Let's Hear in Fareham Volunteer Training.

Slides	Notes
	Hearing Loss Facts 10 million people in UK have hearing loss. 2 million of these use hearing aids. 800,000 are severely or profoundly deaf.
	What is a Hearing Loop An induction loop system transmits an audio signal directly into a hearing aid via a magnetic field, greatly reducing background noise, competing sounds, reverberation and other acoustic distortions that reduce clarity of sound. The loop system consists of a microphone which picks up what is said, an amplifier to process the sound as a signal and a cable or wire which is placed around the perimeter of a specific area which radiates a signal to the hearing aid. In 1937 Joseph Poliakoff filed for a patent in the UK on an Induction Loop Hearing Assistance System featuring what was called a telephone coil and from this date hearing loop technology really started to be developed. In early designs such as this, the telephone coil was designed to pick up the magnetic field produced by a telephone handset speaker coil, which could then be converted back to an audio signal. The advantage of this for the hard of hearing was that it picked up only the audio signal from telephone and none of the acoustical distortion, making the speakers voice more intelligible, just as is still the case today. The telephone coil name would later be shortened to “Telecoil” or “T-Coil”. In the early 1970s the first behind the ear hearing aids featuring Telecoils were invented, and in 1974 the UKs National Health Service began prescribing the technology to hearing impaired patients, many of whom received the hearing aids free of charge. This encouraged the development of amplifier technology that could make a more reliable and powerful magnetic field that covered larger areas, and would work in modern buildings with metal construction that weakens and distorts the magnetic field produced. For a technical description of how loops work, see Appendix A. For a description of how they help, see Appendix B.
	Types of loops and where they are used
	1 Room loops. Typically the speaker uses a microphone and a loop runs around the room perimeter to enclose the area within which hearing-aid wearers with their aids switched to the “T” setting can receive the signal. The listeners should be able to hear well even when moving about within the loop area. Used for conference and lecture halls, community centres, cinemas, theatres, classrooms, churches etc. Can also be used for airport and railway station announcements. For large areas, a phased array loop system with multiple loops operating together out of phase gives better coverage and results than a simple loop. Cinemas and theatres sometimes use infra-red systems where users either wear a neckloop for use with their hearing aids set to the “T” setting or headphones. Infra-red systems do not need the area to be looped and the beams do not pass through walls.
	2 Countertop loops. For one to one situations where conversation privacy is required. Again a microphone is used but the effective loop area is restricted to the area within which the customer with the hearing-aid is positioned. The loop is normally fitted into the front of a till or counter. Very necessary where protective grilles on cashier positions distort and muffle the sound. Used for bank/building society cashiers, checkout tills, customer service points, help desks, intercoms and entry phones. Sometimes there may be say 3 cashiers but only one position is fitted with a countertop loop. Important that the signage clearly shows which position has the loop and that this position is always manned. The shape of the magnetic field generated by a vertically mounted loop can produce “dead spots” in unexpected places. Important to check the signal for height (wheelchair users) and width. Ideally the loop system should automatically be switched on when the till/computer at the station is switched on.
	3 Portable loops. These often have a built-in microphone and are placed between the speaker and listener. They are used in situations where interviews/conversations could take place in different locations in the building. Often used in banks/building societies for their interview rooms and retail outlets where it is considered uneconomic to have multiple countertop loops. Have many drawbacks. The customer has to ask to use the loop. If not in regular use it may well not be charged up. All the staff should be trained in its use – not easy to achieve on a continuous basis. Is it readily accessible? When the UK Equality Act was enacted in 2010, many companies paid lip service to the Act by purchasing a portable loop for their premises but they did not action the necessary training and maintenance procedures to keep it in working order.
	Loop Signage. There are a number of different signs but they all have the outline of an ear with a line through it and a prominent capital T . The most common is white letters on a blue background. There should be clear signage both on entrance doors and inside showing where the loops are located. Large chains will often have their own door signs amongst much other information and the “T” loop sign does not stand out. Supermarkets sometimes have just one or two checkout tills looped and these ought to be very prominently signed, visible from every direction. Another issue is whether at least one looped position is always manned.
	Reasons why loops do not work. They may be switched off. They have not been maintained well. They have been poorly installed. Wrong equipment has been specified. They are not where you expect them to be.
	When loops work well. They provide a real benefit to hearing-aid wearers. They are reliable, easily accessible and free to the user. They change people's lives.
	Checking process. This will be carried out by two volunteers visiting perhaps 6 or 8 venues in a two to three hour period. If possible, it is best to avoid peak times when the venue is busiest. One checker will be a hearing-aid user (with “T-coil” switch) and the other, with normal hearing will use a portable loop tester. They will assess the quality of the loop sound – clearness and absence of background noise (hissing etc.) and the area covered by the loop. The checkers will wear identification badges which will be supplied. They will initially look for external T-coil signage on the outside of the venue, perhaps on entrance doors or windows. They will then contact a senior person in the premises to explain purpose of visit. They will then go to where they would expect to find loop systems, note the local signage (or lack of it) and carry out the checks. They will speak to the staff to assess how well informed they are about what loop systems are available and any maintenance that is necessary. This is important where only portable loops are available. A brief summary leaflet is left at the venue. The results are recorded on a reporting sheet that will show for each venue visited :- Signage It's location, clarity. Good/poor/none Loop count - Permanent Number installed - Number working Effectiveness Counter loops - Number installed - Number working Effectiveness Portable loops - Number installed - Number working Effectiveness Staff - How aware of loops - How helpful Space at end for any other notes or information. It is useful to record who at the venue has responsibility for staff training and maintenance of loops. Feedback The results of the visits are recorded on our data base but are not normally sent to the venue. Instead they are collated and sent to Hearing Link who will follow up contacting organisation head offices and perhaps controlling associations. Boots Head Office were involved recently in improving loops in their pharmacies as a result of the Lets Loop exercise.
	The Law and Relevant UK Standards. These are shown in Appendix C.

