Thoughts about listening devices updated

This post has been updated on 12th April 2010

Welcome to everyone who is visiting this blog for the first time. I have been considering listening devices which are complementary to the hearing aid. They are worn along with the hearing aid. The comments and views which I report are entirely my own. I receive no payment and this blog is not sponsored in any way. I am quite severely deaf (see my profile) and therefore you might have to interpret my remarks with that in mind.
I feel very strongly that those of us who are deaf should maintain communication with those around us. If this means spending on a listener or a device of some sort one should do that. On no account should we allow our lives to shut down. We should benefit from the modern technology now available.
I dislike wires and have therefore only looked at the hearing devices that connect wirelessly. It is the less expensive devices that have to be connected to the listener by a wire but would be well worth thinking about rather than spending more on a device which may be ‘over the top’ for individual needs.
As I have just said listening devices are complementary to the hearing aid. They can be extremely helpful for those of us who find that we have difficulty hearing in some situations. They are expensive (about £500) but can make an enormous difference to one's life and allow one to join in situations in which otherwise one would be excluded. That having been said however, they do not restore 'normal' hearing and one needs some time to get used to using them and in order to get the best results some adjustments to the controls may be needed. Again one must understand that there are situations in which the surrounding noise is so loud that even with the help of the listener one cannot hear. I am thinking of a noisy pub, party, restaurant etc. These are situations when even those with good hearing would be struggling.

Between the various devices the choice is difficult and needs much thought. Consider first
1) What are the situations for which help is needed. In thinking about this consider the potential of listeners in different scenes. Watching the television, in the car, for group gatherings especially in a large room, guided tours, hearing in restaurants, listening to lectures, attending committee meetings, and in other situations like hearing in church services where hearing loops are not always working or may not exist.
If help is only needed occasionally then it is appropriate to look for alternatives to the listeners. For instance there are devices specifically to help hearing the television. It is pointless to pay for an expensive gadget when there is a clear simple alternative.
2) How much you are prepared to spend.
3) Most important of all if you order any listener by post make sure it works for you in the use intended. If it does not then send it back for a full refund. When ordering by post it is wise to keep the original packaging so that sending it back is easy. One suggestion is to try first of all, a less expensive device and if it does not come up to expectations then try a more expensive version.

The quality listeners I have been trying out work with the use of a transmitter which contains a built-in microphone. This is placed as close as possible to the sound source which may be as far as 50 ft away from where you are sitting. The transmitter sends the sound signal by radio waves to a receiver which one wears. This is usually in the form of a receiver attached to a neck loop which transmits the signal to the hearing aid which has to be set to the T position. Not all hearing aids have this (T coil) setting and if one is not sure about this it is advisable to enquire of the audiologist.
There is one further alternative for the reception of the sound from the transmitter. This is the use of a small shoe attached to the hearing aid. This obviates the need of a neck loop and so has some advantages. There are however other considerations and this is explained in the review of the Phonak Smart Link and the Phonak Zoom link.
There are different versions (ear buds or headphones) for the reception of the signal from the transmitter which do not need the T setting. As I have a T setting on my hearing aid I have not tried either ear buds or headphones.

Blog posting On 14th July 2009 contains a review of the following listeners.
CM1,
Conversor,
Contego,
Phonak Zoom Link
Comfort Audio listener.
At the end of the July ‘09 posting is a summary of my advice at that time.
Since July ‘09 there have been additions to the range of listeners in the form of Bellman Domino and Phonak Smart Link Plus.
I reported on the Bellman Domino on 17th November '09.

