siegfried karg (pro audito, switzerland)
TRANSCRIPT
An update from the First International Hearing Loops Conference in Winterthur-Zurich /
Switzerland in 2009
Siegfried Karg [email protected] cooperation with
Heinz Nafzger [email protected] and
David Norman [email protected]
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The venue of the First International Hearing Loops Conference in 2009http://www.hearingloops.org Photo: Winterthur Tourism 2
First International Hearing Loops Conference, Switzerland 2009Photo: Samuel Moser 3
Swiss Online Directory of Venues with Hearing Loops A new directory of hearing loops in Switzerland is
online now (2011) (but not yet complete) Uses Google Maps to find installations of hearing
loops in Switzerland Directory produced by IGGH, a local organization for
people with hearing loss in Berne and Pro Audito Switzerland, the Swiss national hard of hearing organization
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http://www.hoeranlagenverzeichnis.ch
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Validation criteria ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊◊ Green icon – installation measured, well-functioning
installation
Red icon – installation measured, quality unsatisfactory
Black icon – installation measured, installation useless
White icon – installation not (yet) measured
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Criteria for green icon ◊ Installation measured according to the international
standard IEC 60118-4. All measurements within the realm of tolerance (± 3 dB)
Whole area covered. All seats within the tolerance Technology used (T, IR, FM) posted at the entrance Floor plan at entrance showing covered area (in case
whole area is not covered) Correct microphone set up and correct tuning of
preamplifier (IR and FM: induction neckloops available)
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Most hearing loops not measured The Swiss online directory for hearing loops shows
that most installations are not measured (white icon) Pro Audito Switzerland realized the need for qualified
measuring technicians and acted Search for persons with technical knowledge First training course for certified induction loop
measuring technicians in March 2011
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Training course for loop specialistsMarch 2011 by Max Meyer, Heinz Nafzger and David Norman
Information about hearing loss Basics in electrical engineering (voltage, current) The telecoil in the hearing aid / cochlear implant Different technologies: Induction loop, infrared,
frequency modulation Technical knowledge about induction loops Loop design Measuring procedure and measuring equipment
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-30
-25
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-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
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63 125
250
500
1000
2000
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Frequenz (Hz)
mag
n. F
elds
tärk
e (d
B) r
e 10
00 H
z
Toleranzfeld gemäss SN EN 60118-4(von 100 bis 5000 Hz: +/- 3 dB re 1000 Hz)
Correct frequency response according to the international standard
© Heinz Nafzger11
Floor plan of a church with induction loop
© David Norman
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-18-25-24-21-20-18
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-13-11
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-14-13
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-19 -24 -18
-24-17-18
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Messpunkt Frequenzgang
M124
M123
M125
M126
Messpunkt Störfelder
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-48-51
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-54-47
Floor plan of a special “arena” with induction loop
13© David Norman
Live training in a house of worship in Zurich, April 2011 Measuring field strength Measuring frequency response Determining magnetic noise in the building Writing report
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24 June 2004
Measuring new induction loop in Cemetry Chapel, Winterthur
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Quality control of hearing loops Hearing loops conforming to the international
standard IEC 60118:4-2006 provide excellent speech intelligibility for people with hearing loss
Excellent speech intelligibility means inclusion of people with hearing loss
Therefore quality control of installations (measuring) is a must and not only “nice to have”
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Pro Audito Switzerland as a consumer organization Encourages owners of public venues (universities,
lecture halls, convention centers, ballrooms of hotels, nursing homes, houses of worship [which in Switzerland are public venues and have to conform to the Swiss Disability Act]) to have their existing hearing loops tested according to IEC 60118:4-2006
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A glimpse of the future and problems Every hearing loop installation in a public venue in
Switzerland should conform to the international standard and get a green icon in the online directory
Difficulties: Swiss Disability Act applies only to public venues built after 2004 and to major renovations of venues built before 2004. What happens to older ones?
Who pays for the inspection (measuring)? Unfortunately the number of hearing aids without
telecoils is growing (open fitting)
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How can we reach our goal? Consumer organizations like Pro Audito Switzerland
or the Hearing Loss Association of America should work closely together with:
politicians (to establish a legal basis for accessibility, e.g. Americans with Disability Act)
engineers and architects (to integrate induction loops into the planning process of buildings, SIA 500)
the hearing aid and cochlear implant industries to promote and provide strong telecoils
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How can we reach our goal?(2) Audiologists and hearing aid dispensers should
inform their clients about the benefits of telecoils People with hearing loss should be encouraged to
purchase hearing aids with telecoils As in Europe, telecoils should be standard in hearing
aids (the telecoil itself is extremely cheap in relation to the overall price of the hearing aid)
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A new brochure about induction loops (2011)
For people with hearing loss
New auditorium with induction loop at the University of Zurich
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A last word Our goal is that Switzerland will not only become
famous for its chocolate and watches but also for its quality controlled hearing loops
Thanks to Heinz Nafzger and David Norman for providing slides for this presentation
Thank you for your attention
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