I Want...
Induction Loops
How do induction loop systems work?
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.
How do I use an induction loop system?
If you have a hearing aid with a ‘T’ setting, simply switch it to ‘T’. 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.
How do I use loop and infrared systems in public places?
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 centres, and bus and train stations.
What is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)?
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 centres 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 favourable 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.
For further information please visit RNID. DF Audio Ltd has over 20 years experience installing induction loops systems in many different environments. Please contact us for further information.
Areas that dF Audio Ltd Serve include: Sussex, Surrey, London, Croydon. For locations further afield, please contact us.
Website Copyright dF Audio Ltd 2011. Website Designed and Maintained by MAS Design Ltd.
