Transcript Hearing Assistive Technology for People with Hearing Loss
Demystifying Hearing Assistive Technology
Tina Thompson Beth Wilson CHHA Conference July 2008 [email protected]
Objectives
WHAT : Identify different types of technology available for people with hearing loss WHY : Understand advantages and disadvantages of each option HOW : Gain an understanding of how hearing access technologies work DON’T BE SCARED technology : Be encouraged to feel anxiety-free about acquiring and using 2
Why Use Assistive Listening Devices?
Hearing aids alone don’t work well in these situations: Listening to someone at a distance Listening in a noisy environment Listening in a room with reverberation (echoing)
Assistive Listening Devices Can Help!
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How Do Assistive Listening Devices Work?
All assistive listening devices work in the same way: CATCH connection) CARRY COUPLE the signal (microphone or direct the signal (bypassing effects of distance) the signal to the ears (via air, the telecoil, or direct audio input) 4
Slide concepts courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
Two Major Types of Assistive Listening Devices
1. Hard-Wired Devices or Systems
carry the sound signal through an electrical wire Most common hard-wired device is hand-held amplification device. These devices contain a microphone, amplifier, and wire.
PockeTalker Sound Wizard Personal Listener 5
Two Major Types of Assistive Listening Devices (continued)
2. Wireless Devices or Systems
carry the sound signal without an electrical wire use a transmitter and receiver (similar to baby crib monitors) Wireless devices contain a transmitter and receiver and carry the signal in different ways: FM systems Infrared (radio waves) (light waves) Induction Loop (magnetic energy) 6
Using an FM System: Making Conversation Easier Use FM radio signals Microphone near speaker Wireless receiver (earpiece or loop) Conversations Restaurant Car Bus Group Activities Church Tours 7
Receiver Transmitter Receiver
Using an Infrared System: Watching TV or Attending a Play
Transmitter
TV: Use infrared light to transmit the TV signal. The transmitter connects to TV. Use the receiver to hear the TV sound directly in your ears.
Theater: Use infrared light to transmit house sound to patrons with special receivers using headset or neckloop. The theater must have an infrared transmitter set up.
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Magnetic Connection to Hearing Aid Using Neckloops with T-coils
A neckloop converts a sound signal from an audio device (like an ALD) into a magnetic signal.
The telecoil picks up this magnetic signal and converts it into sound; the hearing aid amplifies and custom shapes the signal.
There’s no need to wear headphones! Just wear your neckloop and hearing aids switched to telecoil!
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Slide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
T-coil
What is a Telecoil?
The telecoil (also called a T coil or T-switch) is a circuit in your hearing aid designed to pick up a magnetic signal. The magnetic signal is created by an induction field from hearing aid compatible telephones, neckloops, silhouettes, and loop systems.
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Slide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
Coupling the Sound to the Ears: Ear Accessories
If you have a hearing aid with a T-coil, you can use Neckloop Silhouette If you have a hearing aid with Direct Audio Input (DAI), you can use a DAI patch cord If you don’t have a hearing aid or a T-coil, use Headphones Earbuds
Slide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
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Signaling Devices
Why Use Signaling Devices?
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How Do Signaling Devices Work?
All assistive listening devices work in the same way: CATCH the signal (alarm, doorbell, phone) CARRY the signal (connect to receiver) SIGNAL the alert instead of using sound (vibration or light) 14
Alarm Clock
Portable Clock Looks like a travel alarm Vibrates and/or sounds alarm Clock System Adjust loudness and frequency Connect to lamp Connect to bed shaker 15
Doorbell
Doorbell Signalers Connected to Lamp Wireless – lamp plugs into receiver Simple wiring Knock Sensor Self-contained Mounted on door with flashing light Flashing Light/Chime Pager Use transmitter and receiver Flashing light and/or chime 16
Smoke Detectors/Fire Alarms
Strobe Lights Connected to hard-wired system Light on portable smoke detector Alerting System Wireless Receiver Light Bed Vibrator Vibrating Pager 17
Alerting Systems
Transmitters for activities in the house Doorbell Phone Alarm General noises (baby cry) Common receivers Lamps Bed shaker 18
Television
Ear bud or loop FM
HoH
Telecom FM Transmitter
Hearing
Infrared Use FM or IR to transmit the TV signal. The transmitter connects to TV. Use the receiver (IR receiver, FM receiver, or FM boot) to hear the TV sound directly in your ears.
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Captioning
TV Captioning
: Embedded in most TVs – switch on to see words
Movie Captioning
: Open captioned – everyone can see (like foreign subtitles) Closed captioned – need a special screen to see the words (Rear Window)
Real-Time Captioning
: Computer Aided Real Time (CART): words displayed at event (screen or laptop) CART Writer = stenographer with special training in providing hearing access CPrint = summary is typed (note taking used for classes) 20
The Telephone
Telephones and Accessories
Phone Flasher Amplifier TTY Speaker Phone Caller ID Neckloops
Issues that Impact Telephone Use for People with Hearing Loss
Quality of telephone (both ends) Cell phones Speaker phones “Cheap” phones Digital vs. analog for amplification and signalers Adjusting to a new voice Knowing whose phone is ringing Interactive Voice Response systems
Information Websites
Websites: Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) www.hearingloss.org
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) www.chha.ca
Catalogs Harris: Hitec: Hartling: Hearing Loss: Hear More: www.harriscomm.com
www.hitec.com
www.hartling.com
www.hearing-loss-help-co.com
www.hearmore.com
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Summary
Technology offers many options for solutions Make conversations easier Notification of sounds and alarms Accessible entertainment New products emerging Websites Catalogs Conferences
Email [email protected]
for a copy of this presentation.
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