An Economical Hearing Aid Loop

"When one's eyesight goes,

one is told to get some glasses.

But when one's hearing goes,

you're not just treated as a little deaf,
but old and stupid too!"

The above comment was sent as the opening line in an email of someone who has implemented this loop.
What really made me chuckle was he has connected this to a radio and manages to listen to it all day long
without another soul knowing anything about it! Deaf is not a sign of stupidity; Far from it!

Hearing aid loops (also known as 'deaf aid loops') need not break the bank! Here is a cost effective way to
beat the 'Loud TV Blues'!

The story began when visiting a dear relative in the UK whose house mate is hearing impaired. The basic
problem was a simple one, my relative has sensitive hearing and therefore has the TV at about volume level
2 but his pal required the TV at about 4 in order to start hhearing properly, this while he had his hearing aid
in! What the basic problem is is that the microphone of the hearing aid is sensitive to ALL sounds (including
noises) and therefore the only way to increase the 'signal to noise' ratio is to turn up the TV..... resulting in
frayed nerves.

The cure was simple, a hearing aid loop. The principle of this is to use a facility on all hearing aids called
the 'T' setting, the 't' meaning 'telephone'. What this does is to switch the input of the hearing aid to a little
coil inside the hearing aid that then picks up the changing magnetic field of the telephone earpiece thus
removing the need for the earpiece to feed the microphone with sufficient sound.

This coil is also available to other 'magnetic' fields if they are created properly. This is where the hearing aid
loop comes into it's own. What is done is to feed a signal into a loop that is deliberately made as large as the
area requiring to be covered (usually the TV room).

We priced typical units and the prices hovered around 100+. My first attempt was to prove that what was
required was easily achieved and used a 'sound blaster' speaker kit but replaced the speaker (the one that
could unplug) with a loop under the lounge carpet. Hey presto, the theory was proved, that little 'black box'
was nothing more than a simple amplifier. This is where so many people have made hundreds of Pounds in
ripping the hearing handicapped off!

The next step was to obtain a simple amplifier and used the most expensive route one could take but with
time being a constraint I had to settle for using kits! Using a '7-watt amplifier kit' (which had to still be
assembled!), a pre-built 'battery eliminator' style power supply, and housing the amp in a small plastic box
(this screwed down to the skirting board) a loop 'unit' was built for under 30.

The Loop

This has one criteria, it must have sufficient resistance so as not to load the amp and cause it destruction.
I.T.C. (indoor telephone cable) has a resistance of about 10 per 100 meters of conductor. I was privy to a 4
pair (thus 8 wires) cable and needing a loop of 4 by 4 metres gave me 4 X 4 X 8 = 128 metres of wire, this
brought me to about 12, well above the problem impedance of the amplifier.

Now for another little trick. One must remember that we have created a loop and therefore an inductor and
this could cause a bit of instability in the amplifier but an addition of a 1 resistor in series with the loop
cures this.

A Suitable Amplifier

Any amplifier can be used including an old 'public address' type or an old hi-fi that has been discarded
because it does not 'perform' to the deafening standards of now-a-days (the old stereo allows for two seperate
loops to be had within e.g. the lounge and dining-room, however, do not be tempted to make both amplifiers
feed one loop or two loops above one another, that's asking for trouble!).

Although it would take very little to post a circuit here for the DIY enthusiast, the problem comes when
trying to obtain the relevant parts from your local electronics DIY store. Visiting Maplin's reveals a number
of audio amplifier kits available, at very affordable prices, and made me re-think the validity of even
worrying about designing one.

Let's first investigate the DIY kit. All the specified parts are supplied
(hopefully). Then there is a convenient circuit board to mount them on.
Miscellaneous parts like heatsinks are usually supplied too. All this at a usually
reasonable price. Oh, and as a bonus, they throw in assembling instructions. A
highly suitable one is the Velleman kit No. K4001 - Maplin's part number VF55,
priced at 9.99 (info correct as at June 2001).

