Assisted Listening Devices, or assistive listening devices (ALD), as they are also known, can enhance hearing enough for someone to understand a conference speaker across an auditorium, hear the TV on the other side of the room or make out the voice on the telephone. People with all degrees of hearing loss can take advantage of these devices in a wide variety of situations.

Assisted Listening Devices for Hearing Aids
There are two ways that hearing can be assisted: by connecting directly with the source of the sound (MP3, TV, VCR, etc.) or by picking up sound from a remote microphone near the speaker. Both methods help to screen out background noise and allow the person wearing the hearing aid to hear what they want to hear. The sound is sent to the hearing aid via a hardwired or wireless link.

Three types of wireless systems are available for assisted listening: FM, infrared and inductive (audio loop). The hearing aid needs to come with either direct audio input (DAI) or a telecoil in order to use these systems. The DAI allows miniscule FM receivers to be attached to the bottom of the hearing aid. A telecoil has greater flexibility. In addition to working with FM and infrared receivers worn on the body, a telecoil is able to pick up sound from a room loop installed in a building, such as a church or movie theater.

Assisted Listening Devices for Telephones
Three types of telephone amplifiers can be used with or without a hearing aid. One replaces the handset entirely, the in-line version is inserted between the phone and the handset, and a portable, battery-powered amplifier connects to the handset.

To use any of these telephone amplifiers with a hearing aid, they are coupled either acoustically or inductively. Acoustic coupling, which works well with a CIC hearing aid, takes place simply by holding the amplifier up to the hearing aid’s microphone. Acoustic coupling is less desirable with some larger hearing aids because of a distracting whistling noise, although if the hearing aid has a telecoil it can be set to “T” to eliminate the unwanted feedback.

Beyond the basics, landlines and wireless cell phones are available with built-in amplification. You can also purchase a device that lets you listen to your standard cell phone with a hearing aid distortion-free.

And finally, if it’s still impossible to listen to a phone conversation even with amplification, take a look at Voice Carry Over (VCO). You talk as usual to the party on the other end of the line, and an operator puts what the other party says into print for you to read on an LCD screen. Also known as “read and talk,” Voice Carry Over requires a telephone relay service.

Assisted Listening Devices for Safety Alerts
People who are hard of hearing or deaf may miss an audible cue, whether an alarm going off at home or the ringing of a phone in the office. Alerting devices work with microphones or electrical connections to pick up the signal, which is then sent to you in a wireless or hardwired transmission. The signal may appear as a flashing light, a vibration in a pager, a very loud noise or even a fan.

Thanks to the Better Hearing Institute for a wealth of information about assisted listening devices.