A telecoil is a small coil of wire inside some hearing aids that allows the hearing aid to detect magnetism and transmit sounds generated by assistive listening systems, like those found in theaters, auditoriums, and stadiums. Telecoils were originally used to improve phone calls for hearing aid users but now provide clearer sound from assistive listening systems. Larger hearing aids are more likely to have telecoils, which provide superior sound quality over acoustic transmission and allow users to access assistive listening systems.

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Telecoil Technology Offers New Features on Some Modern Hearing Aids
The hearing aid you are wearing might be equipped with a telecoil, or you may be considering one that has
a telecoil built in. As the name suggests, a telecoil is a small coil of wire. It sounds simplistic, but it
significantly improves the functionality of your hearing aid. Continue reading to discover more about what
a telecoil can do for your ability to hear.
Telecoils inside hearing aids detect magnetism. A telecoil
will only transmit magnetically generated sounds, not all
sounds the way the traditional microphone and amplifier
do. The telecoil was initially introduced to improve
listening ability on the telephone. The speakers in older
telephone handsets included strong magnets. The telecoil-
enabled hearing aid could therefore provide a clear
transmission of only those sounds arriving through the
telephone. Newer phones do not naturally create these
signals, but many are equipped with additional electronics that make them telecoil compatible.
Telephones are not the only use for a telecoil. Many public places, including auditoriums, movie theaters
and stadiums, are equipped with Assistive Listening Systems that utilize telecoil technology. You may find
that a venue will offer you a headset to assist in transmitting these signals. Users often say that the quality
of the sound they pick up magnetically is superior to the sound quality transmitted through the air
acoustically.
The size, age and type of your hearing aid can influence the way you access and use your telecoil. Telecoils
are more often seen in larger hearing aids, such as those that rest behind the ear. Older hearing aids can
be switched between telecoil and microphone modes using a physical switch on the device. Newer hearing
aids allow you to change between program modes with the press of a button.
Interference may be an issue when using a telecoil, but it is not common. The interference typically
originates from equipment such as CRT monitors or from fluorescent lights in the room. It will sound like
buzzing which gets louder as you get closer to the origin of the interference.

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The rare interference is the only downside to telecoils. They are really fantastic additions that offer many
added benefits. The price of a telecoil-enabled hearing aid is only marginally higher and definitely worth
the added functionality.