An independent assessment of FM and other listening devices to help beyond the hearing aid

The new website - http://listeningdevicesforthedeaf.co.uk  is now live.
Listening devices are life enhancing to those who need them.   Take a look at this independent review which reviews them from the users point of view.  The manufacturers tend to exaggerate and boast about individual devices.
There is quite a lot of new information on it - in particular help to understand the audiogram.  Some practical insight may be obtained as to the help a listener would achieve.
I would never be without mine because they allow me to keep in touch with the outside world.  There is nothing more important than that!

June - the launch of the website

The website listening devices for the deaf will go live on the web in June.  The final adjustments to it are in hand.  It is non commercial and without sponsorship and the advice given is personal and without prejudice.  I will not give advice.  The website attempts to provide information about the products from a users point of view.  The manufacturers boasts are questioned.  They should not be taken for granted.

Caution is needed when a choice is made and the most important advice is to try the device before accepting it.  Get the agreement of the vendor at the point of sale that it may be returned if it does not come up to expectations.

An independent assessment of listening devices

Long overdue is an independent assessment of listening devices.  The manufacturers overstate their benefits and at the same time gloss over the situations where they have weaknesses.  I have studied the wireless listening devices, having borrowed them from the makers.  I have also acquired a couple which I use all the time.  They certainly allow one to participate in situation where otherwise, being quite severely handicapped by hearing loss, I would be excluded.
The website is under preparation and is expected to go live in the next two months.  There will be no sponsorship and so no favours to or from any manufacturer.

An important but often forgotten principle concerning the use of listening devices for hearing TV, lecturers, speakers etc.

The clarity of sound from a source is better the closer you are to that source.   As one moves further away so the sound is rapidly dissipated from the source in all directions (through 360 degrees).  The further the microphone distance from the source the more interference there will be from other noises in the room with the sound bouncing off walls back to the microphone.   This is the reason why it is difficult to hear a speaker in a large room is one is near the back.  There is plenty of sound but the clarity has gone.

So always place the microphone as close to the sound source as possible.  This does not mean actually on top of the speaker, but close by to avoid the distortion which is inevitable if placed too close.  It is often not easy to know exactly where the speakers are situated on many TV sets.  One has to hunt for them – possibly even get someone with good hearing to help.  The search will be rewarded.