During the 2011 AudiologyNOW! Convention in Chicago, Oaktree Products, Inc. combined two independent products in a creative way to showcase the power of a loop. What was unique about this set-up was the ability for all convention attendees, both hearing instrument wearers and non-hearing instrument wearers, to experience first-hand what it sounds like to be in a looped environment. In other words, visitors to the Oaktree Products booth could hear the sound transmitted via the installed loop by way of the t-coil of their hearing instruments or through a pair of headphones. This is a great way to educate patients and their family members not only about loops, but about the benefits of t-coils and hearing assistance technology too.
First, the Field Teleloop System was installed in the Oaktee Products booth. The Field Teleloop System transmits sound from a TV/stereo or other sound source via a wire loop installed around the perimeter of the room. I personally installed this system at our booth, something I have 
never done before. Other than making sure you have access to a small screw driver to adequately secure the two ends of the wire loop into the back of the amplifier, set-up is straightforward and easy. Since we did not have access to a TV or stereo, a 3.5 to 3.5 mm stereo cable (not included with the loop system) was used to connect Margy Kemp’s iPod Nano to the back of the Field Teleloop. This configuration allowed hearing instrument wearers to hear Margy’s music via their t-coils.
For non-hearing instrument wearers to experience the power of a looped room, Oaktree Products provided attendees access to the Comfort Duett. This small, user-friendly rechargeable personal listening device has a built-in t-coil for use with induction loop systems. By simply putting on the Comfort Duett’s headphones and switching the unit from the microphone mode to the t-coil mode, non-hearing instrument wearers could also hear Margy’s music via the Comfort Duett. What a great way to demonstrate to your patients the benefits of t-coils, loops, and hearing assistance technology with minimum effort!
