Resound Hearing Aids
Assistive Listening Devices
In their everyday lives, people with hearing loss have significantly benefited from the use of hearing aids. Even with the incredible advancements made by hearing aids in the past decade, there are certain conditions or situations where even the most advanced device will struggle.
The good news is in these environments: Assistive Listening Devices can help people use hearing aids to capture those sounds that are difficult to pick up. Visit us to learn more about our assistive listening devices in Newnan, GA, Peachtree City, GA.
What are Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)?
The core function of an Assistive Listening Device (ALDs) is to improve the listener's signal to noise ratio. This means that specific desired sounds are amplified while reducing undesired, interfering sounds, or noises.
Hearing aids are helpful for speech improvement but less useful in distinguishing background noise from the spoken word. This is because hearing aids are excellent for amplifying important speech sounds but less helpful in distinguishing background noise from spoken words.
Assistive Listening Devices may compensate in situations where hearing aids are less effective, such as environments with:
- Sounds from further away. Sound fades the further we move from the source, making conversations harder to understand.
- Weak acoustics. Large, open spaces and rooms with limited furnishings make poor environments for listening. Sound waves can bounce off hard surfaces, causing distortion and vibration.
- Background noise. Background noise makes it harder to concentrate on speech. Users with hearing aids have no choice but to turn up the volume when they encounter problems in these cases. That adds to the background noise. ALDs are designed to isolate opposing sounds and increase only the speaker's volume.
Who might benefit from Assistive Listening Device?
People with very mild hearing impairment who do not require a hearing aid might benefit from assistive devices. They make it easier to make telephone calls or make watching TV more enjoyable.
Assistive devices may complement hearing aids for people with more severe hearing loss by providing more active hearing support in particular settings and alerting them to noises and circumstances that may not be heard under stressful conditions or when the hearing aids are removed.
For individuals with a severe or total hearing loss, assistive devices may provide a visual or vibrotactile platform for greater exposure to telecommunications, television enjoyment, or environmental sound detection and recognition.
Types of Hearing Devices
Some Assistive devices operate directly with certain hearing aids, whereas others are stand-alone. Among the most common forms of ALDs are:
- Personal Amplifiers
- Hearing Loops
- FM Systems
- Infrared Systems
- Sound Field Systems
Personal Amplifiers are small boxes connected to a microphone and a listening cable. The speaker connects a microphone to their clothes, allowing the listener to plug into their amplifier and listen more clearly. As the linked cord restricts mobility, this choice is usually better used for one-on-one conversations.
Hearing Loops consist of a copper wire placed in a room, counter, which connects to a telecoil in a hearing aid. An electromagnetic field is generated that links to these telecoils in hearing aids and cochlear implants. People may turn their hearing instruments to the telecoil setting, and they immediately receive sound from the PA system in the room directly to their ears.
To carry sounds directly to your ears, An FM System utilizes radio broadcast technology. They are wireless systems where the user wears a portable receiver that allows the speaker to be listened to. The speaker has a transmitter and a microphone that lets you hear from up to 150 feet away. Because it is wireless, the user can move around and still hear the speaker. Educational settings benefit the most from FM systems.
Infrared systems are similar to FM systems, but they transmit sounds using light waves instead of radio waves. As light waves cannot pass to walls or other tangible obstacles with infrared systems, users are allowed complete privacy. As such, in environments like doctors ' offices or courtrooms, infrared systems are very beneficial. However, if someone or something comes in between the listener and the emitter, the sound can be disrupted.
If your hearing aids could use a boost, speak to us at Coweta Hearing & Balance Clinic. We will help you in deciding which Assistive Listening Device is right for your needs! We offer assistive listening devices in Peachtree City, GA & Newnan, GA & surrounding areas.