Hearing Aid Loops

Hearing aid loops come in two main forms, Infrared loops (IR) or induction/coil loops (FM). Here at Arc we install and service both types of systems. We can custom build a system to suit your needs or to fit around your building. Hearing aid loops can be used in the following areas:

  • Room / auditorium
  • One-to-one Speech
  • Portable / non-permanent system
  • Vehicle
  • Lift / Elevator
  • Room combining
  • Single or Multiple adjacent rooms that require privacy

For expert advice on all your Audio Visual needs, please contact us to make an appointment for one of our AV Consultants to visit you.

Infrared (IR) Hearing Aid Loops

An infrared hearing system is an assistive audio system to aid communication with hearing impaired people and is a popular alternative to an induction loop system. A typical system consists of an audio source, an infrared radiator (transmitter) and infrared listening receivers.

Induction Hearing Aid Loops (T Loops)

Audio induction loops, also known as hearing loops or T loops, an established technology that helps the hearing impaired to increase the clarity of amplified sound in any busy environment by working in conjunction with their own hearing aids.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an induction loop?

An induction loop is a cable that encloses the audience area. It is connected to a loop amplifier that gets its signal from a microphone placed in front of the person speaking or via a direct connection from a sound system, or other sound source. The resulting electric current in the loop produces a magnetic field corresponding to the speaker’s voice. Anyone within the area of the loop who is wearing a hearing aid switched to the ‘T’ setting, or a loop listening aid, can pick up this field. Users may need to adjust their own hearing aids for volume.

The loop wire usually runs around the edges of a room so that it serves the entire audience area. Sometimes, however, it only encloses a particular seating area. It can also be routed over doors and arches. This doesn’t affect how the loop works.

Loops consist of ordinary insulated cable, but the gauge must be chosen with care. The cable is normally run around the edges of the room – usually a single turn is used, but some systems may need two or more turns of cable to generate sufficient magnetic field or to match the amplifier’s characteristics.

How do they work?

Induction loops and infrared systems replace the sound path between the sound source and the hard-of-hearing person with either an inductive (magnetic) or infrared signal that is not affected by acoustics or other sounds.

The hard-of-hearing person uses a receiver that converts the signal back to sound. With loop systems, this is usually their own hearing aid (only those with a ‘T’ position). Infrared systems use special receivers to convert the signal back to sound. Both systems enable users to hear from anywhere covered by the system. The sound that people hear without a receiver is unaffected.

What are induction loop and infrared systems?

Hard-of-hearing people find it difficult to hear in larger venues because of poor room acoustics. The problem is made worse by the distance that sound has to travel before it reaches the audience, background noise and competing sounds.

Induction loops and infrared systems reduce background noise so that sound can be heard more clearly.