If the thrill of building the amplifier is not quite up your street, then Maplin offers an even cheaper option!
Product code N08AA, price 7.99 comes ready assembled. Also, if you subscribe to the monthly Maplin
newsletter you get 'money off' vouchers every month with one offering a whole 2 off any purchase over 5
giving one a suitable amp for 5.99!

The power supply is nothing more than a "DC adapter". Do make sure to get one that will supply both the
voltage and current required. As a good rule when supplying low-power audio amplifiers is to ensure the
power supply is capable of supplying about 1.5 times the power of the output of the amp (power = volts x
current). I would personally get one capable of 12V @ 0.8A. It does not need to be a regulated type, and
saves quite a bit on the price.

Wiring It All Up

The part they won't tell you in the assembly instructions is how to wire the amp up to the hi-fi or TV. Below
is a typical circuit. Please note that the connections to the PC board are only indicative and any similarity to
any kit is purely coincidental. Most modern TVs have an output on the rear (either Hi-Fi type sockets or a
SCART connector) and the audio on these is normally isolated through transformers (again, it would be
prudent to check).
As most modern equipment is stereo we have shown a method by which the stereo to mono conversion
should be done using two 4k7, W resistors. It is not correct to simply short the left and right channels as
this could lead to the two outputs "working against each other" and, depending on the design, damage the
circuitry. The now available mono signal is fed to the loop amplifier.

The capacitor ahead of the variable potentiometer is simply to decouple any possible DC that may exist on
the output of the TV sockets. Although such DC is highly unlikely, it is still recommended. The best is a non-
polarised type of about 63 to 100V, but may be a small electrolytic of no less than 25V and then installed
with the positive towards the TV.

Output stability is achieved using a 1, 2W, carbon or metal-film resistor (not wire-wound!). If you cannot
get a carbon or film resistor that can handle 2 watts, then try a 1W resistor as there is little power wasted in
this resistor, but it will get warmer than the 2W. Please note: Make absolutely sure this resistor is fully
suspended in free air. Please do not wrap it in something and hide it under the carpet!

I have deliberately not gone into a lot of technical detail here as the purpose of this was more to point you in
the direction of a cost effective solution to a hearing aid loop. I don't know what it is like to be hard of
hearing or deaf as I have superb hearing with the ability to hear frequencies beyond 25kHz, but when I saw a
grown man with tears in his eyes because he could hear made the few hours effort more than worthwhile.

Closing Story

One chap asked me if a microphone could be attached to his unit. A microphone was duly added. I then get
an upsetting call from his wife. It transpired he would deliberately leave the living room to listen what his
wife said about him to friends. It proves that being hard of hearing doesn't mean the crafty side is hard of
working!
PLANNING A
HEARING AID LOOP

"It is estimated that approximately two million people in the UK have hearing aids which are capable of
receiving, and could benefit from, audio frequency induction loop transmissions."

The opening caption is quite frightening! After publishing a simple economical method of creating a
hearing aid loop (see "An Economical Hearing Aid Loop") a request came through of how does one know
when a loop is properly adjusted. After doing some serious scratching we managed to find, copy, and
consolidate a few pieces of information and have presented them here.

It is still strongly recommended that you employ one of the many firms that specialise in the installation of
hearing aid loops if you are either embarking on installing or have trouble setting up such a loop in a public
place (especially as it is now required by law - see below). If you are simply trying to get something to
work for a dear friend or relative then the following should be able to help.

We also found this bit on the legal standpoint: The UK Disability Discrimination Act states that "Any
business or organisation providing a product or service to the general public must have an Induction Loop
System fitted wherever information is verbally provided". Full implementation of this legislation must be
completed by 31 December 2004.

1. HOW THE INDUCTION LOOP WORKS

The induction loop enables an audio frequency signal (such as speech) to be transmitted to a listener by
means of a magnetic field (not electromagnetic, see below). This is done by causing a current to flow in a
wire which then creates a magnetic field around the wire. This magnetic field is then received by a small
coil within a hearing aid or other suitable receiver (the latter can usually be purchased at a much lower cost
than privately dispensed hearing aids). The elimination of a direct sound path helps to reduce the interfering
effects of distance and background noise which are particular problems for hearing aid users.

