| ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES | |
| TV
Listening
Telephone aids
|
People with hearing
impairments often experience difficulty in certain
listening situations sometimes even with the use of their
hearing aid/s. Use of special devices may prove
beneficial in such situations. Help with TV Listening: These devices transmit the sound from the TV directly to the listener's ears. Extension speakers or headphones with long cords may be plugged directly into the headphone/audio out jack of the TV/VCR. Cordless - Infra-red and FM/radio frequency headphones or speakers may also be connected to the TV which provide greater freedom of movement to the listener. When direct cable connection through headphone/audio out jack is not possible, a microphone placed close to the TV speaker can be used to pick up sounds and feed to the transmitter of the TV listening aid. Commercially available aids provide various degree of amplification/output with volume and tone control to suit individual needs. These units may also be available with re-chargeable batteries which can be charged by placing the headset on the transmitter unit. Help with Telephone: When people have difficulty hearing the telephone ring these devices help by making the ring louder or by changing the frequency of the ring to something the user can hear. Additional ringers installed in different rooms and flashing light ringers may also prove beneficial. For help with listening to voice from the telephone receivers many hearing aid users have a telecoil built into their hearing aids. The hearing aid can be switched from microphone to telephone mode. This helps in picking up the signal from the receiver by electromagnetic induction (from hearing aid compatible telephones). Some hearing aids now come equipped with touchless telecoil which automatically switch to telecoil mode when used in conjunction with telephones. Special amplified telephones and portable amplifiers may be used with or without hearing aids. Tele text instruments enable text communication over phone for people with more severe hearing impairments who are unable to hear voice well enough to communicate in conventional way. Help with Alarms: Devices for Alarms - Fire/Smoke, Time, Baby-cry, Doorbell etc.: Amplified, flashing light and vibratory devices |
