Why we need both technologies in our hearing devices.
By Carolyn J. Odio
When it comes to using the telecoil, especially at home, the literature on hearing loops seems to make it so complicated, with diagrams that can be overwhelming. But I use my telecoil at home all the time on nearly all my devices—combined with a neck loop to use with my TV, my MacBook Pro, my iPad, and my iPhone.
Look for this symbol, with or without the text, showing that a hearing loop is installed, as noted in this Paris movie theater (top).
So I know that the telecoil (t-coil) and hearing loop can be explained in lay terms.
I have experienced audiologists telling me that I don’t need a telecoil, just Bluetooth, the “more modern technology,” and then they try to sell me Bluetooth remotes, etc., that are costly. Someone who is price sensitive can feel taken as I did when I bought my first pair of hearing aids. The point is that we need both telecoils and Bluetooth in our hearing devices to take advantage of all the hearing situations we encounter on a daily basis, so that sound can reach our ears, with clarity.
With this in mind, and to provide a hearing loss resource for my community, I prepared this primer, supplemented with this video I made on YouTube.
A Primer on Telecoils and Bluetooth
Both the telecoil and Bluetooth transfer sound directly into your hearing aids or cochlear implants. This makes a huge difference in being able to hear the best possible sound. With both devices in your hearing devices, you are the best prepared to handle different hearing situations. Note that the vast majority over-the-counter hearing aids, which are only indicated for mild to moderate hearing loss, do not come equipped with telecoils.
Hearing Situations
Bluetooth technology connects sound between two devices only. You need to have each device be Bluetooth-capable. For example, if your TV and hearing devices both have Bluetooth, you can use Bluetooth to connect your hearing aids and hear your TV directly through your hearing aids. But if your TV does not have Bluetooth, you can use the telecoil to direct the sound into your hearing aids.
Another example: If you enter a room with a hearing loop, the sound from the microphone can be sent to all of the attendees who have hearing devices containing telecoils. Bluetooth is not applicable in this hearing situation since it is a 1:1 technology.
In some situations, such as hearing sound from your computer, either Bluetooth or a telecoil can be used to transfer this sound directly to your hearing devices if you have the appropriate equipment.
Much has been said about the advent of Auracast, which uses Bluetooth LE (low energy). But industry experts believe this technology will take several years to be widely adopted, and for that reason both telecoils and Bluetooth need to be integrated into what are being termed “superfecta” hearing aids.
Telecoil
Communication can be one-to-one or one-to-many people.
Telecoil can be much less expensive to purchase for the individual.
Telecoil is a feature often included in newer hearing aids, but ask your audiologist to be sure. Some of the very small models do not have the physical space to include the telecoil.
You must be inside a “hearing loop”—a room that is equipped with a hearing loop—to use telecoil. Please note that when you wear a neck loop, you are inside a hearing loop. Hearing loops come in many forms: neck loops, table loops, room loops, portable counter loops, etc.
There are many kinds of hearing loops: neck loops, portable counter loops, table loops, room loops, seating pad loops, etc.
It is advantageous to have two hearing aid settings for telecoil: one for telecoil sound only (blocks out background noise), and the other for telecoil sound plus background sound. Share the information below with your audiologist.
Credit: Hearing Loss Association of America
Bluetooth
Communication is between a device and a person (one-to-one).
Both devices must have Bluetooth installed to connect.
Both devices must be “paired” to connect.
Bluetooth can be expensive to purchase for the individual.
Bluetooth allows communication without cords up to a roughly 30-foot distance.
In summary, it is ideal to have both a telecoil and Bluetooth in your hearing aids or cochlear implant. When you have both, you can hear better in a greater variety of listening situations.
Carolyn J. Odio is the resident council vice president and the head of the hearing loss group at Panorama, a senior living retirement community in Washington State.
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