Piper J3
Well Known Member
I posted this about a year ago in VAF > Main > RV General Discussion > Deaf Pilots. I’d like to post here in the RV-12 thread if moderators will allow - reason is many Light Sport Pilots are older folks who may be afflicted with hearing loss. The original post didn’t get much play I think because the post was difficult to find. Maybe the moderators would even allow this to become a sticky thread.
I have been using hearing aids in conjunction with aviation headsets for over twenty years and not satisfied with the result until I discovered hearing aids that are Bluetooth controlled by cell phone. The hearing aids I wear are behind-the-ear. The problem with using conventional hearing aids is feedback when the headset is placed over the ear. Because the hearing aid is trapped inside the cup of the headset the microphone and transducer get into a feedback loop.
Enter new hearing aid technology that includes Telecoil option. Telecoil receives electromagnetic signals instead of acoustic sound waves. This solves the feedback problem when wearing headset in conjunction with hearing aids. Not all hearing aids have Telecoil – it is an option that is specified at time of purchase.
Here’s the setup… Have your audiologist make a special program titled “Airplane” that is selected on your cell phone. This program does several things automatically – shuts off (mute) microphones in both hearing aids, turns on Telecoil, and sets correct gain (volume). I have an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset, so in essence, I have double the background noise reduction – hearing aid microphone shut off and the ANR. Dead quiet and zero feedback... win-win situation. The Telecoil has outstanding audio quality. I can finally hear ATC and CTAF very distinctly. Intercom in the airplane is now pure pleasure. With the above setup my RV-12 now sounds like a very quiet turbine...
I have been using hearing aids in conjunction with aviation headsets for over twenty years and not satisfied with the result until I discovered hearing aids that are Bluetooth controlled by cell phone. The hearing aids I wear are behind-the-ear. The problem with using conventional hearing aids is feedback when the headset is placed over the ear. Because the hearing aid is trapped inside the cup of the headset the microphone and transducer get into a feedback loop.
Enter new hearing aid technology that includes Telecoil option. Telecoil receives electromagnetic signals instead of acoustic sound waves. This solves the feedback problem when wearing headset in conjunction with hearing aids. Not all hearing aids have Telecoil – it is an option that is specified at time of purchase.
Here’s the setup… Have your audiologist make a special program titled “Airplane” that is selected on your cell phone. This program does several things automatically – shuts off (mute) microphones in both hearing aids, turns on Telecoil, and sets correct gain (volume). I have an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset, so in essence, I have double the background noise reduction – hearing aid microphone shut off and the ANR. Dead quiet and zero feedback... win-win situation. The Telecoil has outstanding audio quality. I can finally hear ATC and CTAF very distinctly. Intercom in the airplane is now pure pleasure. With the above setup my RV-12 now sounds like a very quiet turbine...