AT Info

Introduction

• Assistive technologies are devices designed to help people with hearing loss. Often, a hearing aid or an implant is not enough in certain situations. In such cases, there are technologies that enhance the sound. Assistive technologies can be found in public venues such as theaters, auditoriums, stores and schools as well as in the home. Below is an introduction to this technology.
   
• Telecoil or T-Coil is a feature available in many hearing aids and all cochlear implants. Original used to help users when talking on the telephone. most users will have to place their device into T-Coil mode with a switch on the device or with a remote associated with the device. Some may have automatic T-coil and may have issues using it with the assistive technology and should ask to have a way to force the device into t-coil mode. T- coils are used with room loops and assistive devices in conjunction with neck loops and silhouettes
  
• Neck Loop is a necklace size loop of wire that is worn around the neck and can be plugged into receivers of assistive listening devices and audio  output jacks of some electronics.
  
• Silhouette is a coil of wire that is placed on the ear along with the hearing aid or CI.
  

• Direct Audio Cable is a cable provided by the manufacture of your hearing aid or CI that plugs into your device and the other end will plug into a audio source or receiver of assistive listening device
  

• Induction Loop Receiver allows users without hearing aids or CI's to use loop systems
  

System Types

• FM system – use radio waves to transmit amplified sound to a receiver. The receiver can be used with head phones, neck loop & T-coil or direct audio cables into their device
  Pros: - large area, minimal installation
  Cons: - signal can pass thru walls, receiver must be used

• Personal FM - uses same technology as FM systems but on a smaller scale. Best example is a classroom setting where the teacher is wearing a microphone connected to the amplifier/transmitter and the student is using the receiver along with head phones, neck loop & T-coil or direct audio cables into their device.
  Pros: large area, minimal installation
  Cons: signal can pass thru walls, receiver must be used

• Infrared – IR – the system converts sound into light signals that are sent with invisible light to a receiver. The receiver decodes the light back into sound. The receiver can be used with head phones, neck loop & T-coil or direct audio cables into their device
  Pros: large area, minimal installation, signal doesn’t pass thru walls
  Cons: - must maintain line of sight with transmitter, receiver must be used

• Induction Loop / Hearing loop – the system amplifies sound and sends it thru a loop of wire that encircles a room. An electromagnetic field generated is picked up by the T-coil in the hearing aid or implant. System may be used without hearing aids or CI's but an induction loop receiver will be required
  Pros: - no receiver or additional equipment necessary
  Cons: - smaller areas, installation challenges, signal can pass thru walls

• WIFI – the system transmits the sound over a WIFI network to your smart phone running the appropriate app. The phone can be used with head phones, neck loop & T-coil or direct audio cables into their device
  Pros: - no receiver necessary, multi channel, minimal installation
  Cons: signal can pass thru walls

• Bluetooth - stand alone systems can be purchased, comprised of a transmitter and receiver. Manufactures are starting to incorporate this technology into their hearing devices and selling transmitters for televisions, personal communications and cell phone use.
  Pros: easy set up, low cost
  Cons: limited distance, delay between received signal and audio source
  

• Wireless - uses technology found in cordless phones. stand alone systems can be purchased, comprised of a transmitter and receiver. Manufactures are starting to incorporate this technology into their hearing devices and selling transmitters for televisions, personal communications and cell phone use.
  Pros: easy set up, low cost
  Cons: limited distance but better then Bluetooth
  

• VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING (VRI) - VRI uses videoconferencing technology to allow an off-site Interpreter to interpret conversations, from English to American Sign Language (ASL) or vice versa, as if they were on-site.  VRI is utilized by hospitals, corporations, federal agencies, law enforcement and more, to provide On-Demand Interpreting Services when no on-site Interpreter is available.

• Communication Access Realtime Translation (C.A.R.T.) - It is the instant translation of the spoken word into English text using a stenotype machine, notebook computer and real-time software.  The text appears on a computer monitor or other display.  By providing C.A.R.T. services, the ADA specifically recognized C.A.R.T. as an Assistive Technology which affords "effective communication access." This technology is primarily used by people who are Hard of Hearing or Late-Deafened. 

Signaling devices - use sound , light and vibration or a combination to alert to a particular event

• Baby Monitor

• Sound Monitor

• Telephone

• Door bell

• Smoke alarm / Carbon monoxide

• Alarm clocks

Phones

• Hearing aid compatible - phones with M3 or M4 rating and T3or T4 ratings are HAC compliant

• Amplified - provide additional amplification and may also provide tone control for better hearing

• Captioning - displays every word caller said on built in display

• Video - allows callers to see one another

• Smartphone apps - check your favorite app store for a variety of useful apps

  •  Ava captioning App - https://www.ava.me/

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