Best Practice: How Often Should a Hearing Loop Be Checked

In a world where clear communication is essential, hearing loops are pivotal for those with hearing loss. How often should a hearing loop be checked?

This question is crucial for maintaining these vital systems, also known as induction loops. These loops provide a direct link between the sound source and hearing aids, dramatically improving the listening experience for hearing aid users.

Whether in a crowded meeting room, a bustling service counter, or other noisy environments, hearing loops ensure that hard-of-hearing users can engage fully.

Regular system checks of your hearing loop are not just a technical necessity—they’re vital for optimal performance and user satisfaction. Here at Hearing Loop, we understand by routinely maintaining your hearing loop system, you prevent distortion and ensure the equipment continues to operate effectively.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

Ensuring Quality Sound

The primary goal of a hearing loop system is to deliver clear and precise sound directly to hearing aids equipped with a telecoil.

Even the best-installed loop systems can degrade over time due to wear and tear, environmental factors, or equipment issues. Regular system checks are essential to identify and address these problems before they affect the user experience.

Your role in this process is crucial, as your actions directly contribute to the sound quality your users receive.

• Prevent Distortion: Regular maintenance helps catch issues that may cause sound distortion, ensuring that speech and other essential audio remain clear.
• Ensure Equipment Functionality: Your role in checking microphones, amplifiers, and other components guarantees that all system parts work within their optimal range, ensuring the functionality of the hearing loop system.

These steps are crucial for hearing aid users who rely on the system to participate fully in conversations, meetings, or services. Regular maintenance checks are about equipment and people and their ability to hear.

Compliance with Relevant Legislation

Maintaining your hearing loop system is also a matter of legal responsibility. Relevant legislation requires businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate individuals with disabilities, including those with hearing loss. Regularly checked and properly functioning hearing loops are part of meeting these obligations.

Critical reasons for compliance include:

• Accessibility Standards: Ensuring your services are accessible aligns with laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Good Customer Practice: Providing effective assistive technology like hearing loops demonstrates a commitment to all customers, enhancing your reputation and customer satisfaction.
• Avoiding Legal Issues: Failure to maintain essential equipment can lead to non-compliance with legislation, potentially resulting in penalties or legal action.

By adhering to a regular maintenance schedule, you’ll keep your hearing loop system in top condition and uphold standards that benefit your organisation and your service users.

Recommended Maintenance Schedule

How often should a hearing loop be checked? A comprehensive maintenance schedule includes several types of checks at different intervals.

Maintaining a consistent schedule for checking your hearing loop system is crucial to ensure it operates effectively for all users. Below are the recommended intervals and the focus areas for each type of check.

Annual Professional Inspection

An annual professional inspection is a comprehensive review of your hearing loop system, aligning with the BS7594:2011 standard—a code of practice for Audio-Frequency Induction Loop Systems (AFILS). This standard check ensures that your system meets all the necessary performance criteria and complies with relevant legislation.

What the Annual Check Includes:

• Testing Equipment Functionality: Thoroughly examine all equipment, including the induction loop amplifier and cables, to ensure they function correctly.
• Microphone Performance: Checking all microphones connected to the system for clarity and consistency in sound transmission.
• System Integrity: Verifying that the entire loop system, from input devices to the induction loop itself, is intact and free from damage or wear that could affect performance.
• Compliance Verification: Ensuring the system meets the required field strength and frequency response, background and System noise, as outlined in the BS7594:2011 standard.
• AFILS Test certificate in accordance with BS EN 60118-4 should be supplied on completion

By having competent professionals conduct this annual check, you can identify and rectify any underlying issues that may not be apparent during regular use, protecting your investment and ensuring a high-quality experience for hearing aid users.

Weekly Staff Checks

Weekly staff checks are essential in answering the question of how often should a hearing loop should be checked. These frequent checks complement less regular but more comprehensive inspections.

Weekly checks carried out by trained staff members are a proactive way to ensure your hearing loop system remains in optimal condition between professional inspections.

Role of Staff in Loop Maintenance:

• Basic System Checks: Staff can verify that the induction loop amplifier is switched on and that input signals are received correctly.
• Using a Loop Listener: A loop listener is a simple device that allows staff to listen to the hearing loop output, checking for clarity and identifying issues like humming or intermittent sound.
• Immediate Reporting: Any irregularities detected during these checks should be reported promptly for further assessment.

Benefits of Weekly Staff Checks:

• Early Problem Detection: Catching issues early prevents minor problems from becoming significant faults that could lead to system downtime.
• Continuous User Satisfaction: Regular attention ensures hearing aid users consistently receive high-quality sound, enhancing their experience.
• Staff Engagement: Involving staff in maintenance fosters a culture of inclusivity and awareness about the needs of hearing-impaired users.

By incorporating weekly staff checks into your routine, you maintain a high standard of service and demonstrate a commitment to accessibility.

 Maintenance Check Essentials

Understanding how often should a hearing loop be checked is crucial, but knowing what to look for during these checks is equally essential.

