Listening to someone speaking in a crowded location with a lot of background noise can be a challenge for even a seasoned hearing aid wearer. Large, open spaces such as places of worship, auditoriums, concert halls and movie theaters can be particularly troublesome. Hearing loop systems provide a straightforward solution to this issue, making it very easy for people with hearing aids to enjoy movies, sermons, concerts, and other oral presentations without distraction.
Hearing loop systems work together with the telecoil feature found in many hearing aids. The original purpose of these telecoils was to work with the magnetic fields created by telephone hardware. By isolating these fields, telecoils allowed people wearing hearing aids to have clear phone conversations without being annoyed by background noise. Hearing loop systems take this concept a few steps further by creating a larger magnetic field for telecoils to pick up on.
The first part of a hearing loop system is an audio input, often from a PA system or a dedicated microphone feed. This audio input is routed to a hearing loop amplifier, which then feeds a current along a cable or series of cables that have been installed around the room. Properly installed loops do not have dead zones, which means that anyone with a telecoil who is inside the loop can pick up on the transmitted audio.
Despite the fact that several newer technologies like FM transmission neck loops are being installed in public and private venues, traditional audio loop systems continue to offer several unique benefits. The fact that hearing loop systems are reliable, relatively easy to set up and work with the telecoils already installed in many of today’s hearing aids makes them popular with facility managers as well as with guests. They are also a much more subtle solution than neck loops and other paraphernalia, allowing patrons to enjoy a movie, concert, or worship service without embarrassment.
While hearing loop systems require some initial investment in terms of equipment and set-up, they are a proven way for venue owners and managers to offer a high-quality listening experience to as many visitors as possible.