Hearing+Assistance

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Hearing Assistance at C3HUU
//**[in Fall 2016, the Soundroom and Communications Commitees are revamping our support for the Hearing Impaired.]**//

Current Status
C3HUU has undertaken a revamping of our Meeting Hall/Sanctuary sound experience. This work begain in 2012 and continues today. Part of that project includes upgrade of the capabilities for hearing impaired members and visitors as well as those who take in the service from the commons area. Refurbishing of all parts of the Assisted Listening System (ALS) are underway as detailed below including upgrade and repair of the speaker and amplifier that bring sound from the Sanctuary into the adjacent commons area. Refurbished and new ALS receivers are being tested with members.

Recent (Aug 2012) problems with static in the Assisted Listening System are being worked as noted in the Actions and Recent Upgrades section below. The solution to the increasing interference from newer electronic devices and lighting ballasts is move to a Digital Signal Processing enhanced receiver such as the Listen Technologies LR-5200.

If you wish to volunteer to test some of these new or newly refurbished Assisted Listening devices, please contact the soundroom staff.

Short History
Since circa 1992, C3HUU has provided hearing impaired visitors with Assisted Listening Device (ALD) technology that directly link wireless broadcast from the church sound system to pocket sized receivers available in the Commons outside the Sanctuary. The current Phonic Ear FM Assistive Listening System has been a part of the C3HUU sound system since its purchase circa 1996 and upgrade a few years later. This system has served its purpose well, but does require maintenance such as replacing batteries, headsets and receivers that break, etc. The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) that took effect in 1992 requires that there be receivers or equivalent for at least 4% of seating capacity with a minimum of two receivers. When the C3HUU sanctuary is used as part of church business, it is exempt from ADA requirements. When C3HUU space is used as a "public accommodation" such as for a concert which is separate from the church mission, the ADA Title III rules are applicable. Seating up to 325 in the sanctuary would require 13 receivers when rented for special events that are not part of the church's mission. Signs advertising the availability of a hearing assistance system are also required and are currently in place.

The Phonic Ear Easy Listener system acquired by C3HUU originally had these components, with current status indicated as of 2012-09-01:
 * 1) A PE-550T narrowband 72MHz transmitter that attaches to the soundroom soundboard audio output. The transmitter/receiver pairs operate on "channels" in the 72MHz band; this one is on channel 11 which Phonic Ear indicates with a #28 label on the front of the device. This transmitter is still working well, though reports of static and noise have surfaced in 2012. The static and noise were found to be problems with one of the the soundboard amplifiers, not the Phonic Ear transmitter.
 * 2) 8 PE-300R narrowband 72MHz (channel 11, or Phonic Ear #28) receivers each about the size of a bar of soap with on/off and volume controls, two AA rechargeable batteries, and a charger plugged into the headset jack when not in use. Note the on/off volume switch must be in the Off position for the charger to work correctly. 4 receivers failed and are no longer repairable, two compatible receivers were acquired so there are now 6 functioning narrowband FM receivers.
 * 3) 8 headsets either the "stethoscope" version which fits around one's neck and sits on the outside of the listener's ear canal, or a foam padded headset such as those used in Walkman type devices, or foam padded ear buds as are used with iPods and other MP3 players. There is also one old style inductive coupling that plugs into the headset jack and sits on one's ear to couple sound into a T-coil equipped hearing device. This coupler has never been used to our knowledge. 4 headsets failed and now 3 new ones have been acquired, so there are now 7 functioning headsets.

This Phonic Ear system was very reliable for 13 years, but is showing its age over the past couple of years. During the past few years (2010-2012) or so 4 of the 8 receivers have failed as have 3 of the "stethoscope style" headsets and one "walkman style" headset. Compatible transmitters and receivers are available from other vendors though Phonic Ear has discontinued this system. The headset jack is compatible with iPod/MP3 player headsets and the older stethoscope style are also available from several vendors. If anyone using the C3HUU systems prefers, you may use your own headset with the FM receivers.

