Interview with Dave Myers Professor of Psychology, Hope College
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Topic: LOOPING America
BECK: Hi Dave. It's an honor to meet you. Can you tell us a little about your professional life and how you get involved with Looping America?
MYERS: I'm a psychologist-writer and my vocation is communicating psychological science to college students and the lay public (please visit www.davidmyers.org for more information). My experience with loop systems came about as a result of our sojourns in Scotland. I had a sabbatical there in the '80s and started returning every third summer, then every second summer, and now it's every summer. So we take a flat there in August.
BECK: Let me know if you need any visitors!
MYERS: I will!
BECK: OK, so what does Scotland have to do with Looping America?
MYERS: During one of our sojourns we worshiped at the Iona Abbey, a 900-year old stone structure off the west coast of Scotland. After bouncing off the walls, the sound was nearly unintelligible to me. My wife noticed the hearing assistance symbol on the wall and wondered whether it might be a system that broadcasts sound directly to my hearing aid. So I turned on my telecoils - and I was just overwhelmed by the experience. Suddenly the sound cleared. It was like moving from a gravel road to fresh black top.
BECK: Oh how wonderful!
MYERS: Yes, I was practically in tears. Subsequently, I discovered every cathedral we visited, every church, not to mention lecture halls, bank teller windows, subway kiosks and so forth, virtually every place we visited in the UK had loop systems that broadcast sound directly to my hearing aid. I thought this was so cool. I couldn't imagine why we weren't doing this in the United States and that's what got me going.
BECK: What year was it when you discovered all of this in the UK?
MYERS: It would have been in the late ''90's. It was either 1998 or 1999.
BECK: So what happened when you got back to the United States?
MYERS: I started exploring this technology in the United States and found there were only a few "loop vendors" and not many installations. Instead, we mostly have hearing aid incompatible assistive listening devices—those receiver/headsets that relatively few people with hearing loss will locate, check out, conspicuously wear, and return. How often do you see these used? Although the number of hearing aids coming from manufacturers with telecoil receptors for loop broadcast is increasing, many people report their audiologists and dispensers didn't explain how telecoils assist with telephone conversation and listening to TV and to PA system sound. So I thought ... Why don't we introduce this in my local community and see if the concept works here in the United States. So with some support through a local community foundation we made an offer to our community to fund 40% of the cost of any installation in non-profit locations, and that initiative was successful almost beyond my hope. As a result, most of our major churches and community facilities, including the library auditorium, the senior citizens auditorium, the city council chambers and so forth have been looped. Our audiologists are equipping about 90% of new hearing aids with telecoils that receive the broadcasts. As a result, the number of people benefiting from assistive listening locally has increased about tenfold. All they have to do is have their hearing aid in the T-position. It's that simple.
BECK: What do you think is the largest negative factor? Why isn't it happening more readily?
MYERS: I think it's partly because the technology, although not new, remains largely unknown. Most people just don't know how useful the inexpensive T-coil can be!
BECK: Yea. Can you hear a difference with different hearing aids regarding T-coil sensitivity and the quality of the sound?
MYERS: Yes. You're more of an expert than I am, but telecoils come in different sizes, and a T-coil's within the hearing aid matters. I think most behind-the-ear hearing aids get very good reception. Audiologist Mark Ross, who has been one of my encouragers, emphasizes that telecoils should be placed in a vertical direction for the maximal quality of the signal.
BECK: That's right. Physical orientation is very important. If I recall, the goal is more of a vertical installation on the faceplate than a horizontal direction, to render the T-coil optimally placed for picking up looped input. Dave, what can you tell me about monaural versus binaural T-coil reception?
MYERS: My understanding is that you're going to have the same input to both ears. And two ear input is vastly superior to one ear! My office phone feeds into a loop system, enabling me to enjoy double the auditory input. Any hard of hearing person would benefit from this just as much, I find, as from the volume boost phones. However, it's not "true" stereo sound, it's the same signal going to both ears. Nonetheless, the difference in the quality and the ease of listening with two ears is remarkable. I would say that almost all assisted listening systems should take into account both ears, assuming the person has two ears that can benefit from sound.
