Safety Harbor Public Library installs Hearing Loop

Most of us don’t realize how common hearing loss is among Americans.  The US Census Bureau estimates 11.8 million Americans use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches while in contrast, approximately 36 million Americans suffer hearing loss.  This means hearing loss is 3 times more common than ambulatory disabilities.  To put this in perspective, nearly 3 million people in Florida have hearing loss and half of all Baby Boomers, estimated at 76 million, are expected to experience hearing loss.  Among senior citizens, hearing loss is the third most prevalent condition behind arthritis and hypertension.

Despite these figures, few public meeting places provide accommodations for people with hearing loss, such as Hearing Loops, compared to accommodations for people who are physically disabled.  This is partly because hearing loss is not visually recognizable.  In December 2012, with funding by the Chrissie Shull Elmore Trust, the Safety Harbor Public Library installed a Hearing Loop in our meeting room, ensuring those with hearing loss have equal opportunity to enjoy our events and programs. 

The technical name for a Hearing Loop is Audio Frequency Induction Loop System, but Loop, Loop System, or Hearing Loop are most common.  In its most simple form, an audio induction loop system utilizes a loop of wire around the perimeter of an area connected to an induction loop amplifier.  An input signal (from a microphone or audio system) is provided to the induction loop amplifier, and the induction loop amplifier drives an audio current through the loop in the form of a strong alternating current.  As the alternating current from the amplifier flows through the loop, it creates a magnetic field within the looped area and “induces” the T-coil in a hearing instrument.

If you use a hearing aid and attend a program at a location like the Library where a hearing loop is installed, simply switch your hearing aid to the “T” position and the telecoil in the hearing instrument will pick up the fluctuations in the magnetic field and convert them back into alternating currents.  The alternating currents are amplified and converted by the hearing aid into sound.  Sounds like scientific magic, but to a hearing impaired person, it is magic to their ears. 

Note:   We thank the Chrissie Shull Elmore Trust for this technology.  Chrissie was a former librarian at the Safety Harbor Public Library and was a member of the Safety Harbor Women’s Civic Club which started the Library seventy five years ago, in 1938.