New device, installed in public places, lets some hear clearly for the first time in years
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comA hearing aid that cuts out all the clatter
Seeded on Mon Oct 24, 2011 12:06 PM EDT (msnbc.com)
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Have loops in my home for 3 years. Greater than sliced bread. I can finally hear the football announcer.
Do you live in the USA? I have never heard of this till now. Is it an expensive product? My doctor has never mentioned it either.
The commercial hearing aid market is one of the most corrupt in the world. They sell tiny amplifiers that are 100-year-old technology. They want to keep it that way because a $3,000 pair of hearing aids cost around $10 to manufacture.
Unfortunately, I have hearing loss as well as severe tinitus (I stood too close to a war in my youth) so there is no relief on the horizon.
chris, i hear you, bro, or at least wish i did. i agree with all you wrote about the hearing aid rackets. as for tinnitus, well i'll stack mine up against anybody's any day. it's awful, ain't it? for me, i figure it was the big three: munitions, industrial noise, and rock and roll. wouldn't it feel great to feel normal again? we hang in there because we're optimistic that something will someday come along to give us relief (by that i mean things like, perhaps, stem cell advancement, not the phony nostrums and snake oil being peddled by the despicable to the desperate). so let's trust that glorious moment is just around the corner, and we'll be real happy campers for our remaining days.
i am hard of hearing and i get by because i have hearing and i dont have a speech impediment and this is news to my hears....ive had all the hearing aids and most of them are crap..they charge you 2,500 a peace for each ear and hey are medical devices not covered by medical insurance..it is not easy strangers..but this is good news..and i would like to benefit from this...i have 2 hearing aids in my ear now..i got them off of hearinghelpexpress.com years ago..they still get me by..i have a 45% loss in both ears but a hearing sensory problem so its a lil different..but my hearing aids to help i watch movies with captions its all the same since back in the day when they didnt have captions as standards they do now...so i know all hearing aids were the same..and ive run into people with the implants..i know their good...i see the metal patch on the back of someones head i think they should have a better way..not that kind of surgery..technology should be far more advanced but its not...i just cant afford the cost for hearing aids...luckily right now i have 3...waiting for the next best thing..its nothing but a microphone in your ear, dont expect me to pay 2,500 for some hearing aids that dont do what their supposed to do or only so much.....Sounds good..and i want to try it...and i hope everybody does better no matter their disability..Lord knows we all Have One..
I would like to know where you can get these loops. Hearing aids give some relief
but not enough.
I wear two hearing aids and one of them is supposed to have the technology described although I don't know of any theater on the West Coast that is looped.
J-cubed -- Question. Can you recommend the company that provides loops for homes? I definitely want to look further into this. As it is, when watching a movie or documentary on TV, I all too often have to use subtitles to get the whole story. If the movie has no subtitles, forget it.
And it isn't just movies that have no subtitles. Subtitles are often as much as 3 minutes behind the show and usually give no idea of who said what. The software-generated captions are frequently gibberish and incorrect translations. The best are foreign movies with English subtitles.
Chris #2.1 -- You are right about the subtitles but sometimes it's better than nothing. When you stream movies from Netflix, for instance, you can't get subtitles unless, like you said, it's a foreign movie. Let's hope more venues will be "looped in." I also tend to think that the commercial hearing aid business is pretty much a racket and most insurances pay nothing or very little toward one. Then the entire health industry in the U.S. is a racket, but let's not even get started on that one.
It would be helpful to have a list of venues that currently have this capacity. Perhaps there's an available link to a website that already exists.
Never heard of this before, what wonderful technology! Now to find out what venues on the west coast have this technology, and who provides this technology to homes. Since those of us who have lost our hearing are considered disabled it would seem that this technology be demanded (?) for the hearing disabled...oh I wish I could march for that!!
Amazing! I would love to learn more about this technology. I have worn hearing aides since 2003 and I have noticed a big change in myself because of not being able to hear in a lot of situations. I have withdrawn from different atmospheres because of it. This does sound to good to be true but I would definitely try it.
Tcoils in hearing aids are a joke. I have two sets of aids, both Phonax, and I have to put a phone withing a 1/8" 'sweet' spot or I can't hear anything at all. Unfortunately human beings were not made to keep a phone absolutely still within 1/8" or you lose the signal completely and hear nothing at all. I hate those things and NEVER use them as in about half a dozen hearing aids, Phonax, Audiotone, Clarity, Starkey, Seimens, etc not a single one has had a sweet spot bigger than 1/4" and it's simply impossible to use telecoils built into them. Perhaps part of the problem is the US West brands of phone which don't have adequate loops? I don't know but this guy was frustrated with hearing in public places and I have always been frustrated period with any type of telecoil built into a BTE hearing aids (the big powerful ones up to 80DB gains). Show me one that actually works with common phones and I'll show you ten that don't (I have dozens of old hearing aids that still work to some degree and the telecoils are a joke in every one of them).