BECK: Dave, I know you have tons of excellent information on your website, so rather than reviewing it all here, we'll refer the interested readers to your website. Please tell me the address?
MYERS: The website is www.hearingloop.org, and it offers information about hearing aid compatible assistive listening because that's really what it's all about, in a general sense.
BECK: I like the term "hearing aid compatible assisted listening."
MYERS: I'm really advocating technology that raises the functionality of hearing aids as customized in-the-ear loudspeakers. Why not revolutionize our concept of hearing aids to include a second function as loudspeakers in all sorts of venues from home TV rooms (which can be served by very simple-to-install systems) to auditoriums to offices where people are listening to telephones. Loop systems are today's technology for doing that,, but the future may bring alternative technologies including the possibility of wide band radio frequency technology that may enable the sound to be delivered to low power miniaturized receivers in hearing aids, like a little radio.
BECK: Suppose you just met an individual wearing hearing aids and they are concerned about the price, perhaps an additional $50 to get a T-coil. What would you say to those people?
MYERS: First of all, the cost for the T-coil is nominal compared to the cost of the hearing aid. Interestingly, I didn't ask for a T-coil in my own hearing aid, but it was a digital top-end instrument, and it was already in the hearing aid when I obtained it, as I believe is common in the better instruments and in most behind-the-ear and full shell in-the-ear aids today Of course, even if you don't use it with a loop system, you can use them in telephone listening, so they're definitely worth getting.
BECK: Going back just 10 or 20 years ago, all telephones were not T-coil compatible, but now in the USA, they all are.
MYERS: Right. Basically all standard telephones in the United States today are T-coil compatible, and under new FCC requirements cell phones are going in that direction too. By the way, T-coil installation into hearing aids is increasing.
BECK: Thanks Dave. Again, I want to urge the readers to go to the website, there is lots of useful information there, and I found it very interesting too. It's been fun chatting with you Dave, your enthusiasm is contagious!
MYERS: Thanks Dr. Beck. Glad to meet you too.
For more information on T-Coils, LOOPING America, and equipment sources please visit www.hearingloop.org.
MYERS: I'm a psychologist-writer and my vocation is communicating psychological science to college students and the lay public (please visit www.davidmyers.org for more information). My experience with loop systems came about as a result of our sojourns in Scotland. I had a sabbatical there in the '80s and started returning every third summer, then every second summer, and now it's every summer. So we take a flat there in August.
BECK: Let me know if you need any visitors!
MYERS: I will!
BECK: OK, so what does Scotland have to do with Looping America?
MYERS: During one of our sojourns we worshiped at the Iona Abbey, a 900-year old stone structure off the west coast of Scotland. After bouncing off the walls, the sound was nearly unintelligible to me. My wife noticed the hearing assistance symbol on the wall and wondered whether it might be a system that broadcasts sound directly to my hearing aid. So I turned on my telecoils - and I was just overwhelmed by the experience. Suddenly the sound cleared. It was like moving from a gravel road to fresh black top.
BECK: Oh how wonderful!
MYERS: Yes, I was practically in tears. Subsequently, I discovered every cathedral we visited, every church, not to mention lecture halls, bank teller windows, subway kiosks and so forth, virtually every place we visited in the UK had loop systems that broadcast sound directly to my hearing aid. I thought this was so cool. I couldn't imagine why we weren't doing this in the United States and that's what got me going.
BECK: What year was it when you discovered all of this in the UK?
MYERS: It would have been in the late ''90's. It was either 1998 or 1999.
BECK: So what happened when you got back to the United States?