Requests for Alternatives
In the summer of 2011, some members asked about the possibility of installing an Assistive Listening System (ALS) that can activate a hearing aid without need for a separate receiver and headset. The issue popped up again when one of our long time members noted that the audio just wasn't working for her using the Phonic Ear receiver and headsets.The Soundroom team has explored and tested several alternatives; the primary ones center on expanding the 72MHz FM transmitter support and maintenance and update of all the ALS equipment currently in use.

The first step to restoring support for hearing impaired has been maintenance of the Phonic Ear Easy Listening PE-550T FM transmitter and PE-300R receivers. In 2012 this maintenance uncovered several faulty receivers, leaking batteries and some faulty old "stethoscope" style headsets as the main culprits. Some issues were easily repaired, but left us with 4 functioning Easy Listener PE-300R receivers of the original 8, and 4 headsets of the original 10. In 2012 more headsets and one more receivers was acquired.

All of the failing and unrepairable PE 300R receivers were pulled from the C3HUU ALS stand in the commons, new batteries and headsets are now replaced every other year. Every other year new headsets are acquired or the pads on the headsets replaced. The question now is what to do to become both ADA Title III compliant and provide a cost effective integration between existing and improved and affordable new hearing assistance technology. Thus began an exploration of alternative systems to the current commonly used narrowband 72MHz FM transmitter with matching pocket-sized FM receivers and headsets:
 * wideband 72MHz FM transmitters and receivers; wideband is more noise resistant, at least one vendor, Listen Technologies, offers several receiver models that can work with the existing Phonic Ear narrowband transmitter or with a newer wideband transmitters.
 * moving to 216MHz FM transmitter and 216MHz receivers with better noise resistance than 72MHz and potential direct support built-in for some newer hearing aids
 * Telecoil/audio loop systems with FM system integration: telecoil support is an option on most hearing aids made since the early 1990s
 * Easylink/Smartlink direct FM integration with hearing aids: custom, expensive ($2000 for transmitter) but very transparent to hearing aid owners who have this integrated such as all Phonak hearing aids manufactured after 2005. One manufacturer, Listen Tech, offers a feature in the LT-800 transmitter (~$500) that can directly transmit to a Phonak hearing aid.

After testing and consultation with hearing impaired members, the following proposals are part of current budget funding requests:
 * replace the narrowband Phonic Ear transmitter with a multi-channel, wideband Listen Technologies transmitter
 * acquire 4 new Digital Signal Processing (DSP) enhanced narrow/wideband FM receivers with drop in chargers that provide a better listening experience and are compatible with the current system
 * acquire more individual loop "necklaces" to allow those with telecoil support in their hearing devices to use the new DSP enhanced receivers
 * maintain both the older system and newer system over several years until all of the older narrowband FM receivers are replaced with wideband FM receivers. Still to be, determined: whether to move to 216MHz for the new system or maintain compatibility with 72MHz There is no additional cost to move to 216MHz, only lack of compatibility.

Telecoil Advocates @ Eastern NC Cluster UUA Meeting
The Eastern NC Cluster UUA Technologies in Congregations workshop in March 2012 included several attendees who advocate for all congregations to support induction telecoil for those who wear Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs). These are also known as "T coil", "telecoil", "teleloop", or "audio loop" options or adapters for ALDs. More details on audio loop or T coil systems may be found in the references below.

Audio loop support can be at the individual level with a special headset that plugs into an FM receiver, or at the whole room level with a large audio loop coil installed that encloses the whole sanctuary. One major difference: FM receiver/transmitters are portable for special events, integrated audio loop systems are not.

To Audiologists:
The vast majority of Assisted Listening implant and wearable "hearing aid" devices manufactured since 2005 have an option to activate telecoil support and many of them now have 216MHz FM support in addition. In either case, the option must be activated by an audiologist. Several references note that telecoil support can be setup as "M/T" and that the hearing professional set this up and show the wearer how to manually activate the telecoil support In M/T mode, the hearing device provides signals to the user from both the built-in microphone and the telecoil. The online manuals that are accessible to us do not include the details on how to setup this support, and they are different for each model of hearing aid.

