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An induction loop system transmits a signal directly into a hearing aid via a magnetic field, greatly reducing background noise, competing sounds, reverberation and other acoustic distortions that reduce clarity of sound. The "T" probably stands for "telecoil" or maybe "telephone" (see below). A transmitting system in the room transforms sound signals into magnetic waves broadcasted into the room. Hearing aids set to "T" switch over to pick up these magnetic waves instead of the sound waves in the room. In a doctor's waiting room (especially in a hospital) this system provides an alternate means by which hearing disabled people can hear announcements over the public address system. So, for example, older people with severe hearing loss who use a hearing aid don't need to strain over the wailing babies, screeching kids, squeaky gurneys and wheelchairs, slamming doors, clumping footsteps and echoing hallways to hear the announcements. The "T" may as well stand for "transformer", because the principle works the same. The coil built into the room is energized by an electric signal that the coil converts into a magnetic signal. The hearing aid, now sensitive to magnetic signals by means of its own coil, receives those signals, converts them into electricity, amplifies them, converts them into sound waves and sends it into the recipient's ear. (Who says old folks aren't "connected"?!)These systems have applications in many situations: TV rooms, train/bus stations, airports, schools & universities, sports arenas, museums, churches, theatres, auditoriums, medical facilities, government buildings, drive through windows, ticket windows, etc. Telephones. I would think that this also works with telephones, because plenty of seniors complain that listening to a phone makes their hearing aids screech. The ear's end of the phone's handset contains a small loudspeaker, which contains a eletromagnetic coil that vibrates a diaphragm which produces sound waves. It would be rather easy to build a small coil into a hearing aid to pick up the magnetic waves produced by the phone instead of picking up the sound waves. These systems have come about through, for example, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in the UK and through the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the US, although it's not so well-known (or used) in the US.
You can by a DIY kit to install a wire induction loop around a room or say, your favorite chair in the house (toilet?). The loop is then connected to an audio amplifier incorporating an automatic gain control (AGC) which stops your ear getting blasted from any inadvertent high level signal fed into it from an external audio source like a TV, radio, PC, etc.Example:http://www.tecear.com/UniVox_DLS50_Loop_Kit.htm
I have some hearing loss and would like a mobile phone to which I could attach an earpiece and use its microphone to help my hearing.
Just still a very small tad confused because the GP surgery is just a small office and there's certainly no PA system. Patients are advised to go to the doctor via a ' beep' and a scrolling led sign. The staff do not use any specific apparatus to speak through and generally the GP waiting area is very quiet. Hmmm..it is a loud Beep that announces the next patient...could it be because of that I wonder ?