Assistive Listening Devices: Helping People with Hearing and Speech Disorders
ALDs are commonly categorized into four different groups – personal amplifiers, amplified telephones, TV streamers and notification systems.
One of the most common disabilities across the world is hearing loss. The World Health Organization estimates that around 360 million people have some form of hearing impairment. This can be due to many reasons, such as genetics, birth defects, aging, trauma or disease.
What are assistive listening devices?
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) provide a way for deaf individuals to participate in society, without being left out of conversations or feeling like an outsider. These devices are also beneficial for those who have difficulty understanding speakers because of background noise.
Individuals with hearing disabilities can often feel alone and isolated because they cannot communicate as efficiently as others. Assistive Listening Devices can help alleviate this problem by providing a way for those with hearing impairments to hear everything that is said and to understand words more clearly.
Why are Assistive Listening Devices necessary?
Based on research, people who are hard of hearing need a volume increase of about 15 to 25 dB in order to get the same level of understanding of people with normal hearing.
Assistive Listening Devices can help hard of hearing individuals achieve their needed gain without making sounds too loud for everyone else.
Can Assistive Listening Devices be used by deaf individuals?
Yes.
Assistive Listening Devices can be used by people with all degrees of hearing loss – from mild to profound.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants users can also benefit from Assistive Listening Devices. Additionally, people who don’t use hearing aids or other hearing devices can also use ALDs to hear better.
Think of Assistive Listening Devices are “binoculars” for the ears, maximizing the functionality of hearing aids.
Where can Assistive Listening Devices be used?
ALDs can be used in places of entertainment, at work, at school, and most especially at home.
Assistive Listening Devices can address listening challenges by minimizing background noise, overriding poor acoustics (e.g. echo) and reducing the effect of distance between the sound source and the hard of hearing person.
Types of Assistive Listening Devices
ALDs are commonly categorized into four different groups – personal amplifiers, amplified telephones, TV streamers and notification systems.
Personal Amplifiers – These devices are usually portable amplifiers that can be placed in the ear and used to amplify sound. They work best when they’re paired with hearing aids, but also function as a standalone solution for people who only have minimal or moderate difficulty communicating because of their hearing impairment.
Amplified Telephones – This device is designed specifically for use on telephones by individuals who either cannot hear well enough over regular phone lines or need an alternative way to communicate. This may include video relay service when talking face-to-face isn’t possible.
TV Streamers – Audio from the TV can be directly streamed into the ears. This is particularly helpful for people who can’t hear well enough to enjoy the sound coming from their TV.
Notification Systems – This type of ALD is designed to react to alarm situations and are used to let a deaf or hard of hearing person be alerted when some important condition is taking place. This can also be connected to doorbells, smoke alarms, etc.
Other types of ALDs
FM (Wireless) Listening Systems – Wireless listening devices help deaf individuals or those with hearing disabilities receive audio in a way that they’re able to use. These may include options like loop systems, FM receivers and digital wireless headsets.
Loop systems – This is a special type of sound system designed for people who use hearing aids. The loop system provides a magnetic wireless signal picked up by a hearing aid that is set to telecoil. This system can filter out unwanted background noise.
Infrared Systems – This system is a popular alternative to the induction loop system. It transmits sound waves to an infrared receiver that picks up the signal. The benefit of this type is it does not interfere with electrical devices nearby, and there are no loops which can be tripped over or broken.
Hearing Aids, Assistive Listening Devices MA
The developments of hearing aid technology through the years is nothing short if impressive. However, for individuals who have unique hearing needs that are not totally addressed by hearing aids, assistive listening devices may help.
To know more about Assistive Listening Devices and hearing aids, call Atlantic Hearing Care Inc. to schedule a consultation with our audiologists. We have clinics located in Swampscott and Peabody.