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Telecoils

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Bluetooth is great to directly connect hearing aids and cochlear implants to smartphones and televisions (personal devices). But you cannot use Bluetooth in public places. To directly connect to a public place, you need a telecoil in your hearing aid. You need both Bluetooth and telecoils.  

 

Tools/resources-Consumer

  • Colorado "Telecoils Improve Hearing Aids Dramatically!" 2 pages (pdf) and 4 pages-detailed (pdf). Email us for screen reader friendly version

  • Ask your audiologist or hearing instrument specialist about telecoils. 4 cards to a page (pdf)

  • "What is a hearing aid telecoil and why would I want one?" Healthy Hearing 2019 (website)

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Tools/resources-Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists

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Video "The Telecoil Explained" by Hearing Tracker (7:21) 

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At the end of the video, there is mention of hearing loop 'weak' areas. In response: 

  • "If you are using a loop system and find a "weak" spot - it may be that the installation of the Hearing Loop does not meet the international standard (IEC 60118-4 code) for coverage, and you should let the owner/manager of that space know you had difficulty. They will contact their loop installer for analysis and repair as needed. When installed properly, a loop field reaches every activated telecoil equally well." Audio Directions (installer) in comments.

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What is a telecoil?

A telecoil is an essential hearing aid component that brings clear sounds from the microphone through ADA mandated assistive listening systems directly into the hearing aid with clarity and no background noise.

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A telecoil is a small copper coil installed in the majority of prescription hearing aids and almost all cochlear implants. Sometimes telecoils are in proprietary hearing aid accessories, like microphones.

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Also, a telecoil can connect hearing aids and cochlear implants to a person's home phone (amplified or captioned phone) or wireless device such as smartphones (iPhone, Droid), flip phone, and tablet (iPad).


Buying new hearing aids? Ask for a telecoil!

When you buy your hearing aids or cochlear implant, include a telecoil - even if you think you have
little use for this feature. Remember, you will probably keep your devices for several years. If your
needs change, the audiologist or hearing aid provider can simply activate and program the telecoil at
that time at little or no cost.

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Whenever your telecoils are programmed, make sure you understand how to use your telecoils with a hearing loop or neckloop (FM and infrared).

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Remember, if a telecoil is desired in a hearing device, they must be installed during the manufacturing process. Note, although one can access a telecoil via an accessory (such as a streamer or proprietary microphone accessory), it is often much easier to use if it is installed as a program on your hearing aid or cochlear implant.

 

Try a hearing loop or other assistive listening system!

Anyone with or without hearing loss can borrow headphones to experience a hearing loop, FM System, or Infrared System. That's handy for friends and family to experience the clear sound too!

 

If you are purchasing hearing devices, experiencing a clear sound thru an assistive listening system may help you to decide to include a telecoil in your hearing aid.

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