Assistive listening devices such as hearing aids help amplify the sounds around you and help simplify day-to-
day tasks. However, certain situations where communication is required, such as talking on the telephone, listening to the radio, or watching the TV, may not be facilitated to the required level by the traditional hearing aid.
To help solve these problems, special devices have been developed. Assistive listening devices increase the volume of objects – such as a phone or TV – where loudness is a necessity.
Amplified Phones
Amplified telephones have been specially adapted for people with hearing loss, meaning they can turn up the volume where necessary in order to clearly hear speech.
These phones will still hold all the typical features of a basic phone, but will also have additional special features, such as larger numbers, photo dialling, keypads that light up, and alerts for when the phone isn’t hung up properly.
[Img src: Hearing Direct]
Television Listening Devices
Clearly understanding what is said on the TV is a frequent issue for people with hearing loss; but when modern earphones that are equipped with wireless technology are combined with Bluetooth technology, turning up the TV’s volume is made easier.
There are also amplifiers designed for TV, which work by attaching a small microphone to the television; this then connects through to headphones or a neckloop that is transmitted directly to the hearing aids.
[img src: Action on hearing loss]
FM Systems
Wireless technology that makes it easier for people with hearing aids to hear what is being said around them, the personal FM system consists of a small microphone placed on a speaker, and a receiver which is used by the listener, and the sound is transmitted to your ears by the receiver, or straight to the hearing aid, should you be wearing one.
http://www.naidex.co.uk/news/2312/