A thorough maintenance routine involves both subjective and objective tests to evaluate the performance of your hearing loop system.

 Subjective Tests

Subjective tests rely on human senses to identify apparent issues that might affect the system’s functionality.

Visual Inspections:

• Warning Signs: Look for error lights on equipment that may indicate faults.
• Equipment Damage: Check for physical damage to the induction loop, cables, microphones, and other components.
• Proper Signage: Ensure that signs indicating the presence of a hearing loop system are visible and intact, guiding hearing aid users to activate their telecoil settings.

Listening Tests

• Humming or Buzzing: Use a loop listener to detect unwanted sounds that could interfere with speech clarity.
• Intermittent Sound: Identify any breaks or inconsistencies in the audio signal that could disrupt communication.
• Sound Quality: Assess the overall clarity and volume of the sound transmitted through the loop system.

By performing these subjective tests regularly, you can catch many common issues that are not apparent through automated testing alone.

 Objective Tests

Objective tests use specialised equipment to measure specific technical aspects of the hearing loop system’s performance.

Measuring Field Strength:

• Field Strength Meter: Utilise this device to measure the magnetic field strength generated by the induction loop, ensuring it meets the standards required for effective hearing aid use.
• Consistent Coverage: Verify that the field strength is uniform across the intended area, providing all users with a reliable signal.

Frequency Response Checks:

• Audio Analyser: This device tests the system’s ability to reproduce a range of frequencies accurately, which is crucial for precise speech reproduction.
• Adjustments: Make necessary adjustments to the amplifier settings to correct any deficiencies in frequency response.

Assessing Background Noise Levels:

• Noise Floor Measurement: Determine the level of ambient electromagnetic noise that could interfere with the hearing loop signal.
• Interference Identification: Locate sources of unwanted noise, such as electrical equipment or lighting systems, and take steps to minimise their impact.

Conducting these objective tests as part of your maintenance routine ensures that your hearing loop system performs to the highest standards and provides clear and reliable sound to hearing aid users.

 Preventing Service Interruptions

Proactive maintenance and prompt repairs help avoid disruptions that negatively impact user experience.

How Timely Maintenance Avoids Service Breaks:

• Minimising Downtime: Quick action reduces the period during which the system is unavailable to users.
• Preventing Escalation of Issues: Early repairs can prevent minor problems from developing into significant faults requiring extensive work.

Maintaining a High Standard of Customer Experience:

• Reliability Builds Trust: Consistently functioning systems demonstrate commitment to accessibility, fostering trust among hearing aid users.
• Positive Reputation: Providing uninterrupted, high-quality service enhances your organisation’s inclusivity and customer care reputation.
• Encouraging Repeat Visits: Users are more likely to return to venues where their needs are reliably met.

 Benefits of Regular System Checks

Implementing a routine maintenance schedule for your hearing loop system offers numerous advantages beyond compliance. Regular system checks are pivotal in enhancing user experience and safeguarding your investment.

Enhancing User Experience

A well-maintained hearing loop system significantly improves the quality of life for hearing-impaired users. By ensuring the system operates at its optimal level, you provide a seamless and inclusive experience for all.

Clear Speech and Sound for Hearing Impaired Users:

• Improved Sound Clarity: Regular maintenance eliminates distortion, background noise, and inconsistent volume levels, delivering crisp and clear audio directly to hearing aids.
• Consistent Performance: Routine checks guarantee that the system functions reliably, so users can depend on it whenever needed.
• Enhanced Communication: Clear sound facilitates better understanding in conversations, meetings, and presentations, allowing hearing aid users to participate fully.

Protecting Your Investment

Regular maintenance, guided by the principle of how often should a hearing loop be checked, not only enhances user experience but also protects your investment.

Your hearing loop system represents a significant investment in technology and infrastructure. Regular maintenance enhances user experience and makes sound financial sense.

Prolonging the Lifespan of Your Loop System:

• Preventative Care: Identifying and addressing minor issues early prevents them from developing into significant faults that could shorten the system’s lifespan.
• Optimised Performance: Keeping the system in peak condition ensures it operates efficiently, reducing strain on components and extending component longevity.
• Scheduled Upgrades: Regular evaluations allow you to plan for future upgrades in a controlled and budget-friendly manner.

Avoiding Costly Repairs with Regular Maintenance:

• Reduced Downtime Costs: Preventing system failures avoids the expenses associated with emergency repairs and potential business loss during service interruptions.
• Budget Management: Routine maintenance expenses are generally lower and more predictable than the costs of major repairs or total system replacements.
• Asset Preservation: Protecting your investment through regular care maintains the value of your equipment over time.

Final Thoughts

Regular maintenance of your hearing loop system is essential for ensuring clear and reliable sound for individuals with hearing impairments.

Partnering with Hearing Loop guarantees that your system remains in optimal condition, enhancing user satisfaction and compliance with relevant legislation.

Don’t let technical issues disrupt communication—contact Hearing Loop today at 01142 357717 for expert maintenance and support. Keep your hearing loop functioning seamlessly and create an inclusive environment for everyone.