Assisted Listening & Cochear Implants

[Jim Cassedy]

I've received a question from a customer about if we have a way of connecting our
hearing / descriptive audio device to a cochlear implant. Does anyone here have
any practical experience on how to do this? Our devices have a standard 3.5mm
audio jack, that I know carries both HI/VI audio. (I've tried it with ear buds) but
do you know if cochlear implants work with inductive neck loops, like many hearing
aids do? I've found some info online, but I'm wondering if anyone here has had
any practical experience doing this THANKS! - Jim C

[Ryan Gallagher]

I've received a question from a customer about if we have a way of connecting our
hearing / descriptive audio device to a cochlear implant. Does anyone here have
any practical experience on how to do this? Our devices have a standard 3.5mm
audio jack, that I know carries both HI/VI audio. (I've tried it with ear buds) but
do you know if cochlear implants work with inductive neck loops, like many hearing
aids do? I've found some info online, but I'm wondering if anyone here has had
any practical experience doing this THANKS! - Jim C

I would expect if you are 3.5mm jack based with headphones... they just need to bring their own adapter that does whatever their particular implants need.

Here is a Music Tips PDF that lists both a telecoil "Neckloop" accessory option with 3.5mm jack, or a direct plug "Personal Audio Cable" that is the same concept but doesn't use the telecoil method, direct plug.

https://www.cochlear.com/mics/7cef40...Music-Tips.pdf

I would expect it is really the user's responsibility to provide such accessories, but you can tell them it is possible. If they are cheap enough maybe the venue can own a couple... though I don't know how many variants of implants there are that will maybe have specific accessories? But 3.5mm seems pretty standard, any is likely to work with any other provided they support telecoil. The direct adapter may be more model specific.

[Harold Hallikainen]

All assistive listening receivers are required to have a 1/8 inch mono jack to drive neck loops or direct connect cochlear implants ( https://www.qscaudio.com/resource-fi...tpractices.pdf ).