If you have mild to moderate hearing loss and use hearing aids, then you’ve probably experienced the difficulties associated with using hearing aids and the telephone. Too often, getting on the phone means dealing with annoying feedback, loss of sound quality, and weak signals. In the past, if you didn’t want the telephone receiver squealing in your ear, you had to take your aids out, and risk not being able to hear at all. A new solution has been developed to reduce the difficulties associated with using hearing aids and the telephone at the same time – the telecoil.

What Is A Telecoil?

A telecoil is sometimes also referred to as a telephone switch. This small, wire coil was invented to reduce the number of problems that those using hearing aids and the telephone at the same time often experience. The function of the coil is to pick up the magnetic signal that is transmitted over telephone lines. Telecoils are only designed to work with the BTE (behind the ear) and ITE (in the ear) types of hearing aids, as ITC (in the canal) aids are not large enough to accommodate the coils. The introduction of telecoils has greatly reduced the number of problems associated with using hearing aids and the telephone at the same time.

How It Works

A telecoil picks up the electromagnetic signal that is sent through the telephone. The signal is then transferred to the hearing aid which converts it into sound. While a hearing aid microphone picks up all sounds, the telecoil will only pick up a single type of signal. This has made it much easier for those with hearing impairments to be using hearing aids and the telephone at the same time. The telecoil, due to the fact that the electromagnetic signal is all that is being received, eliminates the feedback associated with making a phone call using only the hearing aid microphone.

Drawbacks Of The Telecoil

Although greatly reducing problems associated with using hearing aids and the telephone at the same time, the telecoil does have a few drawbacks. Many people have reported being able to pick up the electromagnetic signal from computer screens, televisions, and fluorescent lights while using their hearing aids’ telecoils to make telephone calls. Typically, moving away from the affecting device will cause the interference to stop. Also, not all phones are hearing aid compatible, and therefore do not emit a strong enough signal for the telecoil to pick up.

Even with these minor difficulties, all in all telecoils have solved the problems associated with using hearing aids and the telephone at the same time for millions of people with hearing difficulties. 

Tags: using hearing aids and telephone, what is a telecoil, hearing aids, telecoil

For many people a hearing aid is not a luxury, rather it is a necessity for realizing a better quality of social life as will as daily living. Hearing loss is a major life changing event and is especially prevalent among the elderly, however the cost of hearing aids is keeping many people from benefiting from the technology. Those with complete hearing loss may be candidates for cochlear implants, which are covered by most insurance plans, but those with less than total loss, must rely on hearing aids, which are not covered by insurance, even Medicare, except in rare circumstances.

As hearing aid technology continues to grow, many new smaller, more sensitive units have been developed and the cost of hearing aids continues to increase. While manufacturers seldom share their costs of research and development, component prices and marketing, it only exacerbates the debate about whether the hearing aid industry is overstating their value.

With the four basic hearing aid designs, behind the ear, in the ear, in the canal and completely in the canal having severe discrepancies in price, even the cheapest behind the ear digital aids can approach two thousand dollars. As additional features are added to the appliances, the cost of hearing aids goes even higher with some of the high-end completely in the ear hearing aids going as high as $6,000 each.

Few Listening To Pleas Of The Hearing Impaired

The hopes for many people is that even though hearing aids are a medical necessity for many people, the number of manufacturers producing the devices will soon allow the cost of hearing aids to be market driven. As many new technologies have experienced, new products regularly drop in price after they have been on a market and other manufacturers fight for market share. However, it almost seems as though when the cost of hearing aids begin to fall due to competition, the old prices are propped back up by adding options such as a built in radio or music player.

Additionally, with the cost of hearing aids considerably lower through internet sales many are turning to these outlets to benefit from their operation. However, without proper fitting and follow up to insure continued satisfaction, many and finding that the cost of hearing aids, which includes technician support and continued service may be part of the reason for the continued high cost. Others are willing to take their chances on merchandise that seems similar to that in the company’s showroom, without having the availability of service following the sale.

Tags: cost of hearing aids, hearing aids