[Athen] FM receiver for computer and hearing aid

[Alexa Schriempf]

Of course, the exception is the rule! :) *wink*

So I couldn't resist and ran over to phonak's my link page. In looking at
this page: http://www.phonak.com/nz/b2c/en/products/fm/receivers/mylink.html

I see that there is a bullet point for the following feature: "FM
demonstration function - headphones can be connected to MyLink to help
acousticians demonstrate the benefits of FM to decision makers with normal
hearing."

That, to me, is industry-speak for: there ought to be a 3.5 mm jack in the
my link receiver. Grab any ol (but preferrably high quality cable) with two
prongs (3 band) on each end, and connect the mylink to the audio jack of
the laptop. Run skype or whatever "phone service" and hopefully the audio
feed will get picked up by that app.

If this works, then that means the student gets to use the nice
audio-quality mic that comes with the mylink, no?

Keen to learn how this works out!
-Alexa


On Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 1:48 AM, Sean J Keegan <skeegan at stanford.edu> wrote:


> Hi Alexa,

>

> We are using Phonak equipment, so we happen to have that one brand that is

> the exception for FM transmitters/receivers! (grin)

>

> Attaching a Y-connector is not an option as the student's receiver is

> integrated into the hearing aid itself. We do have an extra MyLink+

> receiver that *might* work with the audio-in for the computer. I had not

> thought of using that, but it does have an audio out port, so that may be a

> good fix.

>

> We have been using a stationary mic similar to what you had described. It

> has worked okay, but has not given a whole lot of flexibility in the

> seating arrangement due to cables. I think we will try the MyLink+ option

> as that may make the whole setup simple and require minimal wires. That

> would allow the student to use her hearing aids as desired as well as

> provide a signal directly from the instructor into the computer.

>

> Thanks for the response - great details for future reference!

>

> Take care,

> Sean

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

> On Mar 31, 2014, at 4:45 PM, Alexa Schriempf <ats169 at psu.edu> wrote:

>

> As a life long FM user myself, a couple of things spring to mind:

>

> 1) You won't find any information about FM systems from hearing aid

> companies. FM systems *usually* are manufactured by non-hearing aid

> manufacturers. (One exception is Phonak, who also makes FM systems that are

> pairable with their hearing aids).

>

> 2) Most simple solution: why not just use the FM system the student is

> using and use a Y adapter on the receiver? One part of the Y would take the

> neckloop or DAI cable, and the other part of the Y would be to connect to

> the computer's audio jack. You would still need skype or internet phone

> call to send the audio signal out to the CART service.

>

>

> 3) Most remote CART services use a wireless mic and transmitter that sends

> a  signal to your laptop....basically what you are doing is extending the

> laptop's microphone for better quality. Here's one that sits on a desk:

> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samson-Mic-Clip-USB-Microphone/dp/B001R76D42/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1360770620&sr=1-3-catcorr#productDetailsbut they make lapel ones too.

>

> In this way, the mic (not an FM transmitter!) is sending an audio signal

> to the laptop. That signal is then sent to the remote captionist through a

> skype call.  The captionist then types the audio into a website that the

> student accesses. So skype is operating in the background, while the CART

> provider's website is on front. The student views the website for the text

> of the audio.

>

> You could use a PART of an FM system to jack into the audio being sent to

> the laptop via the remote mic. This would be either a T coil neck loop, or

> regular headphones.

>

> To be clear, the audio feed would be coming from a wireless audio mic,

> that has its own signal. This is not an FM system. If in fact the remote

> CART service is using FM system to transmit, I'd be curious how they're

> doing that. While I'm on this, there *IS* another way to connect an FM to

> the computer, but you still have to use skype to send the

>

> And to be more clear: how the HOH student "jacks" into the laptop for the

> audio is to find an interface that works well for him/her. Me personally, I

> don't like T coil because the signal is not as loud as it could be; my

> cochlear implant processors are too high on my head such that a t coil neck

> loop sitting around my neck barely reaches the processors in terms of field

> strength. I have to boost the volume on my laptop AND my processors. Once I

> boost, it's totally fine. But it's extra work to push the buttons on my

> remote that pairs with my processors, deal with the neckloop, and all the

> other equipment. I just use Bose headphones and plug into the laptop.

