits of loops to
Consumers
Venues
Support other alternatives (don’t disparage)
Refer to successful sites
4/6/2019
Juliette Sterkens, AuD