Letters to the Editor

ALDS: THERE’S MUCH MORE TO THE STORY

Articles on assistive listening devices and systems (“Noises Off,” October 2007) are always welcomed, especially as the technology continues to rapidly evolve. Unfortunately, the article contains several errors and/or omissions:

• The article correctly states that there is a resurgence of interest in loop systems, which are universally compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids. The topic of loop systems is then quickly summed up with a cautionary note about how the technology is vulnerable to electromagnetic interference and that loop systems “… can go a long way toward improving communications in such places as a post office or bank.” No other loop applications are mentioned or suggested.
  The fact is that TV viewing and many types of public venues, in particular, houses of worship and meeting places, account for much of the “resurgence” of interest in this technology. I know of numerous hearing aid dispensers who now set their patients up with telecoils and small home loop systems. These forward-thinking hearing health care professionals are, in effect, expanding the usefulness of their patients’ hearing aids. The end results: enhanced customer satisfaction and growing awareness about the value of assistive listening technology. Looped banks and post offices are, unfortunately, rare in the USA compared to the number of looped public venues, notably including the US Senate and House of Representatives in Washington, DC. Exciting applications of loops include the development of a model looped city in Holland, Mich, and the planned field testing of looped taxi cabs in New York City!
  In regard to electromagnetic interference, the truth is that all wireless technologies can potentially be interfered with. In regard to loop systems, the source of interference can usually be identified and remedied.
• The article then comments on telecoils: “… far fewer hearing aids incorporate telecoils in North America than in European countries. ….” This is true, but no mention is made of the fact that the latest hearing aid industry statistics report that more than 50% of new hearing aids being dispensed in America have telecoils, the largest percentage in decades! It is important to note that the resurgence of interest in loop systems ties directly to the rebirth of the venerable telecoil.
• Further comments are made concerning the appearance (size) of hearing aids as a function of telecoil inclusion, ie, the smaller the hearing aid, the less effective the telecoil can be, if it can in fact be included at all. This may have been true a decade ago, but not today. In all but the smallest hearing aids, effective telecoils can be included. No mention is made of the fact that for the first time in many years, larger (behind the ear) hearing aids are rising in popularity. High tech looking and performing hearing aids are being widely promoted to, and purchased by, a new generation of consumer … the Baby Boomers. Looking through the latest issue of Hearing Products Report, one finds numerous high tech devices (including Bluetooth technologies) designed to transmit to … yes … the good old telecoil!!

A wonderful, noncommercial source of information on the renaissance of induction loop assistive listening systems and telecoils can be found at: www.hearingloop.org.

Norman Lederman, MS, Director of Research and Development
Oval Window Audio
Nederland, Colo

Norman, thank you for sharing your expert perspective.—WC

A CALL TO GET SMALL

As a longtime reader of Hearing Products Report—welcome! One thing that has bothered me for years is the cumbersome size of the publication, and this was brought home to me today as I read. The article on cerumen management (“Beyond Q-tips: Managing Cerumen,” October 2007) I cut out to show my patients and the physicians with whom I have contact. It says very well the importance of clean ears when wearing hearing instruments.

However, the size of the page makes it difficult to slip into one of the plastic sleeves for protection and inclusion in my waiting room info folders, and it is difficult to reproduce to give to physicians so they can see the significance of a clean ear.

Hearing Products Report used to be a standard size, and at the time of the change I made some noise, but got nowhere. Now that there is a change in administration and because of your background not in hearing but in “publications,” perhaps my arguments will not fall on deaf (no pun intended) ears!

Again congratulations on your new position and welcome!

Ellin Loveless, Owner
Advanced Hearing Solutions
Yucca Valley, Calif

Thanks for your welcoming e-mail, Ellin, and for your thoughts on the present dimension of Hearing Products Report. It’s been about a year since the magazine was downsized from an even larger layout to its present measurements. And while I certainly hear you loud and clear in regard to the difficulties you’re having in sharing the articles with patients and physicians, I get the sense that we’ll be sticking with the present size for the time being. In the meantime, as a possible solution, I’d like to suggest using this website as a resource – all past and present print articles can be found online here, and you can print them out for your convenience.—WC

LET’S HEAR IT

Got something on your mind? Tell us all about it. Send your compliments, complaints, suggestions, and schemes via e-mail to Editor Will Campbell at [email protected] or by regular mail to: Hearing Products Report, Attention Will Campbell, 6100 Center Drive, Suite 1020, Los Angeles, CA 90045.