Progress Toward the Looping of America -- and Doubled Hearing Aid Functionality
By Myers, David G.; Hearing Review, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 10-17Publication Date: February 2010
Article advocates the inclusion of telecoils in all hearing aids and the installation of magnetic hearing loops in places with public address (PA) systems. Recent national surveys in the United States are cited that reported telecoils being included in 62 percent of new hearing aids, enabling their wearers to receive telephone and hearing loop magnetic signals. The ready adoption in Europe of looping systems in places such as theaters, cinemas, airports, and places of worship is offered as evidence of their benefits. Efforts to increase the installation of hearing loops discussed include dispensing professionals integrating the loops into their practices and providing home TV room loop installations; city- and statewide consumer-led initiatives such as Let’s Loop Tucson and Let’s Loop New Mexico; the installation of hearing loops in New York City subway information booths; worldwide initiatives such as the 2009 Hearing Loops conference hosted by the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People; and an increasing number of American hearing loop vendors such as Contacta Inc., LoopAmerica, and inLOOP. Also mentioned as contributing to the increased availability of looping in public places is Shop Hear, a loop device for installation at service desks, check-in counters, and in-store pharmacies.
Published by: Ascend Media LLC (Website:http://www.ascendmedia.com)
Link to text: http://www.hearingreview.com/issues/articles/2010-02_01.asp
