WOW! The LOOP- Awesome news about the latest hearing technology

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

This was in the New York Times today

A Hearing Aid That Cuts Out All the Clatter
quoting a key part of the article
"People in the United States have been slower to adopt the technology because telecoils were traditionally sold as an optional accessory, at an extra cost of about $50, instead of being included automatically with a hearing aid. But today telecoils are built into two-thirds of the hearing aids on the market as well as in all cochlear implants, so there is a growing number of people able to benefit from loops."


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/science/24loops.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23

[hruss]

Hello ANAers,

take a look at the interesting article I read today in NY times (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/science/24loops.html?_r=1&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=SC-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-AHA-102411-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click). It is about how society helps people with hearing problems by simply installing a thin copper sheet on floors in different public buildings, creating the so called hearing loop.

I know there are people from Europe in this forum so probably they can give some feedback. have you experienced places with copper sheets in Northern Europe? (Acc to the article the method was wide spread in N Europe). Midwest in the US is the leader of installation of the simple sheets. Probably some of you in West MI have experienced it too?

What is not clear to me though is whether only people with impaired hearing wearing hearing aids can use it. In the article it is mentioned that people with Cochlear implants can benefit from the innovation but I don't know whether Cochlear implants are for people with SSD only or whether there are implants for improving impaired hearing too? Can someone with a Cochlear implant chime in here?

Anyway, I am glad that society thinks about people with hearing problems and tries to improve the environment.

hrissy

 

[hruss]

I found this article quite impressive too and just posted it on the forum but I was only 8 min late than you - hahaah.
apparently, it is something innovative that struck us both at the same time

Thank you for sharing it

hrissy

[leapyrtwins]

Just got a link to this article from my brother.  Was going to post it, but see that someone beat me to it.

Very cool technology!

Jan

[Ross]

It truly is interesting technology.  Unfortunately, for most of us with SSD caused by an acoustic neuroma, my interpretation is that it won't help us.  My cochlear is working fine...it's the hearing nerve attached to it that is on the fritz.

That said, it is wonderful to see that society is taking hearing issues seriously and making investments in infrastructure to help those in need.

[spgreenfield]

So Ross -

You brought up a point I have a question about - if they really DO CUT your hearing nerve - can't it be attached again?  Or is it THAT delicate?  Those that have surgery where the nerve is actually cut - is there any hope for anything other than mechanisms that redirect the hearing into the good ear?

Pam

[Ross]

If only...man that would be great.  When I first was diagnosed with an AN, the doctor showed me on a head model where it was in the hearing canal.  I couldn't believe just how small that canal is...that's what makes it all so complicated plus the fact that you've got a bunch of other nerves sharing the same canal.

Maybe someday they'll be able to repair the nerve damage, but until then, it's gizmos for our ears and heads.