The Let's Hear Programme in Fareham.

How the Let's Hear in the UK programme started.

The project was started in 2014 by Hearing Link – a UK wide charity for people with hearing loss. The aim was to create a culture of greater acceptance and awareness of hearing loops in the UK.

The first exercise was carried out in Eastbourne where a group of volunteer checkers accessed the availability of hearing loops in commercial premises and public buildings. They found out how well loops were working, whether there were good signs in place and whether staff were trained in the use of the loops. They worked closely with the Borough Council, businesses, voluntary organisations and the media. This initial project was successful and it was decided to extend it throughout the UK.

Rotary International became involved and a similar programme of checking was initiated in Swindon under the chairmanship of Tim Mason. The Swindon programme is well under way. They recruited 15 volunteers and in their first year have carried out over 300 tests on premises.

We are now starting a project in Fareham – with the benefit of Swindon's experience and with the help of Tim himself.

Venues

First we must identify the types of venues in Fareham where loop systems would be of most benefit and list them in order of priority to decide which ought to be tackled first.

The complete list will include

Community centres/halls, churches, crematoriums, theatres, cinemas, banks, building societies, supermarkets, pharmacies, other shops, post offices, civic centres, museums, leisure centres, care homes, hotels and many others.

A visit co-ordinator will draw up lists of venues with their addresses, split them up into areas and then allocate to pairs of volunteers.

Some of the problems encountered from the auditing carried out in Eastbourne and Swindon.

Barriers to hearing-aid users getting the best out of loops.

Some hearing-aid users have never experienced good loops. They need to be persuaded to try out some good practice examples so they will be encouraged to use loops when they see the sign in future.

When they are first fitted with hearing-aids, the audiologist may not program the aids with a T-coil setting. If they are programmed, the user may not know how to access the T-coil setting. It is vital that all hearing-aid users are fully aware of the T-coil setting and that they ensure it is available on their own equipment.

Hearing-aid users are often not vocal enough. They do not comment or ask for help if they try to use a loop which is not working or indeed if there is no loop present.

Sometimes a venue may have a good functioning loop but there is no sign telling people about it. The loop remains unused because the hearing-aid user does not know to switch their aid to the T-coil setting.

Some of the most common things that went wrong.

Hearing loops poorly installed. Aerial wires in the wrong position, incorrect microphones specified, loops positioned too low or too high, magnetic field not strong enough for the area it needs to cover.

Portable loops used in inappropriate circumstances.

Hearing loops not turned on or have lost their charge.

Hearing loops not properly maintained.

Staff unaware of how loops work or how to advise clients on getting maximum benefit from them.

Wider issues.

The Let's Hear programme should be concerned with all aspects of hearing difficulties and should publicise the lack of awareness of the problems faced by people with hearing loss. A close relationship with local papers and radio can be of great benefit in achieving this publicity.

Good relationships should be established with local professionals – hospital and GP audiology departments and hearing-aid providers. It is also beneficial to get as many “partnerships” as possible co-operating with the programme.

Useful to involve the local councillor with responsibility for equality, local groups supporting the deaf, old peoples homes and any other organisations relevant to hearing problems.

APPENDIX A

How do induction loops work? - Technical information

Not all hearing-aid users and technicians / system installers can be expected to know the answer. Many have not heard of such things, and do not understand the great help an induction loop can be to users of hearing aids in compensating for their disability. So, the following explanation may be of some help in enabling non-technical persons to understand how an induction loop works.