>

> If the student is a hearing aid user, headphones won't work very well

> because they will cause, most likely, but not always, very noisy feedback

> that is audible to everyone. Can be embarrasing. Thus, there are two

> options, depending on the hearing aid brand. One can go with Direct Audio

> Input (DAI) cable, connected to the audio jack of the computer; or one can

> go with the Neckloop T Coil (or over the ear T coil hooks), which also

> connect to the audio jack of laptop.

>

> Over the ear t coil loop example:

> http://hsdcstore.com/browseproducts/Phonic-Ear-Dual-Silhouette-Headset.html

>

> Neckloop t coil example:

> http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/williams-sound-nkl001-18-inch-neckloop-telecoil-coupler.html

>

> Loops and cables to connect hearing aids to the audio on a laptop are a

> dime a dozen; the student can explore which ones s/he likes best, and work

> hopefully with his or her audiologist to shoot for the best audio quality

> possible. Avoid bluetooth, especially generic off the shelf blue tooth. If

> the student already has an FM system, the end of that neckloop or DAI

> cables *may* have a plug end that is correctly sized to fit the laptop. If

> it's a prong but wrong size, an adapter plug can be purchased. If it's a

> more proprietary plug (like those airplane audio jacks used to be), then

> you're probably better off getting a whole new neckloop or DAI cable.

> Usually, the FM maker has a variety of cable options. You could contact

> them for a different cable.

>

> The difference between #2 and #3 is where the user sits in the "audio

> circuit". Basically, you need to mic the speaker, and send that audio via a

> phone or internet phone signal. You could either use a mic that send the

> signal to the user (Ie, FM system), then jack the computer into the signal

> alongside the user (#2 above), OR use the mic to send the signal to the

> computer  (wireless, non-FM mic), and then jack the user into the computer.

> FWIW, I would prefer whichever system had the better mic, and I wouldn't

> know until I tried both. No matter which way you go, you still need skype

> or the like to send the audio feed remotely. And no matter which way you

> go, the audio feed is still real time, so even if the internet drops out,

> the student will still hear whatever comes through the mic worn by the

> speaker.

>

> Hope this isn't TMI. Understanding how FM systems can interface with other

> technology is difficult b/c there are a variety of hook up options....but

> no extra "special" devices needed -- just cables and adapters.

>

> -Alexa

>

>

> On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 6:16 PM, Sean Keegan <skeegan at stanford.edu> wrote:

>

>> Hello all,

>>

>> A question was posed to me and I am not having much success finding an

>> answer. Here is the situation:

>>

>> A student is using a standard FM receiver with the transmitter provided

>> to the instructor. There is also a need to have remote CART services

>> provided. We are trying to find a method to have the audio signal sent from

>> the FM transmitter to a USB or audio-in FM receiver connected to a laptop

>> which can then send the signal to a remote transcription provider.

>>

>> I am not having much success in locating such a device. The CART provider

>> says that they exist as secondary receivers and can plug into the audio-in

>> jack or USB port, but has not received any information from the hearing aid

>> company.

>>

>> Any ideas from the field?

>>

>> Take care,

>> Sean

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>>

>

>

>

> --

> Alexa Schriempf, Access Tech Consultant

> Office for Disability Services

> Teaching and Learning with Technology: Accessibility Group

> Adaptive Technology Services, University Libraries

> Penn State

> https://sites.psu.edu/aschriempf/

> http://equity.psu.edu/ods

> http://tlt.its.psu.edu/

> http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/adaptivetechnologies.html

>

>

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>



-- 
Alexa Schriempf, Access Tech Consultant
Office for Disability Services
Teaching and Learning with Technology: Accessibility Group
Adaptive Technology Services, University Libraries
Penn State
https://sites.psu.edu/aschriempf/
http://equity.psu.edu/ods
http://tlt.its.psu.edu/
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/adaptivetechnologies.html
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