demystifying hearing assistive technology tina thompson beth wilson [email protected] chha...
TRANSCRIPT
Demystifying Hearing Demystifying Hearing Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology
Tina Thompson
Beth Wilson
CHHA Conference
July 2008
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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: Be encouraged to feel anxiety-free about acquiring and using technology
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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 DevicesCan Help!
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How Do Assistive Listening Devices Work?
All assistive listening devices work in the same way:
CATCH the signal (microphone or direct connection)CARRY the signal (bypassing effects of distance)COUPLE the signal to the ears (via air, the telecoil, or direct audio input)
Slide concepts courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT TrainingSlide concepts courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
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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
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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 (radio waves) Infrared (light waves) Induction Loop (magnetic
energy)
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Using an FM System: Making Conversation Easier
Conversations Restaurant Car Bus Group Activities Church Tours
Use FM radio signalsMicrophone near speakerWireless receiver (earpiece or loop)
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Using an Infrared System: Watching TV or Attending a Play
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.
headphones
Transmitter
Receiver
Transmitter
Receiver
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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!
Slide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT TrainingSlide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
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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.
T-coil
Slide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT TrainingSlide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
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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 TrainingSlide courtesy Dana Mulvany, SHHH HAT Training
Signaling Devices
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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Alerting Systems Transmitters for activities in the house
Doorbell Phone Alarm General noises (baby cry)
Common receivers Lamps Bed shaker
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Television
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.
Hearing
HoH
TelecomEar bud or loop
FM Transmitter
InfraredFM
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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)
The Telephone
Phone Flasher Amplifier TTY Speaker Phone Caller ID Neckloops
Telephones and Telephones and AccessoriesAccessories
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
Issues that Impact Telephone Use Issues that Impact Telephone Use for People with Hearing Lossfor People with Hearing Loss
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Information Websites
Websites: Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
www.hearingloss.org Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA)
www.chha.ca
Catalogs Harris: www.harriscomm.com Hitec: www.hitec.com Hartling: www.hartling.com Hearing Loss: www.hearing-loss-help-co.com Hear More: 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.