I have used hearing aids for 20+ years. The T-coils do not work well in telephones, however I have an induction transmitter in my home for TV which allows me to hear the dialog clearly without increasing the volume. In fact, I can turn the volume down so low my wife asks me to increase it. The induction loop works great and allows me to watch TV while keeping the volume down. I wish they were installed in more localities.
I believe most hearing aid providers/vendors have information on the induction loop and T-Coil technology. It is not expensive and it works beautifully. I installed it myself in the attic conecting the two ends of the "horseshoe" loop to the transmitter which is connected to the audio out on the TV. I would not be without it. The only problem is (some would consider it an advantage) that you only hear the TV. If your wife or others want to talk to you, you must press pause or turn off the T-Coil on your hearing devices. For me it works great!!!
AARP.org states: The price for home loop systems ranges from $140 to $270.
There are a lot of USA vendors, some lists at these web sites:
http://www.hearingloop.org/vendors.htm
http://www.hearingloss.org/sites/default/files/docs/Hearing_Loop_Directory.pdf
Plenty more at those sites to read up on.
John Williams -- Your info is appreciated. Will definitely check into it.
Thanks for the info John Williams.
You're all most welcome..I just read about it too and did some looks ups. I posted again below and will give it a try (room unit) for my mom to hear TV some at least clearer I hope.
John--thanks for the info. Will pass this on to a relative of my husband's who's nearly deaf and wears hearing aids.
The induction loop system has been in place in several public areas in the Baltimore area for, at least, thirty years and local authorities possess portable systems that can be placed for public hearings when hard of hearing people are present. A local theater was experimenting with the infra red system some thirty years ago - rather cumbersome for the user. Of interest is that the telecoil was an inherent part of a hearing aid back in 1963 when I first used one. At that time, the telephone handset gave off magnetic waves that the telecoil was designed to pick up. Telephone handsets underwent changes in design in the 1960's and the magnetic fields from them were reduced. A Baltimore couple founded a group, Organization for the Use of the Telephone (OUT) which effectively lobbied nationally for all telephone companies to adopt telephones that would be hearing aid compatible. Hearing aid compatible public telephones then bore what was known as " the blue grommet " to signal that it was hearing aid compatible. OUT was dissolved once its goals were met. Due to my profound hearing loss, I have not worn a hearing aid for many years but I'm surprised that someone notes that hearing aids require additions, and extra money, to be compatible with a telephone. Yes, we all have trouble with the gibberish of captioned local news - keep writing to the TV station about the low grade captioners - and the computer generated digital readouts from voice are really rubbish. Some cinemas will have sub titled movies at odd times of the day - you must keep abreast of the announcements in the newspapers - and some may have a subtitling arrangement set up at certain seats, although rare. I remain a follower of foreign movies.
The induction loop system has been in place in several public areas in the Baltimore area for, at least, thirty years and local authorities possess portable systems that can be placed for public hearings when hard of hearing people are present. A local theater was experimenting with the infra red system some thirty years ago - rather cumbersome for the user. Of interest is that the telecoil was an inherent part of a hearing aid back in 1963 when I first used one. At that time, the telephone handset gave off magnetic waves that the telecoil was designed to pick up. Telephone handsets underwent changes in design in the 1960's and the magnetic fields from them were reduced. A Baltimore couple founded a group, Organization for the Use of the Telephone (OUT) which effectively lobbied nationally for all telephone companies to adopt telephones that would be hearing aid compatible. Hearing aid compatible public telephones then bore what was known as " the blue grommet " to signal that it was hearing aid compatible. OUT was dissolved once its goals were met. Due to my profound hearing loss, I have not worn a hearing aid for many years but I'm surprised that someone notes that hearing aids require additions, and extra money, to be compatible with a telephone. Yes, we all have trouble with the gibberish of captioned local news - keep writing to the TV station about the low grade captioners - and the computer generated digital readouts from voice are really rubbish. Some cinemas will have sub titled movies at odd times of the day - you must keep abreast of the announcements in the newspapers - and some may have a subtitling arrangement set up at certain seats, although rare. I remain a follower of foreign movies.
Most people cannot imagine, understand, or comprehend sound loss. For those of us with hearing loss, this seems like the magic bullet. I am a baby-boomer who was exposed to generational loud music, excessive gun fire, and jet engine noise. The ringing in my ears does not allow me to ever experience quiet, and consequently is the cause of this extreme hearing loss. I have newly acquired hearing aids and they help, but as the article states, they essentially amplify all sounds and noise. I cannot wait to experience this "hearing loop" in my immediate environment. Noise is noise and can be selectively tuned out. But the sounds of music, dialogue from movies, and the voices of loved ones are to be heard and treasured. I cannot wait!
