Assistive Listening Devices

Products:

Assistive Listening devices

Devices other than hearing aids that help you hear in specific situations are called Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs). For more information, see articles of interest about ALDs, and check out the new Conversor by Sense-Sonic.

Personal Amplifiers

This type of device may be used in lieu of a hearing aid to amplify sound at short range or may be used in combination with a hearing aid to improve hearing in difficult listening environments such as a car or restaurant.

Distance Listening Devices - Wireless headphones

Just as eyeglasses and binoculars help you with different types of vision problems, hearing aids and assistive listening devices (ALDs) are intended to help with different types of hearing problems. Whether you use hearing aids or not, assistive listening devices bring sounds that are far away close to you so that you hear them as well as you would hear on the telephone. ALDs are found in theaters, churches, auditoriums, courtrooms, cars, homes, everywhere your ears go. They pick up the sound right from the source and deliver it to the ears of the listener. There are three types of ALD systems:

Infrared

FM

Loop or Inductive

The third type of system is the only type that requires a special type of circuit in the hearing aid in order for the system to work. This type of system may be purchased for individual use or may be borrowed for use at theaters, etc. at no charge.

Connecting your hearing aid

Most behind-the-ear and a few in-the-ear hearing aids have telecoils to enhance your ability to connect to the telephone and to connect to ALDs. The three most common ways of connecting ALDs to your hearing aids are:

	Silhouette
	Neckloop
	Direct auditory input

Ask us about the right tool for you to use with your hearing aids. This is based on the type of hearing aid you own and the type and degree of your hearing loss.

Telephone Options

Cell Phone Accessories -

	HATIS - Hearing Aid Telephone Interconnect Systems - allows cell phones to be used with inductive pickups on hearing aids
	Nokia (press release) makes an inductive loop for use with their cell phones.

Amplified Telephones – Amplified phones are available in corded and cordless models in varying degrees of amplification. Talk with us to find the right solution for you.

Voice CarryOver Phones – When you need to read and hear what people are saying to you, Voice Carry Over telephones are an option. Through the use of the relay service (an operator trained to transcribe your calls), you can read and hear (depending on the set up) what friends and family are saying to you. VCO phones are available in one and two line models.

Text Telephones (TTYs) – Text telephones allow you to communicate directly with other text telephones with or without going through an operator.

Auxiliary amplifier runs on a 9V battery and allows volume control to be added to most telephones. Travel portable amplifier works with all telephones.

Cordless telephones: Cordless amplified 900 mHZ single line telephones.

Amplified handset for desk phone provides volume wheel in handset for easy control.

Telephone earpads allow comfortable phone use and minimizes annoying whistling or acoustic feedback for improved use of hearing aids with the telephone.

Alerting Systems

	Audible alarms – Allow you to change the tone of the alarm and loudness of the alarm for optimal hearing.
	Flashing Lights – Bright lights flash to alert you to telephone calls, doorbells, baby crying, or other important events.
	Vibrators – Shake awake in the morning. If you are a sound sleeper or live with others who may not appreciate a loud alarm, vibrating alarms may be the solution for you.
	Combination Units – allow you to select light, vibration, or auditory alerting.

Captioning

When hearing alone is not enough, the following devices are available to enhance your viewing of movies at home and at theaters:

	Captioning on TV
	Rear Window Captioning
	Open Captioning of Films

Assistive Listening Devices

	Pocket amplifiers
	Wireless headphones
	Infrared
	FM
	Telephone Amplifiers
	Volume controls
	Telecoils in hearing instruments
	Combination hearing instruments and FM receivers
	Assistive Devices with Visual Cues
	Closed Captions –TV
	Rear Window - Theater Captions
	Text telephones – Telephones
	Alerting Devices
	Audible Alarm
	Varying the pitch of the ringer
	Varying the loudness of the ringer
	Flashing Light
	Vibrator
	Combination Devices