PLI: Unit 4 Understanding Accessible Technologies

Behind the Ear Hearing Aids (BTE)

• largest of all the kinds

• tube extends into the canal

• easiest to adjust

• volume wheel

• T switch

What are the 3 positions for the T switch?

• Primary listening position: used in most situations

• T-Coil (telephone mode): orginially desinged to hear telephone better; reduces background noise while increasing the speach; can be paired with assistive listening devices to further improve hearing

• Dampening position: Dampen sounds ideal for a restaurant setting

In the ear hearing aid (ITE)

• fits completely in the ear

• for mild to severe hearing loss

• prefered by those who have difficulty with smaller devices

• most reliable and inexpensive

• can have a T-switch

In the canal hearing aids (ITC)

• mild to severe hearing loss

• smaller than behind the ear and in-the-ear hearing aid

• custome sized for individual canal

• more expensive

• can be digital (bluetooth connection)

• ability to change the battery

  • small compartment

  • can be rechargable

• volume wheel can be challenging

• wax guard - very tiny

Completely-In-the-canal hearing aid (CIC)

• mild to severe hearing loss

• smallest of all types of hearing aids

• inserted further into the canal

• no controls on them

• string attached to remove the hearing aid

Made for Apple hearing aids (MFI)

• use a hearing aid and a iPhone or iPad

  • does not use a streamer box - connects directly to the phone

• not bluetooth connection

  • Accessibility ? MFi Hearing aids

• “Start live listening” mode

What is the “Start Live Listening”

The iPhone becomes a microphone and feeds directly to the hearing aid

What type of hearing aid is pictured?

BTE

Which is the smallest and most expensive type of hearing aid?

CIC

Some hearing aids incorporate a T-switch, which allows the hearing aid to connect to…

a. Assistive listening devices

b. Telephones

c. Both

d. Neither

Both

Some hearing aids connect directly to Apple iPhone and other Apple mobile devices. This can also allow the iPhone to become an assistive listening device. What are these hearing aids called?

“Made for iPhone” or MFI hearing aids

What is an assistive listening device?

devices that help bring sound to someone’s ears

• increase speech to noise ration

Where can assistive listening devices be used?

• 1:1 situations,

• mediums sized groups,

• auditoriums, cafeterias, gyms

Personal Listening Device

• best for 1:1 situations

• can have a wired microphone for speaker to talk into

• speaker can wear headphones

• accommodate a T-coil loop

FM System

• uses radio broadcast tech

• larger settings

• transmitter and receiver

  • sound is transmitted wirelessly

• speaker attaches microphone

  • can walk around

• listener can use headphones

• can be used with or without hearing aids

What is the most beneficial in larger settings like movies and auditorium?

Loop Technology

What is loop technology (induction loop)?

an assistive listening system that delivers audio directly to a person's hearing aids or cochlear implants via a magnetic field

• can be installed in a large room around the perimeter

What are alerting devices?

use visual or tactile cues to notify individuals of environmental sounds like doorbells, smoke alarms, or phone calls

What is the primary function of an assistive listening device?

To improve the speech to noise ratio

Personal assistive listening devices may connect to which of the following items?

Select one:

a. Headphones

b. Hearing aids

c. Cochlear implants

d. All of the above

All of the Above

True or False: Assistive listening devices are only used for one-on-one conversations.

False

Listener

Receiver

Speaker

Transmitter

Assistive alerting devices/systems can connect to doorbells, fire alarms, baby monitors, and more. These systems can provide which kind of alert to their users? Select one:

a. Visual alerts (e.g. flashing light)

b. Auditory alerts (e.g amplified sound)

c. Tactile alerts (e.g. vibration)

d. Any/all of the above

Any/all of the above

What kind of device is shown/described in the photograph?

Refreshable braille display

True or False: DeafBlind consumers do not use smart phones

False

How can DeafBlind access their smart phone on the go?

• using haptic feedback features

• using a portable refreshable braille display

• through an interpreter

using a portable refreshable braille display

Which of the following are accessibility applications that a DeafBlind person may use to access a mobile phone or other computing device? Select all that apply:

• TapTapSee

• Zoom Text (ZT)

• Zoom

• VoiceOver

• JAWS

All of the above

JAWS

screen reader software the provides speech and Braille output

TapTapSee

mobile camera app that can take a picture or video and identify whatever is in the picture out loud