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Advent Church is now equipped with a hearing induction loop that may help you hear the services better.
What is a hearing induction loop?
A hearing loop uses induction technology to transmit sound from the public address (PA) system’s microphone directly and wirelessly to a hearing aid’s built-in T-coil or telecoil receiver.
The loop is present in the sanctuary area of the church.
What is the benefit to a hearing aid user?
Hearing loops can provide improved listening clarity for people with hearing loss who are users of a hearing aid equipped with a T-coil. If you experience difficulty and fatigue when trying to understand speech related to distance from the speaker, distracting background noise, or reverberation, use of the hearing loop may benefit you. The Advent hearing loop is connected to the PA system and the microphones used by the pastor, lectern, and other locations in the church. The sound from these microphones is transmitted through the loop directly to the user’s hearing aids. This results in a better understanding, because the listener receives a clearer signal with less background noise.
Hearing induction loop technology uses a universal frequency, based on an international standard. If you have hearing aids with T-coils that work with Advent’s loop, your T-coils should work with loop systems installed in other locations, including Europe.
What is a T-coil or telecoil?
The T-coil is a small coil built into many hearing aids to receive transmissions from induction systems. You may also hear the term telephone switch, as telephones marked hearing aid compatible, generate an induction transmission that can be picked up by a hearing aid with a T-coil. Generally, if you have a telephone switch, you should be able to use it with the loop. The T-coil is activated by turning on a T-switch or selecting a program on your hearing aids. Depending on your hearing aids, you might have the option of T-coil only or a combination of T-coil and the hearing aid microphone.
Does my hearing aid have a T-coil?
Not all hearing aids are equipped with a T-coil. Your audiologist, or your hearing aid provider, should be able to tell you if your hearing aids have a T-coil, how to activate it, and what is the best setting for your use.
Tell your audiologist or provider, that your church has a loop system you would like to use and ask them to assist you with learning how to turn on the T-coil if your hearing aid is equipped with one.
If your current hearing aids do not have T-coils, ask your audiologist to make a note in your file regarding a T-coil for the next time you order hearing aids.
I have a hard time hearing, but I don’t wear hearing aids.
Advent has had for a long period of time an FM system hooked to the PA system. There are small hand held FM receivers that pick-up the broadcast from the PA system and transmit the sound to a small bud you place in your ear. There is a volume control on the receiver so you can control the sound amplification. In addition, there are now a couple of handheld receivers that work off the loop system. These receivers have a set of headphones you wear. Where can I find more information about loops?
Advent members Barb and Russ Soderberg will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. If you have access to a computer, the two following sites will further explain loops.
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