Assistive Listening Devices

Hearing aids don’t work perfectly when there is background noise, distance, or echoes.  ALD (Assisted Listening Devices) can help. 

Loop Systems

Loop Systems amplify speech sounds and reduce background noises for people that use hearing aids or cochlear implants.  They are thin loops of wire that encircle a room.  Loop systems are very popular in Europe and can be found in buses, public auditoriums, churches, and other public buildings. Pros: reduced risk of acoustic feedback and an improved signal to noise ratio, easy to use with no pairing required, and a lower cost. Cons: not designed for music, telecoil orientation must be in a certain place in order to reduce feedback, requires installation, and digital devices can interfere with the signal.

FM Systems

FM systems are like mini radios and they can be used in classrooms, noisy restaurants, senior centers, or anywhere else where background noise makes it hard to listen to one speaker.  They work by having the speaker wear a microphone. The listener connects the FM receiver to their hearing aid or cochlear implant. Pros: FM radio waves have a good reception, installation is easy, and people without hearing aids can wear a receiver/headset. Cons: not a secure signal, must be tuned to the proper frequency at each location, draws attention, sound leakage, not directly compatible with hearing aids.

Infrared Systems

This is a device similar to an FM unit, but it uses infrared signals to transmit sound instead of radio signals. Pros: covers a large area, easy to install, secure transmission, people without hearing aids can wear receiver/headset. Cons: not directly compatible with hearing aids, need direct line of sight from the transmitter to the receiver, and in larger rooms multiple receivers, needs to be recharged regularly, and receiver needs to be tuned to the same frequency as the transmitter.

Personal amplifiers

Personal amplifiers are handy when Loop or FM systems are unavailable.  You can also use them at the theater, while traveling, being outdoors, or watching TV.  They are small and increase sound levels and reduce background noise. Some have microphones that move toward a speaker or another sound source. Pros: reduces background noise, available when other options are not, and clarifies and amplifies sound. Cons: not always directly compatible with hearing aids and may need to be recharged often.

These are options that are readily available for you if you have difficulties with hearing.