Question for Wendybeth

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I figure others may have hard-of-hearing people in their lives but I know for sure Wendybeth can help me.

I'm looking into Assisted Listening Devices for the hard-of-hearing in the new library conference and meeting rooms. One choice we have to make is to get either normal earbuds/headphones or get what's called the neckloop. The neckloop works with hearing aids that are telecoil-equipped. That way a person with a hearing aid can use the ALD as well as their hearing aid.

I was wondering - How common are telecoil-equipped hearing aids? Is it standard on most hearing aids, or an expensive add-on that most people don't get? If you needed to hazard a guess - what percentage of hearing aids has this technology?

Thanks.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

BUMP!

[wendybeth]

Ooops- sorry, CP- didn't see this!

Tori and all her high-tech friends have hearing aids or implants that work well with the neckloops, but there are a lot of people with older aids that don't have that capability. Still, the headphones aren't that great an option- the loops are so much clearer and don't blast the hell out of the wearer like the headphones. Any way you can get both? Chances are you're going to encounter times where either would be necessary. Tori has a loop that she uses on her cd player- she loves it! I'm pretty sure loops are CI compatible as well. Neck loops are much more sanitary as well.