The pickup coil in a hearing aid is usually selected by means of a switch marked 'M' for Microphone and 'T'
for Telephone (the purpose of the coil within the hearing aid being originally designed to pick up the
magnetic feild from a telephone earpiece). Sometimes a combined position is provided allowing
simultaneous use of both microphone and coil. For hearing aid purposes only the magnetic field in the
vertical direction is considered. This conforms with the general mounting direction of coils in hearing aids,
however, if a listener bends his or her head then a change in sound level will almost certainly be noticed.
Normally the listener should listen within the area of the loop.

Beware the myths: There seems to be a myth floating about that claims such systems are 'specialised' as
they are effectively radio transmitters. The term 'magnetic radiation' may have attributed to this!

Although electromagnetic radiation can result from a loop, it is not the means of operation (in actual fact,
the electromagnetic radiation is deliberately kept to a minimum as discussed later). The coupling
mechanism between the loop and the hearing aid is purely magnetic. It does not involve any special
'transmitter' and 'receiver' and certainly not any form of radio or radio frequency.

2. THE LOOP ITSELF

The Loop comprises of one or more turns of insulated wire laid around the listening area at a suitable
height. Maximum efficiency occurs when the loop is at the same height as the hearing aid although in
practice the loop is often quite satisfactory fixed at floor level. Increasing the number of turns increases the
field strength but 'coupling' between the turns may impair the transmission of high frequencies. Satisfactory
results are usually best obtained from a loop with one or two turns of wire, although this largely depends on
the size of the loop.

3. BASIC LOOP SYSTEMS

A basic loop system is quite simple to put together. In fact it is rather like a
standard sound system but with the loudspeaker replaced by the induction
loop. A sample of how this was done (as pictured alongside) can be found in
the document "An Economical Hearing Aid Loop", although it must be
realised that there are more suitable amplifiers designed for the specific
purpose of hearing aid loops in larger or public places (see point 6. later):

Sometimes a public address or sound system may already be installed, or

perhaps a more sophisticated arrangement may be planned with inputs from
various sources. An example of such arrangement is shown alongside. This
would be the typical system when a hearing aid loop amplifier is added to an
existing PA system:

4. MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS

The most important part of setting up an induction loop is the strength of the magnetic field. Fortunately,
international agreement has been reached on the most appropriate field strength for hearing aid purposes
and this specification is the subject of a British Standard - BS 6083 pt.4: Magnetic field strength in audio
induction loops for hearing aid purposes. The Radiocommunications Agency regulations covering the use
of induction loops are aligned with the recommendations of this standard (as generating a magnetic field
creates an electromagnetic field i.e. a radio wave).

The recommended field strength is 0.1 amp/metre 3dB measured at 1.2 metres above the floor - the level
to correspond with the long term average level of a speech signal. However, the natural peaks of speech
can exceed the average value by as much as four times and consequently the maximum field strength
produced by the loop must be sufficient to meet these needs i.e. 0.4 amp/metre (+12dB). The particular
value of field strength was selected on the basis of sensitivity tests on typical hearing aids and
considerations of adequate (magnetic) signal to noise ratio. Before commencing a major installation it
would be wise to measure the level of background 'magnetic noise'. In some situations this could be too
high to permit the satisfactory operation of a loop. The recommended frequency range is 100-5000 Hz (3
dB relative to the level at 1000 Hz).

The standardised value of field strength should ensure that when a person listening through a hearing aid
switches from 'T' to 'M' the sound of someone speaking normally should be about as loud as the signal from
the loop. Any gross departure from the recommendation could result in an unsatisfactory system. How this
field strength relates to amplifier output requirements will be covered in a later section.

Note: Although a certain level of electromagnetic radiation emits from a hearing aid loop, a licence is not
required to operate such a loop. The Radio Communications Agency does, however, require that these
systems conform to the field strength requirements laid down in BS 6083 part 4 (especially the frequency
range!).

There are two areas that need to be concentrated on to keep such radiation in check. The first is the amp
must be 'stable' i.e. the attachment of the loop must not cause the output stages of the amp to 'take off'
(spuriously oscillate). Such frequencies are usually inaudible and could be high enough to tell a jumbo jet
that your site is a runway! Tests can be carried out to ensure this is not occurring.

