Telecoil is Already Included in Many Digital Hearing Aids – Here’s What You Need To Know

What is a telecoil and what can it do? Maybe your current hearing aid has one or perhaps you’ve been looking for a new hearing aid and are wondering about this feature. As its name suggests, a telecoil is a tiny coil of wire. It sounds simple, but it greatly enhances the functionality of your hearing aid. Continue reading to discover more about what a telecoil can do for your ability to hear.

Telecoils are made to pick up on magnetic signals. Conventional microphones and amplifiers in hearing aids boost all the sounds that they encounter, but a telecoil only transfers magnetically created sounds. The telecoil was first introduced to enhance listening ability on the telephone. Since older phones used magnets in their speakers, telecoil devices could provide a clear transmission of a phone conversation. Contemporary phone technology has done away with these magnets, but many telephones will include electronics that allow them to communicate with telecoil devices.

The use of telecoils began with the telephone, but now they are utilized in many ways. They are often used in conjunction with Assistive Listening Systems in movie theaters, stadiums and auditoriums. You may find that a venue will loan you a headset to assist in transmitting these signals. In most cases the magnetic sounds you receive will be a higher quality than what you could experience acoustically.

The way you use your telecoil will vary depending on the size, age and type of your hearing aid. Telecoils are more often seen in larger hearing aids, such as behind-the-ear models. A tiny switch that allows the wearer to flip into telecoil mode is most common on older hearing aids. Newer hearing aids ,on the other hand, allow the wearer to change between program modes with the press of a button.

Interference can be an issue when using a telecoil, but it is generally rare. The interference typically comes from equipment such as CRT monitors or from fluorescent lights in the room. It will sound like buzzing which becomes louder as you get closer to the origin of the interference.

The possibility of interference is a small price to pay for the many benefits offered by telecoil-equipped hearing aids. This technology is an inexpensive way to increase the capabilities of your hearing aid.