Improved Hearing Aid Connection to Public Induction Loops

This project seeks to improve on the old hearing aid telecoil technology by replacing wire-wound receiver coils (telecoils) within the hearing aid with new solid state sensors. Improvements in size, orientation, sensitivity, and noise rejection are possible by replacing these existing telecoils with new three axis thin film Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors. Telecoils in hearing aids have served a dual purpose: to enhance telephone conversation and enable hearing aids to serve as a wireless interface for public audio broadcasts. When broadcasting audio signals, the signal is transmitted to the telecoil sensor (a magnetic field sensor located in the hearing aid) via magnetic energy from an induction wire loop located near the listener. This induction loop can be a small assembly located in the handset of the telephone or a large wire loop within a public venue like a theatre.