Telephone Tips

Harmony BTE

Advanced Bionics offers accessories that provide different listening options when using a telephone with your Harmony Sound Processor, such as:

1. Microphone on the Harmony Sound Processor
2. T-Mic^® Microphone
3. Direct Connect Earhook with Direct Connect Cable Assembly to the Telephone
4. Harmony Built-in Telecoil (T-Coil)
5. Direct Connect Earhook with T-Coil Adapter Accessory

Using the Microphone on the Harmony Processor
Simply place the handset speaker of the telephone over your Harmony Sound Processor microphone. This easy method does not require additional accessories.

T-Mic Microphone
The T-Mic is an in-the-ear microphone for hearing in noisy environments and for effortless access to telephones, cellular phones, consumer audio electronics, and assistive listening technology. Many Harmony BTE recipients use the T-Mic full time and are able to use a telephone simply by placing it to their ear in a normal fashion.

The T-Mic is an optional earhook and is the default choice for most adult CI recipients. To order a T-Mic (#CI-5830) visit the Webstore or call Customer CARE at (877) 829-0026 or (800) 678-3575 TTY.

Direct Connect Earhook With Direct Connect Cable Assembly to the Telephone
Another option for using a telephone with the Harmony Sound Processor is to directly connect to a telephone with the Direct Connect Earhook and Direct Connect Cable.

This can be accomplished in two ways depending on the type of phone:

1. With a tabletop phone (a standard desk phone with the dial buttons in the base and a cord to the handset), use the Advanced Bionics Telephone Adapter (see below).
   1. Attach the Direct Connect Earhook and Direct Connect Cable to the Harmony Sound Processor and connect the Telephone Adapter to the end of the Direct Connect Cable.
   2. The telephone cord on the telephone adapter should be plugged in place of the telephone handset receiver, and the receiver should be plugged into the side of the telephone adapter.
   3. Once connected, you should be able to lift the phone handset and hear a dial tone.
2. With a cordless phone, assure the phone has a headset jack and use a patch cable. You will need the Direct Connect Earhook and Direct Connect Cable, as well as a patch cable.
   1. A patch cable can be obtained from Advanced Bionics (Audio Interface Cable)* or from an independent patch cable vendor (see next page).

*Please note: Most cordless phones have a 2.5 mm headset jack, and Advanced Bionics accessory cables have a 3.5 mm plug. If using a patch cable supplied by Advanced Bionics, you will need to ensure that your cordless phone headset jack accepts a 3.5 mm plug; otherwise, you will need to purchase an off-the-shelf adapter.
                              

Direct Connect Earhook (#CI-5840)

Telephone Adapter (#AB-8750)

Audio Interface Cable (#CI-5815)

Direct Connect Cable      
   (#CI-5841)             

To order the Direct Connect Earhook (#CI-5840), Direct Connect Cable (#CI-5841), Audio Interface Cable (#CI-5815), and Telephone Adapter (#AB-8750) visit the Webstore at or call Customer Care at (877) 829-0026 or (800) 678-3575 TTY.

To order a custom made cable, contact the vendors listed on our website.   Be sure to have your telephone brand and model information available.

*Advanced Bionics does not support any products purchased through an outside vendor. 

Harmony Built-in Internal Telecoil (T-Coil)
The built-in T-Coil provides you with wireless access to inductive loop environments. Ask your audiologist to create and optimize a program with the built-in T-Coil enabled while visiting your implant programming center. Your audiologist will assign this dedicated program to one of the switch positions on the Harmony processor.

When ready to use your telephone, select the assigned program switch position with the T-Coil enabled. You may need to adjust the position of the phone and the orientation of your body while the telephone is held up to your ear to optimize the T-Coil reception.

What are induction loops and t-coils?
An induction loop is a special wire within a room or phone that emits an electromagnetic signal. This signal is picked up by a t-coil (or telecoil), and is then transmitted to the sound processor. Traditional tabletop phones are required to be hearing-aid (t-coil) compatible by having built-in inductive loops; however, some but not all cordless or cell phones are t-coil compatible.

Direct Connect Earhook With T-Coil Adapter Accessory
The Telecoil Adaptor (#CI-5750) provides access to inductive loop environments. It is an accessory option that simply snaps on to the Direct Connect Earhook.