Once this is done, then a loop device available in the stand with the Phonic Ear and Listen Tech receivers in the C3HUU Commons may be plugged in to the earpiece adapter slot of a receiver and the wearer then enable their telecoil support. C3HUU soundroom team asks any ALS user to learn how to activate the hearing aid telecoil support since there are as many ways to activate this support as their are hearing aid models! It is suggested that the teleloop mode be activated after attaching the loop necklace and after turning on the FM receiver, so that you don't get a loud "popping" sound when the receiver is first turned on.

FM on Hearing Aids Alternative
Another alternative noted below is linking with integrated FM receivers available as an option for many current personal hearing aids. Of those members who have indicated they wear hearing aids, more than 60% have Phonak brand hearing aids. The potential, if C3HUU can fund purchase of an additional transmitter to support Phonak FM mode, is that a person with a Phonak (or compatible) hearing aid simply walks into the space and gets the benefit of the Assistive Listening System without having to learn to turn on anything on the individual's hearing aid. Supporting this option requires significant investment in some 216MHz FM ALS transmitter(s).

FM 72MHz & 216MHz Systems
There are several vendors of Assistive Listening Systems very similar to the Phonic Ear 72MHz system that C3HUU now uses. The Phonic Ear company has discontinued manufacture and support for very popular narrowband FM system that C3HUU purchased in the 1990s and concentrates on Instructional Audio and Audio Loop systems. Two vendors have been identified that have widely available receivers and transmitters for spaces such as ours that appear to be directly compatible or can coexist with the Phonic Ear system:
 * 1) Listen Tech - wideband 72MHz or 216MHz systems, same price range as replacement parts for Phonic Ear FM system. Components: LR-200 72MHz receiver, LT-800 72MHz transmitter. The slightly more expensive LR-400 72MHz receiver which is both wideband and narrowband compatible. C3HUU has acquired one LR-400 for testing. [Update 08-31] The LR-400 does work with the Phonic Ear transmitters - you must scan the channels manually to pick the numbered narrowband channels.
 * 2) Williams Sound - wideband 72MHz or 216MHz systems, same price range as replacement parts for Phonic Ear FM system and //MAY// be directly compatible, but not clear channel 11 in the 72MHz band is supported. Basic receiver in this price range is PPA R35 (~$135 each) with 2 bay drop in charger or newer PPA R37 and 10 bay drop-in (pricey) charger (~$500)

