Im new to induction loops….
and Iv been itchin to use them since I got me new aids, and I got a chance a few weeks ago in the cenima, first I saw that the screen I was to go into had it, so I asked at the counter to see if it was on, and the guy didnt have the slightest idea what I was on about!! If ever I got a look as though I had 15 heads and a 3rd eye, that was it!! so he went and asked someone who was supposed to be in charge, and she didnt know, so she rang someone who told her to tell me that it was on and just turn on the aids and work away, so off I went nearly late for the show, in I went and as the movie started I switched on the T facility and….. it was better without the loop lets just put it that way, I know it was working but it was like a whisper to me, the volume was just useless, so low it was pointless, so I watched the show happily with the aids just as they were! I missed a few words here and there, but Im now worried, are all loops this low volume or are my aids wonky or something?? I dunno Iv never had the facility before, but if its like this, it isnt any good for me at all! 
June 21st, 2006 at 4:03 am
I wonder if it was so low for the main because the people didn’t know what you were talking about? Like if you had better instruction/communication/understanding from the clerks, if it would be more useful? I dunno…. I’d hope that something you’d been looking forward to would work, but I’m not sure… :-/
June 21st, 2006 at 4:56 am
I dunno I was hoping it would work, is it possible to turn the volume of induction loops up?? or are they set, Im sure Barakta will know, but I hope not all loops are like this, I know that the loop system i tested in NAD a few weeks ago, the volume could be ajusted but i dont know about big places like cenimas and banks, I really wanted to get a music link loop system for my MP3 player, and I hoped the t system would be louder, and no matter how much i ajusted the volume on my aids, there was no luck
I currently have a loop system that I hang around my nck and it has a headfone jack, I have tried it with my Ipod and again very low volume, Im worried its my aids!!
June 21st, 2006 at 6:54 am
Lette, wait for Natalya, our hearing technology guru. She knows
everything. All I wanted to learn from my audiologist I learned
from Natalya.:)
June 21st, 2006 at 7:47 am
LOL ok then thank you also for the help
June 21st, 2006 at 11:35 am
Hmm. I know that in American theaters, you’re frequently given a “thingy” to wear around your neck that allows things to work. But I think that might be different from an “induction loop”. (i’ve never used them. The volume is plenty loud enough for me and totally useless.
I just go to open-captioned events)
June 21st, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Sara, any tips for finding open-captioned events? I see theatres that advertise it, but I a) don’t know how open-captioning works and b) never seem to arrive when the movie I want is being captioned. Is it a call ahead type thing?
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:08 am
Hearing aids..I just got a new one which is analog built by Phonak and did’nt pay a dime for it
. And so I ditched the digital version because it did’nt have enough ‘oomph’ and bass. In a way, it’s nice to go ‘old school’ on the hearing aid tech.
I hear a bit better and oddly when talking on the phone, people sounded better…talk about pumping up the volume!
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:58 pm
My individualised response is below the explanation, feel free to skip it if it is too scary. Any feedback on the clarity of the explanation is also useful as I intend to shove it on my website…
HOW INDUCTION WORKS
Okay, quick physics lesson: A typical loudspeaker works by means of a coil of wire which is free to move around a permanent magnet. By applying an electric current to the coil, a magnetic field is created which pushes against that of the magnet. If the current is changed rapidly, the coil (or magnet, whichever is free to move) vibrates, and these vibrations create sound by vibrating a paper/plastic cone.
The telecoil built into many behind-the-ear hearing aids), is simply a small coil of wire connected to the input of the hearing aid’s amplifier. When this is placed near a loudspeaker, the changing magnetic field from the loudspeaker’s coil induces a current in the telecoil directly, allowing the user to hear the sound being produced by the loudspeaker.
The advantage here is that since the hearing aid is *only* picking up the *magnetic field* from the loudspeaker and not the sound, noise from the surroundings is not picked up, improving the intelligibility of the input source - eg phonecall, person speaking into the microphone.
Induction loop systems work the same way as a loudspeaker, except that the loudspeaker coil is replaced by a length of wire, typically laid around the edge of a room. This creates a magnetic field inside the room which hearing aid users can pick up with the telecoil, giving them a direct, noise-free
feed of the TV’s sound, lecturer’s microphone, or whatever.
Additionally a small induction loop can be worn around the user’s neck, for providing a feed from an FM or IR receiver, personal music player, cellular phone, or similar.
One problem with telecoils is that they will, by design, pick up any audio-frequency magnetic fields in the area. These typically include ‘buzzing’ from fluorescent lighting, CRT monitors, computer power supplies, and indeed the transmissions of some cellular phones.
