Assisted Listening Devices

What are the 4 Types of ALD:

1.) Hard-Wired

2.) FM

3.) Infrared

4.) Audio Loop (Induction Loop)

What is a Hard-Wired Device and an example:

The sound is carried by a wire directly to the listener. Example: earphones plugged into a stereo or TV; a church pew with connected earphones

What is an FM Device:

A transmitter broadcast by radio waves from the sound source to a receiver worn by the listener. Useful in large indoor or outdoor locations, since it can cover several hundred feet and pass through physical obstructions

What is an Infrared Device:

Similar to FM, except that is uses invisible light waves to transmit sound. Frequently used in theaters

What is an Audio Loop (Induction Loop) Device:

Uses electromagnetic waves for transmission. The sound from an amplifier is find into a wire loop surrounding the seating area (or worn on the listener’s neck) which broadcasts to a telecoil that serves as a receiver. Hearing aids with a T-switch have a built in telecoil. People with a T-switch can use a special induction receiver to pick up the sound.

Types of Telephones:

1.) Amplified Phone

2.) Compatible Phone

3.) TDD (formerly TTY)

4.) Relay Service

What is an amplified phone?

Phones equipped with volume controls on the handset. Public coin-operated phones have a volume control button on the wall unit

What is a compatible phone?

A phone which generates an induction signal that can be picked up by a hearing aid telecoil. Federal law requires that all corded phones sold in the U.S. must be hearing aid compatible.

What is a TDD (formerly TTY)?

A Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, used by those who can not understand on the phone. A typewriter-like unit which shows the conversation on the screen can be read. A TDD must “talk” with another TDD or a computer. The transmission is with a special coding called Baudot

What is Relay-Service?

Sometimes called dual party relay service. Enables TDD users to communicate with non-TDD user by the way of a relay service operator. A recent development is “voice-carry-over” which permits a hearing impaired person to speak to the hearing party by voice. The relay-operator then types back to the hearing impaired caller.

Types of Captioning:

2.) Open Captions

3.) Close Captions

4.) Recorder Captions

5.) Real-time Captioning

6.) Script-time captioning

7.) Captioned notetaking

What are captions?

Text display of spoken dialogue and sounds. Formerly known as subtitles.

What are open captions?

Captions visible to all viewers

What are close captions?

Captions visible only to those using a caption decoder

What are recorder captions?

Carefully prepared and times captions are recorded in advance for TV broadcast or videos

What is real-time captioning ?

A situation where specifically trained stenographers, using special computer equipment, create captions which appear a few seconds after the words are spoken

What is script-time captioning ?

A by-product of newsroom script preparation and teleprompter text

What is captioned notetaking?

Also called computer-assisted notetaking. This is a process that permits a skilled typist, using any computer, to create large-print notes for an audience to read

What are the types of interpreting?

1.) Oral

2.) Sign Language

3.) Cued-Speech

What is oral interpreting?

The interpreter silently mouths the words of the speaker so they are visible on the lips. Used when a hearing impaired person uses speechreading to understand the conversation

What is sign language interpreting?

In sign language, the visible movements of the hands, body, and face replace vocal elements of a spoken language. Depending on the communication situation and personal preferences, deaf and hard of hearing persons in the U.S. who use sign language may communicate using the unique grammar of ASL or some variety of signing that uses features taken from both ASL and English

What is Cued-Speech ?

A sound based visual communication system which uses eight hand-shapes in four different locations (“cues”) in combination with natural mouth movements of speech

What are Misc. Devices?

1.) Alerting Devices

2.) Visual Paging

3.) Notetakers

4.) Hearing Dogs

What are alerting devices?

Signaling devices, both visual and tactile, are available for fire alarms, smoke detectors, phone rings, and alarm clocks

What is visual paging?

Public announcements are displayed on a monitor

What are notetakers?

A person to take notes on a blackboard, overhead projector, notebook, etc. Key words and phrases are written to enhance the person’s understanding

What are hearing dogs?

Specially trained dogs to assist hard of hearing or deaf individuals in coping with the more practical difficulties of hearing impairment.