Most hearing aids nowadays have a switch marked M and T. Some even have M, MT and T. The M (microphone) position is for "normal" listening, that is receiving airborne sound via the microphone built in to the hearing aid. The T (telecoil) position is for receiving the sound via an induction coil which is built in to the hearing aid.

For the induction coil to provide sound, a magnetic field is needed via which the sound is transmitted. This facility in hearing aids was introduced by a number of manufacturers many years ago and was then known as the "telephone" or "telecoil" position on the hearing aid switch. It was intended to make it easier for the hearing aid user to hear over the telephone, by picking up the sound via the magnetic field generated by the diaphragm coil in the receiver of the telephone.

In many locations, telephone handsets now have this required capability. In recent years, however, induction loop systems have begun to be provided in public places such as churches, cinemas and theatres, bank, ticket and information counters and desks. It is even found in the home. In all these cases the T facility is used in to listen inductively, without the interference of airborne background sound. The MT position which is provided on some hearing aids allows listening simultaneously both to airborne sound via the microphone and to inductively transmitted sound via the telecoil.

It is well known that when an alternating current is passed through a wire, a magnetic field is generated around the wire. If a second wire is brought within this magnetic field, a corresponding alternating current is created within the second wire. In technical language, it is said that a current is "induced" in the second wire. Hence the term "induction". This particular magnetic principle is the basis on which electrical motors, electrical generators and transformers operate. An induction loop for hearing aid purposes also operates in the same way. An induction loop system consists of an amplifier and a loop. The amplifier can be connected to a sound source such as a TV or radio, a PA / sound reinforcement system or a dedicated microphone.

The signal is amplified and fed into the loop cable, in the form of a strong alternating current. The loop itself consists of an insulated wire, one turn of which is placed around the perimeter of the room. When the alternating current from the amplifier flows through the loop, a magnetic field is created within the room. If a hearing aid user switches their hearing aid to the T position, the telecoil in the hearing aid picks up the fluctuations in the magnetic field and converts them into alternating currents once more. These are in turn amplified and converted by the hearing aid into sound. The magnetic field within the loop area is strong enough to allow the person with the hearing aid to move around freely within the room and still receive the sound at a good, comfortable listening level. The performance of these systems is specified in agreed international standards.

Some loop layouts are not simple single wire surrounding a room, but the above explanation covers the basic principles.

APPENDIX B

How do induction loops help?

People who suffer from hearing loss - the unseen disability - require more than just increasing the volume of sound into their ears.

The loss of hearing is generally associated with the neurological processing of information in the brain. People with normal hearing require a signal to noise ratio of 6dB for a reasonable level of intelligibility. This represents quite a noisy background, which might be reverberation, air conditioning, ventilation systems or background noise such as a crowd of people.

When a person loses about 80% of their hearing, they generally need a signal to noise ratio of 15 to 20dB. This can be difficult to achieve unless the wanted signal is taken straight from the basic source and transmitted directly through the loop system, avoiding any reverberation or additional ambient noise.

Transient situations, such as ticket counters, information and help points, etc., are the worst areas for listening, though even in churches, theatres and lecture / conference rooms, there is often sufficient degradation of the signal to seriously affect intelligibility. In most situations it is impractical to issue any form of separate receiver and the use of the individual's hearing aid is a major step to bringing people with hearing loss back into full contact with their environment. Only induction loop systems are capable of doing this.

APPENDIX C

UK Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act of 2010, which replaces the existing anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, simplifies and strengthens the law to tackle discrimination and inequality affecting people with 'protected characteristics' covering age, sex, race and disability. The guide to the section pertaining to disability access can be seen here and makes mention of hearing loops.

The Building Regulations 2010(12)

The UK building regulations inform architects and builder about the regulations for new building and how disability access is required. The regulations mention induction loops in reference to reception desks, performance and discussion areas and prominent use of signage to inform the hard of hearing of their presence.

British Standards 8300 – Code of Practise

British Standards document number BS8300 is a code of practise regarding the design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. Again, induction loops are cited with regard to meeting rooms/lecture rooms and performance areas but also lifts and help points.

Induction Loop Performance Standards IEC 60118-4 2014

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) produced a heavily revised standard – IEC 60118-4 – for the performance of induction loop systems in any assistive listening application. This standard is being adopted across the world as the reference for loop system performance. The standard can be accessed from your regional standards association.

In addition,

IEC 62489 Defines the characteristics used to build a loop system.

And

BS 7594 Defines a code of practice for installers.