Vn. 06-30-99
Assistive Listening
Devices (ALDs) amplify and deliver specific sounds
directly to the user. ALDs complement hearing aids by
amplifying only the desired sound, and not the background
noise. For some people who have a hearing loss but don't
wear hearing aids, ALDs alone are sometimes sufficient.
The ADA requires that ALDs
be available at public places such as courtrooms,
schools, theaters and concert halls. If you don't see a
sign offering them, ask.
ALDs use different
technologies, but all pick up the sound from the source
and deliver it directly to the user, who wears a receiver
(headphones, earbuds, neck loops.) If a hear aid wearer
has a telecoil in their hearing aid, they may be able to
receive ALD transmissions through the hearing aid,
without using a special receiver.
FM Systems:
Sound is transmitted from the speaker's microphone
directly to users who are wearing FM headsets. Receivers
can be attached directly to the hearing aid. If the
hearing aid has a telecoil, a loop can be attached.
FM systems are reliable
and the sound quality is excellent. When wearing an FM
system, you can sit anywhere in the room. FM's also cut
out a substantial amount of background sound.
Induction Loops:
A wire encircles the room (or area within a room or even
a car) near the ceiling or floor, and receivers input
from a microphone placed nearby. Hearing aids with a
telecoil switch turned on, or earpieces with telecoil
equipment, can pick up the sound that is carried within a
magnetic field within the loop. If you do not wear a
hearing aid, a special receiver is provided.
Users need to sit within
the loop area in order to pick up the transmissions.
Interference from fluorescent lights can be a problem
with induction loops, causing sound quality to be uneven.
The user controls the volume.
Induction loops are good
for people with hearing aids with a t-coil, because no
additional equipment is necessary.
Infra Red Systems:
Infrared systems carry the
sound from a transmitter to the user's receiver. Infrared
transmission is the only form of ALD that offers any kind
of confidentiality. Interference from fluorescent and
incandescent lights is a possibility in a well lit room.
- Other Assistive Listening
Devices:
Your doorbell can be connected to your house
lights so the lights flash when the doorbell
rings.
- A dog can also be great at letting
you know when someone is at the door.
Special 'shake-awake' alarm clocks which vibrate
a pad beneath your pillow to wake you.
- A baby alarm which works in a
similar way, or flashes a light when your baby is
crying, is also handy for parents.
-
There are many devices which will aid you in
hearing the television set. And some programs are
captioned
Fax machines - people with hearing difficulties
can find fax machines an ideal way to communicate
in writing.
Pagers are small, light to carry and will keep
you within easy reach of your family and friends.
They come in a range of types and models and can
vibrate to alert you to each message.
for the Telephone:
- a volume control for incoming
speech (for use with or without a hearing aid)
- some systems enable the use of
both ears with a telephone, often improving word
clarity
a ringer volume control
a ringer pitch control
a light on the phone that flashes when it rings
Caller ID (available through your telephone
service provider) gives you a choice as to how
you answer your phone because it lets you see the
phone number of the incoming callbefore you
answer it. To take advantage of this service you
need a special phone or unit.
For those who cannot use voice telephones, visual
telephones allow users to type conversations.
Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDDs), Teletext
(TT) devices, or Teletypewriters (TTYs), they come with
many options, including printers..
- Federal legislation has also mandated an
interstate relay system to allow TDD users to
talk to voice phone users through a special
operator.
-
Payphones should have a volume control for
incoming speech.