My Mom is 88 be 89 next week I'm going to buy her this home unit below and hope it helps her watching TV. She loves spooky movies but has a hard time reading the captions at her age now, will give it a try. Cost $215 and can return in 30 days if it doesn't help her.
With the Univox Home Loop Kit you can:
Home Loop Kit features:
$179 (without loop pad/wire) $199 (with wire) $215 (with loop pad) Plus $11 S&H
Guarantee: If you are not completely satisfied, return within 30 days for a full refund. 2 year Warranty
http://puredirectsound.com/
You do need a telecoil in your hearing aid also for this to work.
This story should have been put in the e-mail boxes of every physician across the world, who treat people for hearing impairments. If not, the knowledge and its effects will soon be put into vials and pills sold in the capitalistic market. Remember the "unregulated" word: "profit, profit, profit, upon all else. These medicines will be so prohibitdly expensive, only the rich will be able to afford them. Real "healthcare" for all of us will be thrown over for "company profits" and the alligators on Wall Street. (or) Is this wonderfully new scientific knowledge going to be shared among all people from all walks of life - life polio shots used to be. When and where are we going to say "NO" to these greedy drug companies and their friends? They have too much control over our very own FDA. They have allowed all this drug company control over the market. EVERYONE OF THEM SHOULD BE FIRED. IF WE DO NOT DO THAT NOW AND REPLACE THEM WITH HONEST FOLKS -- (once again) only the wealthy are going to be able to afford these devices? I am beginning to believe that as our technology progresses, the wealthy are the only ones who will be able to pay for the better medicines, and the newest treatments. All the more reason to kick out everyone on the FDA from the top to the bottom in Washington, and replace them all. What is the way to do that with the Civil Service Law? One way is to declare the FDA no longer needed - phase it out begin a new department (the same type of work, our Foods, Drugs, and Health) Give them a funding chart under the department of HOMELAND SECURITY (that is the only way it would get total restructuring and refinement.)
Linda.
I am going to be 30, I have had hearing aids since I was 23, was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of 14. I am getting my new hearing aids today. I am super excited. I was offered the device to attach to my TV, I however at the time turned it down. I kinda wish I did. I have been 5 months without my hearing aids. Seeing I can not afford them on my own, nor get financed for them, I went through a program called OVR which helps people with disabilities get items they need to function in the work force. The wait has been long, very long. But that long wait pays off today when I will be able to hear my son and daughter properly!!
I think this is great.
I have had hearing aids for 30 years, and I know for a fact that my hearing loss has hindered me in both social and work environments. I am always excluded in the little get-togethers in my boss's office, and in meetings when everyone is talking at once, I can't understand what's being said. Plus, so many people do not speak clearly and at a comfortable volume--I have found that many people speak very softly, and most people tend to mumble. Gatherings of many people--forget it. All of these make people think that I am not "all there", a snob, or not very smart, even though they know I have a hearing loss. Consequently, I find it difficult to make friends, and it's very hard to move up in my job because I can't participate in the social connections that everyone else maintains.
My hearing aid helps me a lot, but it amplifies all noises, so I live in a constant cacophony of sounds, trying to pick out the voices. And the sounds are all slightly tinny, which is a real bummer when it comes to music.
Another thing: why are hearing aids so expensive? The least expensive hearing aid still costs over $1000. And the prices go up from there, to over $4000--each. I don't understand that. Can you imagine paying that much for a pair of glasses?
My 16 year old daughter has been wearing bi-lateral hearing aids since she was a toddler. (She has mod/severe sensorineural hearing loss). Most social events and movie theaters are an exercise in frustration- the headsets are not helpful at all, and very seldom does she get to see a captioned movie outside of our home. (I also agree with the many statements on here regarding CC on TV- a total joke most of the time). She was excited to read this article, but she knows that few places in our hometown will spend the money to install this technology. One good thing- Washington state now requires large movie theaters to offer CC to Deaf/HOH customers, although they are dragging their feet in complying with the new law.
Now, if only medical plans covered hearing related services and technology.....
My 16 year old daughter has been wearing bi-lateral hearing aids since she was a toddler. (She has mod/severe sensorineural hearing loss). Most social events and movie theaters are an exercise in frustration- the headsets are not helpful at all, and very seldom does she get to see a captioned movie outside of our home. (I also agree with the many statements on here regarding CC on TV- a total joke most of the time). She was excited to read this article, but she knows that few places in our hometown will spend the money to install this technology. One good thing- Washington state now requires large movie theaters to offer CC to Deaf/HOH customers, although they are dragging their feet in complying with the new law.
Now, if only medical plans covered hearing related services and technology.....