The second is the frequency range capability of the amplifier often exceeds the regulation limit of 5kHz.
Most power amplifiers use "direct feedback" for the tone controls (the speaker output is fed directly back to
the input via the tone control circuit). This has the value added effect of ensuring the output is relatively
pure. By simply turning the treble control slightly to the "cut" side (usually anti-clockwise) will ensure the
amp limits the high-frequency output.

Using a too-small amplifier (i.e. not enough muscle) results in the amp distorting. Such distorting is
technically referred to as the amplifier lacking 'headroom' resulting in the output waveform being 'clipped'.
The situation is aggravated as this waveform, now rich in harmonics through the clipping, is fed into an
inductive loop which can act as an antenna. Speech average-to-max ratio is about 4. So, to minimise
clipping, the amplifier should be able to deliver a minimum of 4 times the required average output i.e.
+12dB

These issues are dealt with in more detail in sections 6 & 7 below. Please read them carefully.

5. CALCULATING THE REQUIRED CURRENT

The following analysis relies only on calculations of current. Magnetic field strength is proportional to
current flowing in the loop and consequently 'power' is required only to overcome the resistance of the loop
wire. As large loops, or loops with several turns (N), have relatively high values of inductance (proportional
to N2) problems exist in the maintaining the magnetic field strength at the higher frequencies - not that this,
in itself, is a bad thing seeing as one does not want to 'talk' to Jumbo jets, as mentioned above!

This is where the application specific amplifiers come into their own with the feedback control based on
current and not voltage as with normal speaker amplifiers. Although this point should be considered, it has
not been included in this analysis. The following will assist in deciding the type and 'size' of amplifier
required.

AMP/METRE: A field strength of 1 amp/metre (1A/m) exists at the centre of a circular loop of one
metre diameter when a current of one amp flows in the loop.

These following calculations relate to simple loop shapes, squares and rectangles and are quite satisfactory
for most applications.

SQUARE LOOPS

For a square loop of one turn the field strength at the centre is given, with a being the length of each side,
by:

which means that a field strength of 0.1A/m would be given by a current:

One can use multi-turn loops to reduce the required loop current i.e. with two turns wired in series the
required current will be one half of the calculated value. But, as shown above, do not go too wild as too
many turns drastically reduces the upper frequency response.

Naturally this calculation gives the field strength only at the centre of the loop but we need to know about
the distribution of the field over the whole area of the loop. The next diagram shows how the field at ear
level of a seated listener will vary across a loop 15m x 15m, if it is assumed that the loop is laid at floor
level. The analysis is based on equations from standard magnetic theory (which are too long to go into
here).

Within the confines of the loop, the field is weakest at the centre
rising to higher values as the wire is approached. Over the wires a
sharp reduction occurs in the vertical field strength leading to a
perceptible but decreasing field outside the loop. This 'overspill' may
present serious problems if other loops are operated in proximity.

EFFECT OF HEIGHT

Sometimes it will be necessary to fix the loop some way above or

below the 'listening' plane. The next graph can be used to find the
increased current needed to offset such a difference in height First
the height should be expressed as a ratio of the loop size, then by checking off this ratio on the axis of the
graph the curve will show the factor by which the current must be increased.

RECTANGULAR LOOPS

Even for long, narrow loops the field strength over the centre of the loop will
not differ by more than three decibels from the corresponding field strength
values for a square loop based on the smaller dimension of the rectangle.
Therefore the square loop calculations we have shown can be used as a guide
with the knowledge that the actual field from a rectangular loop will be a little
more or less depending on the height above the loop. This simple rule holds
good if the height is no greater than the length of the shorter side of the
rectangle.

COMPLEX LOOP DESIGNS

When highly irregular shapes are involved, or an intricate design is planned, exact computation is not
practicable and estimates should be supported by tests with the loop in place.

6. LOOP AMPLIFIERS

There is a line used by marketers of hearing aid loop amps claiming that PA amps cannot be used for this
purpose. In some respect they are correct, however, it is more a marketing line than a technical reason - we
expand on it here.

