What You Should Know About Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are technological tools that help those who have diminished hearing. They help anyone with hearing loss, speech, or language disorders. They are especially useful for the elderly since we all lose some of our hearing as we age.

People that use assistive listening devices are better able to understand speech. The devices boost the signal-to-noise ratio, which allows sound to be amplified.

There are a great many people who could benefit from assistive hearing devices and not just senior citizens. The ability to communicate more effectively is priceless, which makes assistive listening devices such amazing tools.

The following are some things you should know about assistive listening devices:

Anyone who is hard of hearing can make use of an assistive listening device. Most ALDs offer a gain of about 15 to 25 decibels so as to achieve the same level of hearing as someone with perfect hearing.

You can use an assistive listening device whether your hearing disorder is mild or profound. You will just have to get the listening device that allows you to hear more effectively.

People with hearing aids or cochlear implants can also use assistive listening devices to improve their effectiveness. Hearing aids and cochlear implants usually have certain limitations and don’t work well in certain situations.

Assistive listening devices can be used anywhere as long as the user needs to improve their hearing. However, there are certain places where ALDs will be more effective than others.

Most ALDs work by reducing background noise, minimizing the effect of the distance the noise travels, and negating poor acoustics that reduces sound quality. Therefore, if there is any background noise, a large distance from the source of the sound, or poor acoustics, you can use an ALD.

ALDs are especially used in entertainment arenas and other public places where hearing is hard. They are also used in workplaces, educational spaces, and at home.

It is crucial for you to know the difference between various hearing and listening attachments. These attachments are usually used in conjunction with, or function as, ALDs.

The coupler you decide to use will depend on which device you are using. As you can see from serene innovations, there are various products to which you can attach these listening couplers. Using couplers will depend on which devices you often use, for example, telephone, television, or radio.

You can also use listening couplers alongside cochlear implants and hearing aids. However, some couplings are more effective than others, so expect differences when using assistive listening device couplers.

The main thing you should know about assistive listening devices is the different available types. There are essentially three types of assistive listening devices, namely FM, infrared and inductive loop devices.

Each type of ALD has its pros and cons, but each of them is considered to be useful by medical professionals.

FM assistive listening devices use radio broadcast technology to boost the sound in the ear. They provide incredible flexibility and mobility; hence they are ideal for use with body-worn transmitters.

An infrared assistive listening device will use light-based technology. They are ideal for private and confidential situations since light cannot pass through walls as sound can. Infrared ALDs are usually the ones you will find in entertainment systems.

Inductive or wide area loop assistive listening devices will use an electromagnetic field to transmit sound. You can use these ALDs if you don’t wear a hearing aid, but you will need headphones and an inductive loop receiver.

There are also personal amplifiers that can be used when the three types above are unavailable. You can use them when you are outdoors or traveling. They reduce background noise and amplify sounds with some, including directional microphones. They are typically only the size of a cell phone.

There are varying degrees of hearing disorders, which could also be termed as varying degrees of deafness. However, if you consider deafness as the total inability to perceive sound, then you cannot use an ALD if you are deaf.

An assistive listening device is meant to assist someone with a modicum of hearing. If you are completely deaf, the ALD will have no effect whatsoever.

Assistive listening devices are meant to make hearing easier. On the other hand, alerting devices are meant to help you stay connected to whatever is happening in your environment.

An alerting device will utilize sound amplification, visual cues, and vibrations to apprise you of sounds in your environment. In that way, they may be considered to be ALDs. They will help protect you even if you are not wearing your hearing aids.

There is much to know about assistive listening devices. The above is only the tip of the iceberg, but it should give you a cursory understanding of ALDs. The main thing is to know the various types of listening devices. You should choose an assistive listening device based on your specific needs.