Are you familiar with what a cyborg is? If you get swept up in science fiction movies, you likely think of cyborgs as sort of half-human, half machine characters (these characters are typically cleverly utilized to touch on the human condition). Hollywood cyborgs can seem extremely bizarre.
But the truth is that, technically, anyone who wears a pair of glasses could be considered a cyborg. The glasses, after all, are a technology that has been incorporated into a biological process.
The human condition is usually enhanced with these technologies. So you’re actually the coolest kind of cyborg around if you’re using an assistive listening device. And there’s much more technology where that comes from.
Hearing loss disadvantages
Hearing loss certainly comes with some drawbacks.
When you go to the movies, it can be difficult to keep up with the plot. Understanding your grandchildren is even harder (some of that is because of the age-gap, but mostly, it’s hearing loss). And this can affect your life in very profound (often negative) ways.
The world can become very quiet if your hearing loss is disregarded. This is where technology comes in.
How can technology help with hearing loss?
“Assistive listening device” is the broad category that any device which helps you hear better is put into. That sounds pretty technical, right? The question may arise: exactly what are assistive listening devices? Is there somewhere I can go and buy one of these devices? Are there challenges to utilizing assistive listening devices?
These questions are all standard.
Mostly, we’re accustomed to regarding technology for hearing loss in a very monolithic way: hearing aids. That’s logical, as hearing aids are an essential part of dealing with hearing loss. But they’re also just the start, there are numerous kinds of assistive hearing devices. And, used correctly, these hearing devices can help you more completely enjoy the world around you.
What types of assistive listening devices are there?
Induction loops
Induction loops, also called hearing loops, utilize technology that sounds really complex. Here’s what you need to understand: individuals who wear hearing aids can hear more clearly in areas with a hearing loop which are usually well marked with signage.
A speaker will sound more clear due to the magnetic fields in a hearing loop. Induction loops are good for:
- Lobbies, waiting rooms, and other loud places.
- Events that rely on amplified sound (including presentations or even movies).
- Places with inferior acoustic qualities like echoes.
FM systems
An FM hearing assistance system works a lot like a radio or a walkie-talkie. A transmitter, typically a speaker or microphone, and a receiver, like a hearing aid, are required for this type of system to function. FM systems are great for:
- Anyplace that is loud and noisy, especially where that noise makes it difficult to hear.
- An event where amplified sound is used, including music from a speaker or sound at a movie.
- Education environments, such as classrooms or conferences.
- Civil and governmental environments (for example, in courtrooms).
Infrared systems
There are similarities between an infrared system and an FM system. There’s an amplifier and a receiver. With an IR system, the receiver is often worn around your neck (sort of like a lanyard). Here are some instances where IR systems can be useful:
- Scenarios where there’s one primary speaker at a time.
- Indoor environments. Bright sunlight can impact the signals from an IR system. So this type of technology works best in indoor spaces.
- People who use cochlear implants or hearing aids.
Personal amplifiers
Personal amplifiers are like less specialized and less powerful versions of a hearing aid. They’re generally composed of a speaker and a microphone. The microphone detects sounds and amplifies them through a speaker. Personal amplifiers may seem like a tricky solution since they come in various styles and types.
- For best results, talk to us before using personal amplifiers of any kind.
- You need to be cautious, though, these devices can expedite the decline of your hearing, especially if you aren’t careful. (You’re essentially putting a super loud speaker right in your ear, after all.)
- For people who only require amplification in specific situations or have very minor hearing loss, these devices would be a practical choice.
Amplified phones
Hearing aids and phones sometimes have trouble with one another. Sometimes you have feedback, sometimes things become a little garbled, sometimes you can’t have a hard time getting the volume quite right.
One option for this is an amplified phone. Depending on the circumstance, these phones allow you to control how loud the speaker is. Here are some things that these devices are good for:
- When numerous people in a home use a single phone.
- When somebody has trouble hearing phone conversations but hears fine in other circumstances.
- Individuals who don’t have Bluetooth enabled devices, like their phone or their hearing aid.
Alerting devices
Often called signalers or notification devices, alerting devices use lights, vibration, or sometimes loud noises to get your attention when something happens. For instance, when the doorbell dings, the phone rings, or the microwave bings. So when something around your workplace or home needs your consideration, even without your hearing aids, you’ll be aware of it.
Alerting devices are a good option for:
- Anyone whose hearing is completely or almost completely gone.
- People who intermittently remove their hearing aids (everybody needs a break now and then).
- When alarm sounds like a smoke detector could lead to a dangerous situation.
- When in the office or at home.
Telecoils
Again, we come back to the occasionally frustrating connection between your telephone and your hearing aid. The feedback that occurs when two speakers are held in front of each other is not pleasant. This is essentially what happens when you put a phone speaker close to a hearing aid.
That connection can be bypassed by a telecoil. It will link up your hearing aid to your phone directly, so you can hear all of your conversations without noise or feedback. They’re great for:
- Anybody who frequently talks on the phone.
- People who have hearing aids.
- Individuals who don’t have access to Bluetooth hearing aids or phones.
Captioning
Closed captions (and subtitles more broadly) have become a normal way for people to enjoy media nowadays. You will find captions pretty much everywhere! Why? Because they make what you’re watching a little easier to understand.
For people who have hearing loss, captions will help them be able to comprehend what they’re watching even with noisy conversations around them and can work in tandem with their hearing aids so they can hear dialog even when it’s mumbled.
What are the advantages of using assistive listening devices?
So, now your biggest question may be: where can I buy assistive listening devices? This question indicates a recognition of the advantages of these technologies for individuals who use hearing aids.
Clearly, every individual won’t be benefited by every kind of technology. If you have a cell phone with easy-to-use volume control, you might not need an amplifying phone, for example. A telecoil may not even work for you if you don’t have the right kind of hearing aid.
But you have options and that’s really the point. You can customize the type of incredible cyborg you want to be (and you will be amazing, we promise)–so that you can get the most out of life. So you can more easily hear the dialogue at the movies or the conversation with your grandchildren.
Some situations will call for assistive listening technology and some won’t. Call us right away so we can help you hear better!