Diagrams of Hearing Loops

Below are the common hearing loop design configurations: phased array, perimeter, portable, and counter.

Room Hearing Loops

This diagram shows the basics of how a hearing loop works, with 4 components that are added to an existing PA system: audio source, hearing loop driver, hearing loop wire, and receivers in a person’s hearing aid or cochlear implant. The image also shows the blue mist where the electromagnetic field of sound is created, once audio is received. Note: a qualified installer can evaluate the best design: perimeter, multi-phase, etc.

Simple room hearing loop diagram with blue mist to show sound

Room Designs

Depending on the size of the room, use, and facility construction, different designs may be needed. Below are 2 basic designs. Please consult with a qualified installer who can evaluate the best design to meet IEC standards (webpage, this website)

Phased array hearing loop illustration
Photo credit: IHLMA

Phased array, used for large rooms. Well-designed phased array hearing loops give good, quality sound, no matter where a person sits.

Photo credit: IHLMA

Perimeter hearing loop, commonly used in small meeting rooms. Please consult with a qualified installer who can evaluate whether a perimeter hearing loop in the room will meet IEC standards. A person should be able to sit anywhere and be able to clearly hear through the hearing loop.

How a hearing aid works: 5 steps

Counter Hearing Loops

Blue mist. The area where the hearing loop will work is the “blue mist.” The size of the blue mist depends on the hearing loop design and settings; a customer’s hearing instruments; and a customer’s hearing loss. Generally, a customer hears best if their ears are approximately 2 feet in front of the counter hearing loop, but a weaker transmission may sometimes be picked up approximately 3-4 feet away. The further away the person is, the softer the sound will be and audibility quickly drops off. Also the hearing loop also radiates out to the sides, approximately 2 feet. This blue mist creates a field of privacy.

Counter hearing loop with staff member speaking into microphone. On the other side of the counter, with a plexiglass barrier, are two users: one with a cochlear implant (younger person) and one with a hearing aid (older person)

Fixed/Permanent Counter Hearing Loop. Generally, a “bent” hearing loop is best as it provides a signal in both planes: horizontal for a standing customer and vertical for a person using a wheelchair / seated user / child.

How hearing loop works with hearing aid and implant (1 page, pdf)

animated image of how a permanently installed counter hearing loop works, One component at a time is added

Watch how the components of a fixed/permanent counter hearing loop are gradually built:

  1. Hearing loop (copper wire shown with yellow rectangles, usually invisible).
  2. Microphone feeds the hearing loop, with a power source
  3. Staff person speaking into the microphone.
  4. A blue mist where the electromagnetic field of sound is created, once the staff person speaks into the microphone.
  5. An adult and child listen directly to the sound, using a telecoil in their hearing aid and cochlear implant, respectively. They hear the speech clearly with minimal background noises.
Portable counter hearing loops between two people sitting at a desk.
Graphic credit: WilliamsAV

Portable counter hearing loop. Generally, for best results:

  • The customer needs to be within 2 feet of the portable hearing loop.
  • An external microphone can be used to provide improved signal-to-noise ratio and for higher speech quality.

Home TV Hearing Loops

Simple diagram of a person sitting in a chair on a rug in the living room watching TV. The hearing loop wire is around the perimeter of the room