Phonak Smart Link Plus

This high quality listening device has the capability of the Contego and the Bellman Domino but with additional features.
1) It can be used, like the other listeners with a neck loop (T setting needed on the hearing aid) or alternatively with an FM hearing aid shoe. The small shoe fits permanently onto the hearing aid. The shoe is sometimes called an ‘ear level receiver’. It receives the radio signal from the transmitter and transmits it directly to the hearing aid in the ear and without the need of a separate receiver. The system has the advantage that a neck loop is therefore not needed. Neck loops are a bit of a nuisance – they get in the way – are unsightly etc. So this is a big advantage though there are two drawbacks. Firstly they are expensive and have to be fitted by the audiologist and secondly the gobble up batteries very much faster (Zoom plus devoured my batteries every 4-5 days).
2) It can be connected to the Bluetooth system. This allows phone connection for those who need/want to be always available.I have been using a Smart Link Plus for about 10 weeks and can confirm that it is a high quality instrument. Given the above advantages, it obviously must be a serious consideration provided of course that there is the need.
1) Instructions for use. The instructions which were in a small booklet were complete and clear.
2) Component parts Neck loop with receiver – for neck loop models only (battery operated), transmitter (battery operated), adapter for use with audio jack, lavalier cord acting as an antenna, soft case, charging unit.
3) Power supply – battery is rechargeable.
a) Batteries have a low power warning.
b) Recharge time is 2 hours
c) Transmitting/receiving time on a single charge is 10-12 hours
4) Quality of sound signal This was very good
a) The sound signal was constant and reliable. The transmitting distance was very good especially when the lavalier cord is used attached to the transmitter.
b) Over what distance can the signal be received – 15 metres within a building and 40-50 metres outside.
5) Length of warranty – the length was not stated on the device supplied to me. This would need checking prior to purchase.
6) How does it perform in the situations for which it is recommended?
a) TV – very good clear sound – My experience indicated the sound was best when the TV is connected by means of the audio linkage. This gave really good quality sound – better than all other listeners I tested when connected using the audio linkage. Listening with the audio lead was much better than simply using the transmitter microphone.
b) Tested in a large room committee meeting. The transmitter can be placed on the committee table. Or alternatively it can be held in the hand and, using the directional facility, pointed towards the speakers wherever they are sitting.
c) Group gatherings. The transmitter is positioned in the middle of the group. Without background noise and with only one person talking hearing is much improved. Around a dinner table the same applies though there is often the distracting clatter of cutlery and dishes. In a restaurant try to find one with good furnishings and a low ceiling. Find a table near the periphery of the room. With just 2 people the partner wears the transmitter hung around the neck. If dining with a group a good tip is to place the transmitter pointed towards the wall but as far away from it as possible and switch the microphone direction away from any distracting extraneous sound source. This focuses the microphone on the group around the table.
d) Car. One passenger wears the transmitter. Very good quality sound. With other passengers speaking mike needs to be passed to them. When listening to the radio in the car the Phonak Smart Link is valuable. The transmitter is placed as close to the radio speaker as possible. The relative volume of the radio against the engine noise is improved and one can hear better than other people who are in the car at the same time.
e) Conducted tour of a museum. The tour guide wears the transmitter. One is then able to hear the speaker and walk around freely looking at exhibits whilst, at the same time, keeping in touch with the guide.
f) Some people just do not speak very clearly. I am thinking of both adults and children. It is not simply the volume of their voice but the lack of clarity which makes it difficult. When the transmitter is placed near their voice or directed towards them on a table one can often hear very much more clearly.
g) During church services it is most useful as an alternative to listening to a loop system. Sometimes these are not fitted or are not working properly. I should add that it is obviously important to check that one’s T coil setting is not only working but is at the correct volume (audiology advice needed). The transmitter is placed near the front and it picks up sound provided the source is relatively close. I hang the transmitter on the lectern and can then hear really well. The lavalier cord, acting as an aerial, allows one then to sit near the back and hear perfectly well. I would add that if there is a loop system and it does not appear to work then this should be reported.6) The instrument is light, fits easily into a pocket and easy to handle.
7) In comparison with other products does it offer good value for money? The Bluetooth capability renders this instrument superior over others. For those who need to be in constant touch by telephone it is an ideal instrument.

My Link (neck loop) receiver

In order to economise the Smart Link is used with a neck loop. The T- setting is needed on the hearing aid.

The My Link receiver is a very small, neat and light in weight – hardly more than 2.5 inches long, 1 inch wide and half an inch thick. It is connected to a very plain and simple neck loop wire. One end of the wire may be pulled out of the receiver and this allows it to be very easily placed around the neck. There is a simple on/off switch, along with a volume control. There are the only these two controls on it. There is a low battery warning and battery life is excellent.

Comparison of the Phonak Smart Link with the FM receiver as against when used with the My Link neck loop

There is no doubt that the use of the Smart Link with the FM receiver is more convenient than with the neck loop. Yes, it costs more and this must remain a factor in making the decision but on the other hand the hearing aid battery life is very much reduced by the FM receiver (4 to 5 days only). The neck loop receiver itself has a battery however but the battery life is excellent.

Neck loops are a bit unsightly. Having said that - I found the Smart Link works very well with the neck loop and from a hearing point of view there is little to choose.

I think marginally, I personally would prefer the Smark Link with the FM receiver from the sound quality. One has to carry hearing aid batteries around to be available at any time and the short life means they often fail just at a bad time. But that’s life isn’t it?

Comparison of the Phonak Smart Link with neck loop and the Contego

Without going into prices which can vary it is useful to compare the Smart Link (My Link neck loop version) with the Contego. They are, in many respects, comparable.

The neck loop receiver of the Phonak is much smarter and more convenient. The Contego neck loop is more unsightly. The Contego receiver, on the other hand, has the advantage of a microphone for which the volume is adjustable and is independent from the transmitter. There is no microphone on the Phonak receiver.

In some circumstances having a microphone on the receiver is very useful. One is able to shut down unwanted noise from the receiver microphone and listen only through the transmitter. And vice versa. Most usually I find one tends to leave both mikes switched on otherwise one seems to have to fiddle with the controls in trying to optimise the hearing opportunity.

With my own personal use I find that the Contego is excellent when sitting round a committee in that one can hear one’s next door neighbour using the receiver microphone.
And again when attending a guided tour or listening to a lecture. These are both further examples of the benefit of having an active microphone on the neck loop receiver.

One might say it’s a question of horses for courses. If one is willing to operate the necessary switching to obtain the best possible use of the Contego then that is the better instrument. If, on the other hand, one does not want to have to bother with fiddling with switches then the Phonak is the sleeker and neater of the two.

From a purely functional point of view the battery life, ease of charging, reliability etc. there is little to choose.

In conclusion I would simply say that these listening devices have been, at least for me, life enhancing, in that one is then able to communicate in circumstances in which otherwise one is excluded. They are not particularly discrete. Use of them advertises that one has a hearing problem. Personally this does not worry me and it should be of concern to nobody. After all when one is unable to read small print it is not shameful to wear glasses. Deafness is a common disability and it should not be allowed to shut down one’s life.

The RNID is selling a highly sophisticated and expensive product by post. They are doing this without a sales team to demonstrate the product directly to the client.
Before making the purchase one should talk to the sales team directly in order to answer any lingering questions one might have.

If you are in doubt, try one but be prepared to send it back or alternatively go for a different device if you are not entirely satisfied

For those who need a listener to continue at work it is worth thinking of Access to Work as a possible source of financial help.