—— kim (2006)
Now the difficulty in some cinemas is that the loop field is too weak in the middle of the looped area. The amplification inside the looped area decreases quite a bit as the receiver is moved away from the perimeter wire towards the centre. This is why some theatres and cinemas only have a small area looped - deaf people should be given priority on those seats, usually in the middle or to the side. If the loop only covers a partial area then this should be stated and staff should know to guide you to the appropriate spot.
The UK Disability Discrimination Act (1995) specifically states that where adaptive equipment is provided that it MUST be in configured properly (set up correctly), serviced and maintained as well as being suitable for the purpose in which a user might reasonably expect to use it.
My knowledge and website is strictly about the UK and Northern Ireland. I know Lette lives in Southern Ireland otherwise known as Ireland
. I’ve asked on ‘Deaf-Ireland’ for the name of the relevant legislation and for some pointers - I will update when I have them.
My advice at this point Lette, would be to write a short polite letter to the manager of the cinema.
1) Thank them for having a loop system at all, and for it being turned on - this is annoyingly rare.
2) Explain that you turned up and asked about it and the desk staff knew nothing and had to ring about. If this made you feel awkward say so - you shouldn’t have to feel like you are making a fuss. Ask that staff are provided with training about the loop system in this particular cinema so they can answer customer queries.
3) Explain that you followed eventual instructions but found that the volume of the loop system was incredibly quiet (don’t tell them you coped without, cos you shouldn’t have had to) and found it harder to follow your film. Ask if there is a specific place where the loop is stronger that you can sit and or if they can turn the volume up on the loop system.
4) Ask for a reply within 21 days (this being as legal as I would get at this point).
The purpose of this letter is to inform the manager that you a customer tried to use the loop system but found it less satisfactory than you would have hoped. This alerts the probably hearing management to a problem and give them time to tweak things and see if they can be improved. I would hope for a reply within the 21 days as well as an actual improvement.
I would not expect the volume to be too quiet on public loop systems, but the few that work are often too damned quiet. If you want help writing the letter do email me at barakta@barakta.org.uk and I’ll see what I can do.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:15 pm
Lette: (second reply to your comment)
I know of the neck-loops for ipods and similar. It may be that the neckloop is actually too far from your aids - ironic much? Try listening to it and lifting the loop closer to your hearing aids - does this help at all? Induction loops aren’t the most efficient method of sound input due to $physics and $maths (which I don’t understand either)…. Their main feature is the wirelessness….
Another solution for the ipod may be to find direct audio input kit for your hearing aids. You’d need ’shoes’ like http://www.deafequipment.co.uk/store/viewCategory.do?id=108 with a lead like http://www.deafequipment.co.uk/store/viewCategory.do?id=208 to connect to your ipod. I suspect this will be a lot louder and more suitable for you. I’ll send hohprof on over here as I know he actually has some and uses them.
Another friend of mine who has a mild/moderate hearing loss wrote about his direct audio input (DAI) experience on his blog http://www.paosborne.com/blog/?p=124 . He has the option of not using his aids, which I don’t think you (Lette) or I do - just so you are able to take some of that in context.
I have never tried music through my loop, but that is partly cos my loop is one of http://www.entific.com/BAHAProductDetail.asp?ProductID=83 which is actually annoying. If it is plugged in, it cannot be turned off because it’s an old model - the next model can be turned OFF - but is still 5cm of annoying thing poking out the bottom of the hearing aid. I mostly carry mine in public when I remember and use it for TV at home.
If you have any more questions or thoughts do ask me here or by email I am happy to answer what I can, or clarify anything that I have said already.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
Sara: The thing you are given is probably an IR receiver which is connected to a neck-loop. Theatres and cinemas often use IR because it doesn’t get interference from theatre lighting and electrical equipment. It only needs line of sight to an IR transmitter which you may be able to spot in the top middle above the stage. Our local theatre uses (http://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/access/sennheiserinfrared.htm) which are explained on the webpage.
You may find that the neckloop is too far from your aids or that it doesn’t have very good sound quality. I’ve only used one once and that was watching a really knackered copy of the Goonies at our local alternative cinema. I am told by kim (ex theatre sound/lighting tech) that the sound stank anyway. It may be that I wasn’t in the best line of sight for the IR either….
I find in cinemas the volume is usually too loud (hearing aid distorts) and the hearies say it gives them earache afterwards. I tend to avoid the cinema as subtitled stuff is rare here and we haven’t yet got the hang of captioning only for those that want it. I usually wait for the DVD so I can at least watch it at home on my own system and have a brain break if I need it.
I would like to go to the theatre more though, so if they have a working loop system I will try seeing something live. Although again the lack of captions is guaranteed to give me a huge headache.
June 23rd, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Katie- In the US, we have http://www.insightcinema.org that lists the showtimes and theaters for the captioned shows. I don’t know what resources are available for people in other countries, sadly.
