Induction Loop Hearing

Scottish Communications recognised a gap in the Scottish Market for a reputable installer of Induction loop technology and subsequently have become recognised for installing solutions by Ampetronic and Signet to various local authority and NHS customers.

Audio Frequency Induction Loop Systems are designed to work in conjunction with a hearing aid. They are not designed to replace the hearing aid and only work if the hearing aid is fitted with a "T" switch. When the switch is in the "T" position the hearing aid microphone is switched off and the user only hears the sound from the loop system.

An induction loop is a cable that goes around the listening area. An electric current is fed to the loop by an amplifier that gets its signal from a connection with a source of sound. This can be a sound system or TV set, or a microphone placed in front of the person speaking. The resulting current in the loop produces a magnetic field that matches the sound. You can then pick up this magnetic field if you are sitting within the area of the loop and your hearing aid – or loop listening aid – is set to ‘T’. You can adjust your hearing aid for volume in the usual way. Some telephones have a very small loop, called an inductive coupler, in the earpiece.

If you have a hearing aid with a ‘T’ setting, simply switch it to ‘T’. If you do not have a suitable hearing aid you can still use a loop, but you will also need a ‘loop listener’. Some loop listeners are small boxes with headphones – others are worn as an earpiece. More than one person can benefit from a loop installed in a room as long as they each have their hearing aids set to ‘T’ or they are using loop listeners. You are not wired to any other equipment so you are free to move around and listen from anywhere within the loop.

An alternative is an infrared system consists of a transmitter and a listening receiver. Sound is fed to the transmitter in the same way as with a loop system – either by a direct electrical connection or via a microphone. It is then transmitted to you as invisible infrared light.

Infrared systems are less likely than loops to have problems with interference, and sound will not spill over into other rooms. However, strong sunlight and dark wall coverings can reduce the quality of sound and the area over which they can work. Several infrared systems can be used at the same time in rooms next to each other and so they are suitable for confidential meetings. They provide high quality sound. Stereo versions are available.

All sounds in an area will be heard whether they are the desired sounds or not. The hard of hearing person finds it more difficult to separate the sounds from unwanted background noise. A standard hearing aid will amplify all sounds and although this can assist in hearing, it does not help in an environment where there is significant background noise.

The key point to remember is that the hearing aid user hears what goes through the microphone - both the speaker's voice and any background noise. To benefit from an induction loop the speaker’s voice must ALWAYS be close to the microphone to ensure that it predominates over background noise.

Typical applications for Induction Loop systems cover hotel counters, reception desks, airports, check-in area, public buildings and arenas.

Using a loop system in a public building should be straightforward as long as your hearing aid has induction pick up – you just need to set it to 'T'. Check with your audiology clinic or hearing aid dispenser if you are not sure. If a building has been fitted with an infrared system, staff will need to lend you the correct type of receiver if you want to use it. You will then be able to sit anywhere in the area covered by the system. Loop and infrared systems can be useful in a variety of public places. You are most likely to find them in theatres, cinemas, places of worship, meeting rooms, conference halls, lecture rooms, airports, banks, shopping centers, and bus and train stations. Infrared systems are more limited in their scope because you need a special receiver to be able to use them. You will not generally find them in places you just pass through, such as airports and railway stations. In these cases, there is more likely to be an induction loop system.

When a building has been fitted with a loop or infrared system, you will usually find this mentioned in their adverts, newsletters and at the entrance to the building. Informative signs and symbols should be displayed. You may also find that ‘dead’ spots – seating areas where reception is not good – have been marked with a special sign. Unfortunately, not all service providers remember to advertise that they have installed a system, so it is always worth asking if it is not obvious. There should be at least one member of staff responsible for keeping the system up and running, and for looking after infrared receivers and giving them out. If you are due to go to a court or tribunal and need to use an induction loop or infrared system, you should let the court manager know well in advance of the date you will be attending.

A commonly asked question is does my organisation require to have a system installed. In Europe, directive 2000/78/EC requires member states to adopt legislation to prevent disability discrimination. Each country is putting in place legislation to meet these requirements; for example, the UK has the Disability Discrimination Act (2004), which mandates accessibility solutions wherever it is reasonable to provide them, and Part M of the Building Regulations, which require assistive solutions in new buildings.

The DDA aims to stop discrimination against disabled people, including deaf people, in the workplace, in education and when accessing goods and services. Service providers include theatres, cinemas, places of worship, conference halls, banks, supermarkets, airports, shopping centre’s and bus and train stations.

The Act says that service providers may not discriminate against a deaf person by refusing to provide a service or offering a service of a lower standard or on less favorable terms, on the grounds of their deafness or hearing loss. Service providers must also make adjustments to the way in which they provide goods or services to enable deaf people to access them.

The DDA says that service providers have to make changes to their services to make sure that disabled people can make use of them. This is called the 'duty to make reasonable adjustments'. 'Reasonable adjustments' also include providing additional aids or services to enable you to access a service or make it easier for you to do so. Providing permanent or temporary loops or infrared systems would be a reasonable adjustment.

Installing a permanent loop or infrared system usually means that a service provider has to make a permanent physical change to their premises or fixtures and fittings. From 1 October 2004 onwards, the DDA has said that if providing a reasonable adjustment – such as a loop – means that a service provider has to make such a permanent change, then the provider cannot refuse to do this.

If it is not reasonable to provide a permanent loop or infrared system, then the service provider should provide a temporary system. These do not need any permanent physical changes.

If a service provider already has an induction loop or infrared system, they must make sure that the system is switched on, properly maintained and that staff know how to use it. If a service provider does not do this, and deaf people cannot use the loop or infrared system, then this can be a breach of the DDA. This applies to temporary and permanent systems.

You may need extra equipment to use an infrared system, such as a neck loop receiver). Whoever is providing the infrared system has to make sure it is working properly and that a reasonable number of receivers are available.

Service providers should also display signs to let people know that a loop or infrared system is fitted. The practices, policies and procedures of an organization are also covered by ‘reasonable adjustments’. This means that if a service provider works in a way that makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for you to use their service, then it should change the way it operates.

If the service provider has not made the reasonable adjustment – for example providing a loop or infrared broadcast system with neck loop or headset – you may be able to take legal action.

The new Disability Equality Duty says that public authorities have to promote disability equality. This includes taking steps to take account of a disabled person’s disability – even if that means treating disabled people more favorably. This could mean that a public authority needs to install an induction loop or infrared system. For example, a local authority installs an infrared broadcast system in the lecture room in its library. This helps make lectures and other meetings accessible.