Assistive listening devices can assist with communicating over the phone, watching television, attending events in public venues or when attending meetings and conferences.
There are various types of assistive listening systems available including:
- alert systems for the telephone, door and fire alarms
- FM systems which transmit sound via a radio frequency to a personal receiver such as a neckloop which is one of the most portable solutions, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
- Induction loops
- personal infra-red devices can be used by people with or without a hearing aid but they are limited to line of sight transmission and are not suitable for outdoor use
- telephone and television amplifiers
- vibrating alerts.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Assistive listening systems can be useful in the workplace for individuals with hearing difficulties and can be successful in aiding the individual in specific work duties such as:
- using the telephone
- watching training videos or DVD’s
- listening to music
- hearing alert systems such as fire alarms
- attending meetings and conferences.
For more information about specific listening systems see the links below:
References:
Australian Hearing 2010, Assistive Listening Devices, Australian Government Department of Human Services, Sydney, viewed 2 May 2011, http://www.hearing.com.au/assistive-listening-devices.
Better Hearing Australia (no date specified), Assistive Technology, Better Hearing Australia Victoria Inc., viewed 2 May 2011, http://www.betterhearing.org.au/node/16.