So if you’re in the US, you might be in luck, otherwise… Search around and see if there’s anything similar?
June 23rd, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Natalya- the thing that Kim said about cell phones reminds me- when I first got my hearing aids, I was picking up people’c cell phone conversations. Then they adjusted my aids and it went away.
Wonder if that was an over-sensitive Tcoil.
June 23rd, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Sara: Could well have been. I can pick up cellphone interference at 2-3m with my Tcoil plugged in or using my DAI system (wire acts as an aerial), and only about 0.5m with the aid alone.
Your audiologist may well have turned the Tcoil setting down or off, my friend Pao said his T setting was changed into a music/AV configuration - so in modern digital programmable aids it is just another programme slot. This may explain why you don’t find neckloops helpful.
Kim actually thinks induction is really suboptimal for the purpose in whic it is used in public systems. Partly due to the limitations of magnetic fields and strength but also public unawareness of how it works. People don’t know the difference between induction (magnetism), FM (radio) and IR (like your TV remote). They each have pros and cons:
IR:
Pros - Doesn’t get interference from electromagnetic sources.
Cons - Receiver and transmitter have limited range and have to have line of sight. Not built into normal hearing aids as standard so user needs additional receiver device.
Induction:
Pros - Built into hearing aids as receiver is just a coil of wire. Relatively cheap. Allegedly ubiquitous.
Cons - Interference from many EM sources such as cellphones, televisions, CRTs, lights, etc etc. Suboptimal for many situations. Not well understood by general public.
FM:
Pros - Works over a wider area than IR or Induction. Can have multiple channels which theoretically don’t interfere with one another. Slightly less susceptible to interference than induction. Doesn’t require being at a specific point perpendular to magnetic field to get optimal use.
Cons - Still gets some interference from cellphones etc. Until recently receivers were component heavy and not integratable into standard hearing aids. Not very common outside of educational and theatrical establishments (possibly more common in US than UK). User needs to have an additional device to use FM with their hearing aids.
I don’t know enough about programmable digital aids (I’m 20 years out of date now) but I will be asking around on some friendly audiology communities for some advice.
June 24th, 2006 at 9:24 am
WOW thank you so much for all the advise barakta
I was thinking about writing a friendly letter, and now I definatly will, I love the cinema, and Id be really akward if i couldnt use T facility after requesting it 
now about the music thingy, perhaps the neck loop i have is too far away from my aids, ill try it tonight, also, you said a friend of urs could get his t facility changed to mucic audio and fm frequiency?? this for me would be the best option, because music is an everyday occurance for me, and I rarely use the t coil for anything else other than trying it in the cinema! But if i got my aids frequency changed, would it obstruct other uses for the T facility like using it with regular inductive loop systems?
June 24th, 2006 at 10:38 am
::gapes openly at Barakta:: Swear to god, you’ve got me convinced that you (and Kim) make for an A/V-encyclopedia!
Thanks Sara! I’ll check out that website…
June 24th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Lette: You’re welcome - anytime. Good luck with your letter.
If you get the T coil setting changed (I assume it is possible but I guess that depends on the hearing aid model) I assume that you would not be able to use it as a T setting.
Changing the programme on your hearing aid to music wouldn’t change the effectiveness of the tcoil neckloop in fact I suspect it would reduce the effectiveness. A music/AV programme would just change how music sounded to you through your hearing aids.
That is why I suggested direct audio input stuff, because the quality and volume is so much better. Induction loops have really piss poor frequency response for music as they were originally optimised for use on telephones which have a limited range of frequencies (~300-3000Hz) and picking up human speech.
Another thing you might be able to do if you find your neckloop works better in closer proximity to your aid is to find a way of making it be nearer your hearing aid(s). If you could do it without hacking it up all the better. A friend of mine cut open his neckloop, found the important end and used velcro to attach it to his Tcoil adaptor (he’s a BAHA user like me). He is writing up his methodology and sending it to me to upload to my website at some point.
June 24th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Katie: kim worked in theatres doing lighting and sound, as well as having a lifelong interest in electronics. She was the child with the screwdriver taking electrical things to pieces and unusually managing to make them work again. I’m the loyal minion who picks things up along the way - I usually ask kim to explain stuff to me before writing replies.
June 24th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
well i found a sulition for it already!! check these little nifty thingies out
http://www.deafequipment.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do?id=1085
June 24th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Even better for what you want! I love Connevans website, lots of deafie toys
June 24th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
oh…I came close to getting an induction loop for my cell phone as suggested by an old friend but I got lucky and was able to use the t-coil mode. I think it’s probably dependant on the hearing aid equipment and our level of severe hearing loss to be able to distinguish speech on induction loops…although I do remember using them years ago back in high school…