Hearing Aids and Phones
A hearing aid feature called a telecoil can assist hearing over landline phones.
There is a feature available as an additional accessory to most types of hearing aids called a telecoil. The telecoil feature was originally added to traditional hearing aids in order for the user to hear conversation over the phone. The telecoil works by reading the changes in magnetic fields which represent transmitted sound. Older landline phones utilized large magnets in their speakers in order for any sound to be heard through the receiver. Even many newer phones are equipped with magnets and additional electronics that make them hearing aid compatible.
Generally even the smallest hearing aids, which fit entirely in the ear canal, can be equipped with the telecoil feature. The telecoil is actually a very thin wire wrapped around a core that will produce an electrical current in a coil when presented with a changing magnetic field. This current is then converted into a signal which is transmitted by the hearing aid into the ear as sound.
In addition to easier communications over the phone, there are many public venues which provide headsets or receivers to attendees with hearing aids. The headphones work in conjunction with the telecoil in hearing aids to allow those with hearing loss to hear events much the same as other patrons. Even many churches provide headsets and receivers for their worshippers, allowing many people with hearing loss to continue attending church services.
In some hearing aids, the telecoil feature can be turned on instead of the regular hearing aid microphone. This allows the user to hear just the sound transmitted through the telecoil, without the interference of extraneous noise through the regular microphone. When selecting a style of hearing aid, patients should inquire with their hearing professional which type of aid can accommodate the added feature of a telecoil.
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