You may find using the T-Coil Adapter to be a convenient option if you do not currently have a program position assigned to access the Harmony built-in T-Coil or if you prefer not to have a dedicated position programmed exclusively for use with the built-in T-Coil. 

Use a program setting with audio mixing assigned for use with the Direct Connect Earhook as instructed by your audiologist. When you connect the T-Coil Adaptor onto your Direct Connect Earhook, you are ready to pick up the signal from an induction loop system. Rotate the T-Coil Adapter as needed to optimize sound quality with the phone placed close to the processor.

Direct Connect Earhook with T-Coil           

Harmony with T-Coil onDirect Connect Earhook

Options for using the T-Coil with a tabletop or cordless phone:

1. Hold the hearing-aid–compatible phone handset directly over the Harmony Processor.

2. If a headset jack exists on the phone:

   1. Plug in a neckloop that will transmit the signal to the T-Coil on the Harmony Processor. A neckloop can be obtained from an independent vendor.

   2. A neckloop can also be used for listening with both ears using two T-Coil equipped Harmony Processors or a Harmony with T-Coil on one ear and a hearing aid with a T-coil on the other.

   3. Use a HATIS device with any telephone to make the phone T-Coil compatible. The HATIS device plugs into the phone headset jack and is a flat, BTE-shaped device that sits on your ear next to the Harmony.

   4. An induction coupler is located inside the HATIS device that sends the signal via a cable from the telephone to the T-Coil on your Harmony Sound Processor.

   5. There is also a binaural version to hear with both ears using two T-Coil-equipped Harmony Processors or the Harmony built-in T-coil on one ear and a hearing aid with a t-coil on the other.

HATIS
For more information, please visit: www.hatis.com

Other Information to Consider When Using a Telephone
Cordless phones can be used with the Harmony Sound Processor.**

Some features to consider are:

• Volume control
• Speaker phone capability
• Headset jack to:
  • plug in a patch cord for direct connection to the cochlear implant
  • plug in a neckloop for use with the Harmony T-Coil
  • plug in a HATIS Telecoil Coupler for use with the Harmony T-Coil
• Hearing-aid compatibility of the phone to use with a Harmony T-Coil
• Compatibility of the transmission frequency of the cordless phone and the cochlear implant
  • 900 MHz cordless phones work well
  • 2.4 GHz cordless phones usually work well, although occasionally a model may result in interference
  • 5.8 GHz cordless phones are compatible, but occasionally a model may result in interference.
  • 49 MHz cordless phones are not compatible with our cochlear implant

**Although cordless phones are compatible with cochlear implants, the user of the phone (not necessarily the implant user) may experience interference if the battery is low, the cordless phone user is too far from the base, and/or the implant patient passes between the base and the one using the cordless phone.

Cordless phones with these features can be purchased at your neighborhood electronics store or through specialty vendors that work with assistive listening devices developed specifically for individuals with hearing loss. Your audiologist may provide assistive listening devices such as amplified telephones, or know of a resource in your immediate community.

These specialty phones are also available for purchase over the internet. Below is a partial list of these assistive technology vendors. Additional vendors can be found by searching “assistive listening devices” on the Internet.*

Assistive Listening Devices Online Vendors

Clarity Products www.clarityproducts.com
HARC Accessolutions www.hacofamerica.com
Beyond Hearing Aids www.beyondhearingaids.com
Harris Communications www.harriscomm.com
Sound Clarity www.soundclarity.com
Audex www.audex.com

Audio Mixing
Audio mixing options are available on the Harmony Sound Processor. Audio mixing allows the microphone on the Harmony Sound Processor to remain active when connected directly to a T-Mic Earhook, telecoil, or any other external audio input.

This is important so you can hear your own voice and environmental sounds in addition to the signal transmitted through the auxiliary device. You may need to see your audiologist to set up a program with the correct audio mixing for connecting to your telephone.

If you are directly connecting to a telephone with a cable or adapter, you may want your audiologist to set up an audio mixing ratio of 100% auxiliary so that you hear only the sounds from the telephone.

*Advanced Bionics does not support any products purchased through an outside vendor.

For more information, please contact the Bionic Ear Association at: hear@advancedbionics.com.

The Bionic Ear Association (BEA) is a FREE membership organization that supports you and your family.

Whether you are considering cochlear implants or currently use them, the BEA provides resources, information and programs to support you along your Journey to Sound. Join today!