Planning for Upgrade
Some things to consider as C3HUU Soundroom team works with the board to plan on an upgrade to the Hearing Assistance capabilities at C3HUU:
 * FM systems with a transmitter attached to the Sound System and individual receivers can work well, and each problem with the Easy Listener devices so far has been failed headsets, bad receivers, failing batteries, or poor electrical connections. The church can start by purchasing several new FM receivers at approximately $140 each and new audio headsets for approximately $10 apiece then eliminate older receivers as they fail. Options in FM receivers:
 * the Phonic Ear Easy Listener line of FM system components have been discontinued by the manufacturer, but compatible narrowband 72MHz receivers and transmitters are still sold through many sources. The updated receivers are still analog FM receivers and a single matching narrowband FM transmitter to attach to the Sound System These are roughly $125-$150 per receiver. Good quality refurbished versions are available for approximately $35-$50 per receiver.
 * many alternative technologies are available in the $200-$250 per receiver range including 216MHz receivers and transmitters that are more resistant to noise and have longer range. However these are not compatible with 72MHz FM receiver/transmitter systems so would require an investment in at least another $1000 of transmitter and new incompatible receivers. Range has never been an issue, and noise complaints stopped when faulty receivers and headsets were removed from use.
 * simple inexpensive upgrade: change from the "rubber duckie" antenna on the transmitter to a full 1/4 wave dipole antenna. This is a $15 upgrade that could mean a 4 fold increase in transmit signal strength, and thus less noise and interference. An antenna is on order.
 * as noted below, the narrowband 72MHz FM receiver/transmitter system can be retained and either be extended to support or coexist with an Audio Loop /T-coil system
 * relatively new: direct support by some hearing aid devices for 216MHz wideband FM transmitters. That is if you can figure out how to program the hearing aid! Some manufacturers offer a "portal" device that will automatically shift a person's hearing aid into 216MHz receive mode after entering the area, then shift it back when leaving! Further research is needed to see if manufacturers of hearing aids are integrating the Phonak style FM receiver.
 * Induction loop/telecoil devices can be purchased to use with FM hearing assist devices. The one such induction loop headset that works with the FM audio receivers hasn't been very thoroughly tested yet. Each audio induction loop headset "necklace" that plugs into an FM receiver costs on the order of $55. //**THIS CONTINUES TO BE PREFERRED BY C3HUU MEMBERS WHO HAVE TESTED AUDIO LOOP! (2013-09-06).**//
 * An audio induction loop system as diagrammed above, can be used separately from the FM system as well. This would be as much as $3000 to purchase including several induction loop receivers for those who don't have induction loop equipped hearing aids called "telecoil", "T loop", "T coils", or "audio loop" support since they were originally invented to work with telephone handsets with large magnetic coil speakers. Induction loop systems require a coil of wire to enclose the space where users sit who have telecoil equipped hearing aids, see the drawing above from reference #1 below. The Assisted Listening industry appears to be moving away from audio loop support toward integrated FM receivers into the hearing aid.
 * Over time a telecoil system which encloses the whole meeting space can completely replace a FM system by replacing the FM receivers with Telecoil receivers for those who don't have telecoil hearing aids. We will have to explore how easy it is to activate the T-coil on those who are hearing impaired who join us in our sanctuary. After testing, if induction loop headsets work well, the church can go forward and investigate the estimated ~$3000 for an audio induction loop system or purchase of more necklace audio loop headsets that work with FM receivers at about $55 apiece. This no longer appears to be a good long term strategy (2012-09-02) as the industry is moving toward 216MHz FM integration into "hearing aids" at least in North America. Teleloop support is still popular in Europe, but never was in the US and Canada according to many industry circulars. For many manufacturers of ultra small devices, teleloop support is no longer an option. Telecoil support is still popular enough (2015-12-16) to provide support through loop necklaces attached to the very reliable 72MHz narrowband/wideband FM receivers.

Assisted Listening System Upgrade
Approximate costs for the various options are summarized in the table below: Audio System ||~ Example vendor/ Part name/number ||~ Approx Costs || and wideband/narrowband support || Transmitter: Listen Tech LT-800 ||= $689 || (one "necklace" per FM receiver loop enabled) || Sennheiser EZT 1011 Induction Necklace Williams Sound NKL001 ||= $75 $55 || (per receiver cost) || Phonic Ear Easy Listener PE300R (f=28) discontinued, narrowband Williams Sound R35 and Motiva R33 wideband, uses drop-in chargers (no DSP) Listen Tech LR-5200 wideband & narrowband with DSP, uses plug-in or drop-in chargers ||= $?? $195 $250 || + installation ||= TBD ~$3000 ||
 * ~ Type of
 * New analog audio FM transmitter with multi-channel
 * New telecoil "necklace" for FM receiver/transmitters
 * 72MHz or 216MHz FM receivers
 * New telecoil/audio loop system || Phonic Ear PL300 amplifier