MYERS: I started exploring this technology in the United States and found there were only a few "loop vendors" and not many installations. Instead, we mostly have hearing aid incompatible assistive listening devices—those receiver/headsets that relatively few people with hearing loss will locate, check out, conspicuously wear, and return. How often do you see these used? Although the number of hearing aids coming from manufacturers with telecoil receptors for loop broadcast is increasing, many people report their audiologists and dispensers didn't explain how telecoils assist with telephone conversation and listening to TV and to PA system sound. So I thought ... Why don't we introduce this in my local community and see if the concept works here in the United States. So with some support through a local community foundation we made an offer to our community to fund 40% of the cost of any installation in non-profit locations, and that initiative was successful almost beyond my hope. As a result, most of our major churches and community facilities, including the library auditorium, the senior citizens auditorium, the city council chambers and so forth have been looped. Our audiologists are equipping about 90% of new hearing aids with telecoils that receive the broadcasts. As a result, the number of people benefiting from assistive listening locally has increased about tenfold. All they have to do is have their hearing aid in the T-position. It's that simple.
BECK: What do you think is the largest negative factor? Why isn't it happening more readily?
MYERS: I think it's partly because the technology, although not new, remains largely unknown. Most people just don't know how useful the inexpensive T-coil can be!
BECK: Yea. Can you hear a difference with different hearing aids regarding T-coil sensitivity and the quality of the sound?
MYERS: Yes. You're more of an expert than I am, but telecoils come in different sizes, and a T-coil's within the hearing aid matters. I think most behind-the-ear hearing aids get very good reception. Audiologist Mark Ross, who has been one of my encouragers, emphasizes that telecoils should be placed in a vertical direction for the maximal quality of the signal.
BECK: That's right. Physical orientation is very important. If I recall, the goal is more of a vertical installation on the faceplate than a horizontal direction, to render the T-coil optimally placed for picking up looped input. Dave, what can you tell me about monaural versus binaural T-coil reception?
MYERS: My understanding is that you're going to have the same input to both ears. And two ear input is vastly superior to one ear! My office phone feeds into a loop system, enabling me to enjoy double the auditory input. Any hard of hearing person would benefit from this just as much, I find, as from the volume boost phones. However, it's not "true" stereo sound, it's the same signal going to both ears. Nonetheless, the difference in the quality and the ease of listening with two ears is remarkable. I would say that almost all assisted listening systems should take into account both ears, assuming the person has two ears that can benefit from sound.
BECK: Dave, I know you have tons of excellent information on your website, so rather than reviewing it all here, we'll refer the interested readers to your website. Please tell me the address?
MYERS: The website is www.hearingloop.org, and it offers information about hearing aid compatible assistive listening because that's really what it's all about, in a general sense.
BECK: I like the term "hearing aid compatible assisted listening."
MYERS: I'm really advocating technology that raises the functionality of hearing aids as customized in-the-ear loudspeakers. Why not revolutionize our concept of hearing aids to include a second function as loudspeakers in all sorts of venues from home TV rooms (which can be served by very simple-to-install systems) to auditoriums to offices where people are listening to telephones. Loop systems are today's technology for doing that,, but the future may bring alternative technologies including the possibility of wide band radio frequency technology that may enable the sound to be delivered to low power miniaturized receivers in hearing aids, like a little radio.
BECK: Suppose you just met an individual wearing hearing aids and they are concerned about the price, perhaps an additional $50 to get a T-coil. What would you say to those people?
MYERS: First of all, the cost for the T-coil is nominal compared to the cost of the hearing aid. Interestingly, I didn't ask for a T-coil in my own hearing aid, but it was a digital top-end instrument, and it was already in the hearing aid when I obtained it, as I believe is common in the better instruments and in most behind-the-ear and full shell in-the-ear aids today Of course, even if you don't use it with a loop system, you can use them in telephone listening, so they're definitely worth getting.
BECK: Going back just 10 or 20 years ago, all telephones were not T-coil compatible, but now in the USA, they all are.
MYERS: Right. Basically all standard telephones in the United States today are T-coil compatible, and under new FCC requirements cell phones are going in that direction too. By the way, T-coil installation into hearing aids is increasing.
BECK: Thanks Dave. Again, I want to urge the readers to go to the website, there is lots of useful information there, and I found it very interesting too. It's been fun chatting with you Dave, your enthusiasm is contagious!
MYERS: Thanks Dr. Beck. Glad to meet you too.
For more information on T-Coils, LOOPING America, and equipment sources please visit www.hearingloop.org.
