Decade Old Invention Presents Contemporary Solutions for the Hearing Impaired

The New York Times recent article “A Hearing Aid That Cuts Out All the Clatter” is more a celebration for the future of hearing than a product review for a new hearing device. The article explains how an invention from decades ago, called the telecoil (or t-coil), has finally begun to rise in prominence due to more widespread placement of the product in public places. That’s right- this product is not placed on individuals but rather is used in public spaces in conjunction with personal hearing aids to “clean up” noisy environments. The t-coil is literally what it sounds like; it’s a physical copper coil. Once installed around the perimeter of the interior room within a building the coil highlights the prominent noise in a room and reduces white noise. T-coils have most often been used in places of worship, airports or shopping centers but are now, according to the Times being expanded to the NYC subway.

Telecoiled public spaces are marked with placards that indicate the area is wired and available for use (pictured below). The Times article celebrates the fact that more places on US soil are now offering these services- where as a few years prior only Europe was using the technology a great deal.

Listen to a sound demonstration here to witness the difference this invention makes for the hearing impaired. It’s dramatic.

CLICK HEREto read the original article and learn more about what telecoils can do for the hearing impaired.