Actions and Recent Upgrades

 * 1) Acquired one more used Phonic Ear PE 300R receiver and a matching PE 300T receiver (for testing as a backup to the existing Phonic Ear transmitter) from an auction of another church's sound gear and acquiring one new receiver (below) so that C3H now has 6 receivers available along with some repaired and new headsets (2012-09-02). The Phonic Ear PE 300R are fixed frequency narrowband receivers, so must be matched with transmitter.
 * 2) Acquired one new Listen Tech LR-400 narrowband and wideband 72MHz receiver for testing. The Williams Sound PPA R35 and R37 receivers and Listen Tech LR-400 receiver are all very similar in size and operation to the Phonic Ear PE 300R we have at C3H and include selectable channels which are the same FM channels broadcast by the Phonic Ear transmitters (still in the 72MHz band which is just below the US broadcast FM band on the radio spectrum). The R35 is available with a 2 bay drop-in charger; the newer R37 seems to only have 6 or 12 bay chargers available. The Listen Tech LR-400 has an external plug in charger much like the PE-300R with a separate plug-in port not into the earplug as on the PE-300R. Listen LR-400 receivers also have a pricey drop-in charger that starts with an 8 receiver unit (~$500).
 * 3) Acquired one Phonic Ear Induction Loop/Telecoil necklace for testing with any of the above receivers. The necklace induction loop fits any FM receivers by replacing the audio headset. Testing with two members has gone very well!
 * 4) Located documentation and printed out instructions that are now attached to the Assistive Listening charger box in the Commons area. If anyone wants their own copy of any documents on the Assisted Listening Devices at C3HUU, contact the soundroom.
 * 5) Acquired an antenna stub that can be tuned (one of our Soundroom volunteers has equipment to do this at no cost to C3HUU) to work with the 72MHz transmitter.
 * 6) Many complaints about noise toward the end of sermon or tail end of service in late August, early Sept 2012. Adding a new antenna and cleaning and reseating all connections to all parts of the Assisted Listening System (ALS).
 * 7) On occasions, there has been hi frequency feedback from hearing aids that bleed into the soundsystem and cause runaway feedback. One approach that worked a few times several years ago was to kill the high freq amplified signal at the Soundboard. By doing so into the Assisted Listening devices (>10kHz), this can eliminate the feedback signal from bleeding back into any of the microphones to be further amplified but not mute everyone else's higher frequency hearing.
 * 8) The Listen LR-400 receiver and audio loop were tested by two members on 2Sept and found OK, but all the receivers suffered from noise toward the end of services. The noise was unique to the ALS; there was no common noise in the amplified system within the sanctuary. The problem was found: two of the amplifier outputs on the soundboard create increasing amounts of static and other noise as they "warm up". Moving the transmitter input to another soundboard output solved the problem.

Recommendations:
 * 1) test the Listen Tech LR-400 receiver, if it works with the Phonic Ear transmitter in narrowband mode [it does!], get a set of 4 LR-400 with case and charger both for regular events in the sanctuary and for special events not in the sanctuary (such as events in the Jones Building). Purchase 3 more individual Listen Tech receivers, headsets, and chargers over time to compliment the Phonic Ear system. That would bring to 12 the total number of functioning 72MHz receivers. Over time as Phonic Ear receivers fail, replace them with Listen Tech LR-400. When all Phonic Ear receivers are replaced, or when the Phonic Ear transmitter fails, replace the Phonic Ear transmitter with a Listen Tech LT-800 (or newer) narrowband/wideband 72MHz transmitter and transition to wideband FM mode. Acquire audio loop necklaces as hearing impaired members are able to demonstrate they work well for them.
 * 2) alternative to above: acquire 216MHz transmitter which is FM ALS compatible ("Phonak mode") and over time transition to 216MHz from 72MHz FM. Pendinq question: can an FM receiver and Phonak FM mode co-exist using one transmitter? [posted to Listen Tech site and FB 09-03]

This approach requires no separate investment in audio loop technology or of incompatible FM technology, only incremental upgrades of the receivers and headsets that plug into each receiver. This phased approach would spread the estimated $1500 costs over 2 or more years instead of $2500-$3000 all in the year of the transition.