When it comes to technology and myself I’m way back in the 60’s, it’s far too difficult for me.
I’m bimodal and going to a live concert at an open air football stadium. The stadium has a loop installed for HOH guests. I have a mini mic ordered, will the mini mic be sufficient for me to hear clearly or will I need some other form of ALD’s to hook into the looped stadium please? TIA.
I love hearing loops (when installed properly)! Makes listening to speech sooooo much clearer. I’m looking forward to Bluetooth Auracast when it becomes available in public spaces. The other alternatives on the market now give clear audio but are a little more tricky to use (neck loops, etc).
To answer your question, I can’t remember if you use the Cochlear app or not, but I think you do. In the app, there are three main sections [Volume: Program; Audio Sources]. In the Audio Sources section, if telecoil is enabled for your processor, you’ll see this as an option. I’ve attached my screenshot. I had to get this activated by my audiologist initially, but it’s remained as an option across the N7 to N8 transition. Just select this option and you’re good to go.
Your proposed alternative of using a Mini Mic is also possible, as the Mini Mic can receive the hearing loop audio and will then forward this to the Cochlear processor via its proprietary wireless link.
I’ve found that for a well installed hearing loop with minimal external interference, it doesn’t matter whether you use the processor’s built in receiver or the mini mic’s receiver. However, introduce interference & things change. Moving your head can reduce audio quality if using the processor’s receiver, so sometimes it’s better to use the mini mic’s receiver & to place the mini mic in a position where it has good reception.
Almost all other hearing aids have telecoil receivers built in, so your other device should be able to receive natively. Sorry, can’t help you with that one.
I forgot the attachment. Here it is.
Also, are you sure the stadium has a hearing loop and not some other form of hearing augmentation? Some places use RF or infrared to transmit the hearing augmentation, and you need to get a receiver from the site that is generally worn around your neck. This device then creates your own personal hearing loop.
@bcarp Thank you for your help. The venue is Suncorp stadium in Brisbane. The stadium has an Audio loop fitted throughout the stadium. I just Googled the stadium I need the “Listen Everywhere” app, which I can’t find in the App Store.
Oh. I’ve trialled that app before with a rep from a company that installs a product that uses it. It introduces a noticeable audio latency, so I was hearing things in my good ear much earlier than in my cochlear ear. I estimate it must have been at least 200ms. In our small venue, it wasn’t acceptable. It might be okay in a larger venue like a stadium because of the delay in sound waves getting from speakers to you over air conduction, lessening the perceived latency. We ended up installing a traditional hearing loop instead.
It’s interesting that the stadium website mentions a hearing loop and then talks about this wifi based app. They are completely different technologies. This app requires you to have. Bluetooth connection between your phone and your cochlear device. Your phone will play audio in the same way it would stream audio, so if it can stream to both your devices at once, then this will work for you.
I wonder what the other device is that the stadium mentions on its website. I suspect that it is a wifi receiver, and this bit creates a personal neck-based audio loop so you can use telecoil mode on your ear devices.
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