Have you ever notice people in the theater or in some other venue lining up to rent a listening device to improve their hearing? Some are wearing hearing aids, others are not. What are these listening devices? Why do people with hearing aids need them?
John, a 63 year old retired steel worker who uses a hearing aid laments, “I don’t enjoy going to the movies or theater anymore because I miss too much. I can’t understand the conversation because the clarity is not there. I ask my wife, what did she say? What did he say? It’s not worth the aggravation.”
Many people have difficulty hearing and understanding speech in face to face communication, theaters, places of worship, auditoriums and other public places. It is especially stressful in people who are hard of hearing when the acoustics are bad or when they are seated far from the stage.
Conversations in a car, a restaurant or in private meetings can be frustrating to the one with loss of hearing. In these ‘one on one’ situations, Personal Amplifiers have been useful in filtering out background noise, increasing sound levels so you can hear speech more clearly. These devices are about the size of a cellphone and the conversational sound source is transmitted and picked up by the receiver that the person is utilizing.
If you have some residual hearing, even if you have a hearing aid, an Assisted Listening Device may make your theater or some other experience more enjoyable with less frustration and stress. ALDs are basically amplifiers designed to improve one’s hearing in a variety of situations. They transmit sound directly from the source, in the example with John from the ‘theatrical sound stage’ to your ear. They are meant to intensify a speaker’s voice and reduce background noises. Using this technology, it overcomes distance, and poor acoustics. There are three main systems or types of devices:
- FM (Frequency Modulated) System
- IR (Infrared) System
- IL (Induction Loop) System
An FM System uses radio signals to broadcast sounds from the source to the listener. The signal can travel several hundred feet and has been used in classrooms, theaters and other public places. FM system requires a receiver for use.
An Infrared System uses an infrared (invisible light) to carry sound from the source to the listener. IR system requires a receiver for use and the IR system is often marketed for TV watching and listening.
Induction Loop System or Hearing Loop system uses an electromagnetic signal to transmit sound from the source to the listener. This system is compatible with a hearing aid or cochlear implant, meaning the sound signal is transmitted directly to the “T-coil” fitted hearing aid or implant without the need for other equipment. (1)
Ongoing research is being conducted on ALDs which some refer to as (HAT-Hearing Assistive Technology). In addition to the above examples, alerting devices are available in smoke alarm systems and telephone devices enhance one’s ability to communicate. There are other examples.
In 1990, Americans with Disability Act required listening systems in public places. We can do our part when we act with patience and understanding to the many with a significant loss of hearing. They greatly appreciate the effort.
References
- NIH (NIDCD); Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech and Language Disorders.