Standard amps (i.e. used to drive speakers) are termed 'voltage amplifiers' and will output a voltage at a
fixed ratio to the input voltage, regardless of the output impedance. The hearing aid loop will have some
inductive component meaning the impedance will rise with frequency. Therefore, as the voltage is constant,
the current flowing in the loop will reduce the higher the frequency. Loop amps compensate for this by
varying the output current at a fixed ratio to the input voltage. This means at higher frequencies the
amplifier automatically compensates for the higher impedance by ensuring the current is maintained.
What the technical boffs, who want you to buy their loop-specific amps, don't tell you is that the inductive
component is actually not as much as what they would have you believe. This characteristic is easily
compensated for using what every good PA amp should have... Tone Controls! By cutting the bass and
boosting the treble (although we do advise against this throughout this paper), the loop's characteristic
impedance vs frequency curve is easily corrected.

What the boffs also don't tell you is that it is advised to not have frequencies above 5kHz enter the loop in
fear of starting to radiate very low frequency radio waves (as is, the hard of hearing battle to hear high
frequencies). However, having a voltage amp feeding a loop whose impedance rises with frequency means
that at the higher frequencies there is less current flowing which means less chance of radiating.

Both the above issues are very easily dealt with using an equalizer - and don't splash out, a cheap one will
do the job nicely. The controls can slope upwards from low frequencies to the one closest to 5kHz (this
compensates the loops frequency response) with the top frequencies being cut completely (to stop radiation
above 5kHz). This is especially attractive if using a 'speaker driver' amp (line in, speaker out, and fitted
with nothing more than a gain control).

It is not advocated that loop-specific amps not be used. Far from it! What is being said is; where there is a
calling for a decent loop amp, such as a public auditorium that has a daily audience, then by all means pay
the price. But when it comes to cash-strapped institutions and charity based organisatons, then using an old
PA amp is a lot better than having nothing at all! However, such an amp should be capable of driving a low
output load impedance - typically 4 ohms or less. Other features such as automatic gain control (AGC) and
compression make the output more useful to the hearing impaired. Please also pay specific attention to
section 7.

If an amp specifically designed for driving Hearing Aid Loops is chosen, then several types of are
available. These reduce the need for having a gauge of loop cable which reasonably matches the amplifier
output characteristics. They also usually include metering of input and output signals, compression, AGC,
and a limited frequency response bandwidth so as to comply with licensing regulations. Most
manufacturers give details of cable gauge requirements for various sizes of loop and useful design and
installation guidelines.

7. MATCHING THE LOOP AND AMPLIFIER

Before we continue, I would like to again revisit a salient point; Because the natural peaks of speech can
exceed the average value by some 12dB, the short term maximum current requirement from the amplifier
will be a minimum of four times the average value. This means the required loop current, as determined in
section 5, must be multiplied by 4 before determining the required amplifier power output.

The gauge of wire used to form the loop will depend on the total length needed and the resistance required.
Preferably the total resistance of the loop should be equal to or slightly above the minimum output load
value of the loop drive amplifier as stated by the manufacturer. The wire table can be used to find the
appropriate gauge of wire.

The total resistance of the loop will also influence the power output
requirements of the amplifier. For example, if the loop has a resistance
of 4 ohms and requires a current of 2.5 amps then an amplifier capable
of working into a minimum 4 ohm load will be required, with a
minimum power output of I2R = 2.52 x 4 = 25 watts. If, however, the
resistance of the loop is higher than this, an amplifier with a higher
output rating would be needed even if it were matched to the resistance
of the loop. This may not be very important for small loops but on large
installations the difference could be significant.
Most good quality public address style amplifiers have a 100 volt line output which can be matched to
almost any loop with a suitable step-down transformer. In some buildings it may be necessary to install the
loop amplifier some distance from the loop itself. In this situation it can be advantageous to use the 100
volt line output and place the step-down transformer in a convenient position close to the loop. This avoids
running long cables carrying high audio currents. This also has the added advantage of limiting high-
frequency radiation as audio transformers start limiting transfer of signals above approximately 10kHz.

