ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES &

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES

[Photo of Presenter]

Presenter:

Carol Erickson

ACA, BC-HIS

Compliance and Best Practices

Hearing Loss & Lifestyle Needs

Identify Different Types, Benefits and Limitations

Q&A

AGENDA: Assisted Listening Devices & Wireless Technology

1. How Assisted Listening Devices work

2. What are the benefits and limitations?

3. Advise Prospective Uses on Availability

4. Documenting for Legal and Best Practices

Learning Objectives

How are we doing as a group?

Who Offers a variety of ALD’s ?

Do you know WHERE the locations are in your area that

have looped systems for T-Coils?

SHOW OF HANDS…

www.loopamerica

Compliance

[ 800.843.3544 952.943.2252 williamssound.com ]

ALD Purpose

• Brings the desired sound closer to the ears

• Improves hearing in noisy situations

• Compensates for poor room acoustics

• Improves speech understanding

T-Coil Legislation in the U.S.

• 5 states have passed legislation requiring the explanation of the functions of the T-Coil in compliance with the ADA Act of 1990.

http://www.hlaabq.com/5-State-Regs.html

Landline Phones

Regulated to include a strong unshielded receiver in the handset that connects efficiently to a hearing aid through a T-coil.

- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

PSAP Legislation – (yet to be seen as to how this will affect ALD’s)

Quote: Regarding PSAP legislation and ALD’s.

“The bad news is that all the services under Best Practices will be foregone. Also, unless the customer is someone who has done extensive research, he/she will probably not get the product suited to resolve their hearing loss.”

- Terry Krutz – Owner of Loop America

Best Practices

Best Practices: “DOTE”

Demonstrate connectivity to T-Coils and near field technology

Offer ALD’s even to those who are not ready to wear aids

Teach new hearing aid wearers how to operate their device

In loud places or at unique work and lifestyle situations

Inform where looped locations are within in your community

When in looped public places make sure they understand how to activate their T-Coil

Educate that a hearing aid alone may not handle all their needs

When the hearing loss is severe to profound

When word recognition scores are low

When Quicksin scores are poor

Case History & Audiometric Results

Dexterity

Pure Tone & Bone Scores

Quick Sin Scores

Word Recognition Scores

Lifestyle Assessment

How well do they hear on the Phone?

How well do they understand TV?

Do they gather in large public places?

Do they work? Volunteer?

What are their Social Settings

What are their Hobbies

Home Environment needs

Do they attend meetings?

How often in restaurants?

Do they travel in RV’s or Planes?

ALD

TYPES

From Yesterday to Today

Benefits and Limitations

ALD

TYPES

Today’s Hearing Aids

All hearing aids must have T-Coils

Most Hearing Aids have some form of SNR Reduction

Most Hearing Aids have automatic and/or User Controlled

Directional Microphones.

Most Hearing Aids have TV enhancement features

Many Hearing Aids have Phone enhancement features

such as hearing the conversation in both ears.

Many Hearing Aids have Bluetooth functions

[Photo - optional]

ALD

TYPES

T-Coils

Bluetooth Streaming

FM Systems

Transmitters

Smart Phone Compatible

Hearing Aid Accessory Options

Use Magnetic Energy

Connects efficiently to a Landline phone

Changes the Hearing Aid to a personal loud speaker in the patients ear

Better hearing in Public looped locations

-from one source to many users

In home and singular set loop systems

No significant change in battery drain

SNR better than Bluetooth

Less lipsync issues than with Blutooth on television

T-Coil Technology ALD

TYPES

Nearfield technology (Range is approx. 3 Meters)

One source pairs to one user

Allows binaural phone listening

Higher battery drain on aids and on the phone

Can connect the hearing aids with many devices Remote Mics

Television

Music

Computers

Stethoscopes

Doorbells

Bluetooth Technology ALD

TYPES

PFM PRO and PFM PRO RCH

Body Pack Transmitter

Personal Receiver

Lapel Microphone

Earphone

Batteries

System Carry Case

Personal FM Listening System

Binaural Phone Listening

. Single Ear phone studies show 40% understanding

Binaural the understanding increased to 70%.

1. Pocket Talkers & Comfort Duet

– Available with Battery Chargers

– Built in T-Coils for looped environments

– These devices will not account for the

wearer’s hearing loss.

Non Hearing Aid Listening Devices ALD

TYPES

Communication Devices

• Smart Phones

• Texting - for some has replaced TTY • Skype • BlueTooth portable speakers

ALD

TYPES

Remote Bluetooth portable Speakers

Soundbars

Closed Caption

TV Enhancements ALD

TYPES

Head set and earbud devices

TV Ears

Sennheiser

Closed Caption

TV Enhancement for non-hearing aid wearers

ALD

TYPES

TV Headphones -vs- Bluetooth Hearing aids

Bluetooth overcomes the Ambient Noise

while taking into account the wearers

specific amplification needs

Caption Phones (private purchase or through assistance

programs) Not all need the internet.

Bluetooth adaptors available to convert a landline phone

Flashing light adaptors

Phones & TTY Phones ALD Types

QH2 Hub

Sonic Aware

In home and singular set loop systems

Bluetooth Stethoscopes

Bluetooth Doorbells

Miscellaneous Devices ALD Types

[Photo]

Loop your front office

Bluetooth Stream to devices set up in the office

Skype with patients

Add Bluetooth speakers in fitting rooms

Make ALD’s Part of your Practice

Sources Westone Products

Oaktree Products

HealthyHearing

Professional Training Textbook in Hearing Health

Scienceshttp://www.hearingreview.com/2014/09/consumer-perceptions-

impact-inductively-looped-venues-utility-hearing-devices/

I.H.S. Webinar and Distance Learning

Audiology Online

Questions?

Contact Carol Erickson at

clscott559@gmail.com