Telephones and Hearing Aids

By Gail Linn, MA, CCC-A

Many people with hearing aids experience problems when talking on the telephone. Some of the problems are
Feedback a high pitched sound when the receiver gets close to the ear.
Lack of Clarity inability to understand the person on the other end of the phone.
Interference cell phones emit RF (radio frequencies) and energy from the battery, backlight and electronic circuitry which cause a buzzing sound much like feedback but the source is different.
Some people take their hearing aids out when talking on the phone. However, this is very inconvenient and often how hearing aids get lost. Some of the solutions include
1. T-Coil almost every hearing aid has a coil inside called a T-Coil. A T-Coil is designed to pick up electromagnetic energy. Almost all telephones emit electromagnetic energy. The T-Coil in the hearing aid picks up that electromagnetic energy and the sound goes directly from the telephone into the hearing aid bypassing the microphone. The sound quality is excellent. If the electromagnetic energy is not enough, there are strips that have electromagnetic energy than be put on the receiver of the telephone for better clarity. For many this is a miracle.
2. Easy-T Many hearing aids have a T-Coil system that turns on automatically when the receiver of the telephone is put up to the ear. When the telephone receiver is taken away from the ear, the hearing aid goes automatically back to the original program.
3. Acoustic Program most hearing aids today have multiple programs that can be accessed by pushing a button. A special program can be made for the telephone called an Acoustic Telephone Program. Telephones mainly use low and mid frequencies for transmitting sound. They do this because these sine waves are very long and travel well through the air and through telephone wires. A program for the telephone then would enhance low and mid frequencies and roll off high frequencies that cause feedback. When in the telephone program, feedback should be reduced or eliminated and volume increased allowing for better understanding.
4. Telephone Style for regular telephones, a receiver that is curved works better with a hearing aid because allows a little space between the phone and the hearing aid reducing feedback tendencies. Cell phone manufacturers are now making phones with “Immunity” which means there is a shield from the RF interference. You need to try a cell phone with your hearing aid before making a purchase to make sure they are compatible.
I hope this information has been helpful. As always, your audiologist will be happy to help you with your hearing aid(s) and telephone compatibility.