Please use a dedicated amplifier for the loop. Don't wire the loop in parallel with the loudspeakers of a
sound system as any alteration to the sound level of the loudspeakers will result in a similar change in the
magnetic field from the loop. This will make it impossible to meet the required field strength with such
systems. This amplifier, if fed from a mixing desk, should be ahead of the main output controls (using a
dedicated "send" channel would not be a bad idea at all).

8. PRACTICAL ISSUES

Sometimes it is impractical to lay the loop where it would be most effective and the ensuing problems of
fitting the loop may make the task more difficult and expensive. For example, inside churches, stone
construction is often met and wires may need to be hidden from view. Such matters can only be resolved by
agreement, and a suitable compromise should be sought taking into account all the relevant factors. Small
deviations around doors and windows should not disturb the field appreciably and are often unavoidable.
These practical considerations may well account for the largest part of the work involved in fitting the loop.

9. MICROPHONES AND OTHER INPUTS

Where a satisfactory sound system is already installed the loop amplifier can be fed from the mixer or pre-
amplifier stage of the system. This will save on duplication of microphones if these have been well chosen
and sited in the first place but still gives independent control of signal from the loop.

In the absence of an existing sound system it will be necessary to provide microphones and inputs to the
loop amplifier for any other signals. When microphones are to be used it is vital that they are positioned to
pick up sound which is free from reverberation and other noises. If a poor signal is received by the
microphones then the signal transmitted to the listener will be poor no matter how good the design of the
loop and other equipment. It is also necessary to ensure the microphones are matched electrically to the
amplifier so that it is 'driven' adequately when the loop is in operation.

It is important to consider the loop itself as forming an integral part of a sound system. A British Standard
Code of Practice for the 'Planning and Installation of Sound Systems', BS-6259, gives valuable information
to engineers on various design aspects of such systems.

10. EVALUATION
It was mentioned earlier the value in checking background 'magnetic noise' levels, especially in places
where a high level is likely. Lighting control equipment may present a problem and so the tests should be
made under typical conditions.

Once the initial design has been completed a trial with the loop in place but not permanently installed
should be considered. If the installation is straightforward and the various technical matters have been
resolved, a trial may not be needed. When there are uncertainties (for instance, when individual rows or
blocks of seats are being looped and weak spots are likely) preliminary tests may prevent the permanent
installation of an unsatisfactory system.

Although listening tests are an important part of the test strategy a quick check with a hearing aid is an
adequate test of a system. The points which can be checked in this way are clarity of speech and freedom
from interference, and these points should be checked at all important locations.

Other tests require the use of measuring instruments. The most useful is a field strength tester which can be
bought at reasonable cost. The instrument should be calibrated over the required frequency range. This,
together with a meter to measure the AC current in the loop and perhaps an oscilloscope to examine the
waveform, would provide sufficient equipment to check the connect operation of the loop.

A most important point to watch for once the system has been adjusted to the correct operating level is the
possibility of interference on other systems such as musical instrument pick-ups. Such inadvertent
interference could create a form of feedback that is extremely difficult to trace (and sometimes to even be
aware of especially if beyond hearing range).

If the field strength given in BS 6083 pt.4 is regarded as a target value the level will be suitable for
most hearing aids in current use. If the signal to noise ratio is adequate and a good clean signal is fed
to the loop, then the system should be satisfactory for the great majority of hearing impaired people
using appropriate hearing aids.

TEN STEPS IN LOOP DESIGN

(a suggested approach)

1. Check background magnetic noise level.

2. Decide location and measure loop size.

3. Calculate average current in single turn to give 0.1A/m field strength, from i = a 9

4. Calculate average current through two turns, i = x i

AV

5. Calculate maximum current through two turns, i MAX = i x 4.

6. Calculate total wire length for two turns.

7. Determine gauge of wire to give resistance R compatible with amplifier characteristics.

8. Calculate amplifier power rating from P = (i )2 x R

MAX

9. Adjust input level and amplifier gain control to correct operating level.

10. Verify field strength and/or current in loop.