In 1986 Bang & Olufsen introduced a loop system for the hard of hearing. It was an optional accessory which functioned as an inductive loop in conjunction with most modern hearing aids. So, providing that a hearing aid had a ‘T”(telephone) switch position, an individual could enjoy boosted audio reception from a Bang & Olufsen TV and hi-fi system without disturbing others in the room.
A hearing aid microphone amplified all the sound sources around the user which made it very difficult for a hearing aid wearer to concentrate on one particular sound. Sometimes the only answer was to increase the volume on, say, the TV to such a point that it became very uncomfortable for anyone else.
However, with a hi-fi, the sound source from a radio, CD or cassette passed to an amplifier and then fed through loudspeakers. With a Loop System, the sound source was usually a television, video player, DVD or microphone which passed through the Loop amplifier and then, instead of loudspeakers, was fed into an induction loop. This induction loop wiring was usually placed round the edge of a room - alternatively it could be smaller portable loop around a chair, or even worn around a user’s neck.
The induction loop allowed a hearing aid user to listen to a single sound source with all background noise eliminated.
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