1

Why do we need Assistive Listening?

User Interface Options

Transmission Options

Examples of ALDs and ALSs

Finding and Using ALDs and ALSs

Latest Stuff

Recommendations

ALD Introduction

2

Hearing Aids and CIs Best in Quiet and Close

Not so good at a distance

Not so good in noise

Not so good when sounds bounce around

ALDs can solve those “Big Three” problems

Bring the sound you want to hear right to your ears

Eliminate or at least reduce the noise

Eliminate the reverberation (bounced sound)

Minimize the loss of signal from conversion

Make a HUGE difference in how much you understand

Why We Need ALDs

3

Distance Double the distance; QUADRUPLE the loss

Varies with frequency (highs don’t “travel” well)

Noise What you want to hear is easy to lose in the din

The “signal to noise” ratio matters

Reverberation Even without noise, sound you want to hear gets

“spread out” as it bounces around the room

Hear the “straight line” first, but then delayed versions of the same thing at lower volume.

The Big Three

4

Reverberation

Reverberation and echos

reduce speech intelligibility

5

The TV from Across the Room On the Phone In the car Your Friends at Dinner At the Museum At the Movies At a Play In a Noisy Restaurant Other Audio Sources

Radios Music Players iPods

Hearing Your Best

6

Hearing aids and CIs have microphones for Input

microphones hear everything

Background noise

Reverberation

Poor quality signal after distance.

Some hearing aids and CIs have other input options

Hearing Aids and CIs

7

The following input paths can be used instead of or in addition to the hearing aid or CI’s microphones.

Magnetic Analog Telecoil Digital Near Field Magnet Input (NFMI)

Direct Audio Input (DAI) FM Receivers

Boot Embedded

By having access to these alternatives, you can choose how to hear best in every situation.

Get your audiologist to set up your programs and explain how to use them

Other Input Paths

8

Headphones (no Hearing Aids or Cis or telecoils) Headphones (with telecoils in Hearing Aids or Cis) Earbuds (usually only works without hearing aids) Neckloops

Standard Analog (to telecoils) Near Field Magnetic Interface (NFMI) … digital

induction

Silhouettes (to telecoils) FM

Boots (to DAI) Embedded

Patch cord (to DAI)

Interface Options

9

Pocketalker (or similar)

Wired

Connect Via

Neckloop

Silhouettes

DAI

Headphones

~$140

Personal Amplifiers

10

Personal FM Solutions

• Transmit sound from transmitter to receiver by FM radio.

• Directional Microphones

• You choice of Interface

11

Personal IR Solutions

• Transmit sound from transmitter to receiver by Infrared light.

• Directional Microphones

• Some let you choose interface

• Mostly for TV (not very portable)

12

Personal Loops

• Room loops

– TV

– Computer

• Chairpad loops

• Tableloops

13

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth uses a digital signal to communicate between a pendant and paired audio sources

• It can be “two-way” so it can work with phones both in and out

• Transmission/receiving done in pairs; not a “broadcast”

• Digitally encoded, so it’s private

• Your Bluetooth device can “remember” several different pairings and reconnect automatically

• Only connects with one paired device at a time

14

• So far, there are no Bluetooth Hearing Aid or CIs

• Bluetooth loopsets can connect you to phones (and TVs, iPods, Tablets, Computers and remote mics)

– Standard Bluetooth

– NFMI

• Oticon

• Phonak

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth to Device • Standard Analog Magnetic to

Hearing Aids/Cis • Advantages

• Cheap • Not Proprietary

• Disadvantages • Bilateral but Mono • Possible EMI (interference)

• Bluetooth to Device • NFMI Magnetic to Hearing

Aids/CIs • Advantages

• Some are True Stereo • No Interference

• Disadvantages • More Expensive • Proprietary

Bluetooth NFMI

Bluetooth Analog

Bluetooth

• Good – Relatively cheap – Some are Integrated with remote controls – Some are true stereo – No Electromagnetic Interferences (unlike regular

telecoils)

• Possible issues – Short range (maybe 30 ft) – NFMI is Proprietary; must match your hearing aids – Uses a lot of power (so far) it must be a pendant – Processing delay can be more than 25 ms

• Ok for phone calls or listening to music or radio • May be distracting if watching TV or other video

18

Systems

• Assistive Listening Systems

– FM

– IR

– Loops

• Installation

– Permanent

– Portable

• Movies, Auditoriums, Theaters, Stadiums, Churches, Classrooms,

Jacks and Plugs

• Mono (1 ring, 2 sections)

• Stereo (2 ring, 3 sections)

• Cell Phone (3 rings, 4 sections)

• Stereo to Mono Adaptor

• Male to Male Adaptor

• RCA to male 3.5 mm

• Optical

Simple Mic to TV

• Place a good mic near the TV • Patch it via wire or your favorite

wireless to your ALD of choice – FM – IR – Bluetooth

• Use your favorite interface – Headphones – Earbuds – Neckloop – Silhouette(s)

• Works, but better to patch directly to the TV

Patching to a TV

Then with appropriate adaptor to your favorite interface

o Bluetooth TV adaptor o FM o InfraRed o Stereo System o Room Loop o Headset

May need a stereo/mono adaptor May need different style jack Some newer TVs don’t have “line outs”, but use an Optical audio output. You would need a d/a converter to patch to most ALDs.

22

Finding Systems

• Signs

– IR

– Loops

– ALDs

• Websites

– www.aldlocator.com

– www.loopamerica.org

– http://www.americanhearingloop.com/hearing-loop-locations.html

– www.captionfish.com

– http://www.hearinglossweb.com/tech/ald/loop/loop.htm

23

Resources

• www.ncatp.org

• Information

• Trial equipment

• www.ncdhhs.gov/dsdhh/

• Regional Centers

• Equipment Distribution

• www.nchearingloss.org

• Glossary defines terms

• HLAA Conventions

• Don’t miss the exhibit area

24

Recommendations

• Look for where you could benefit from Assistive Technology.

• Consider which technologies meet your needs.

• Try out the technology in various situations.

• Never buy a hearing aid that doesn’t have standard telecoils • Get your telecoils activated and tuned to your needs.

• Learn how to change to the best program for each situation.

• Consider other options such as a personal amplifier, Bluetooth, FM or IR • Standard telecoils are NOT obsolete

• Some aids have both NFMI and standard telecoils.

25

Latest Stuff

• Roger FM (by Phonak but supports most brands)

• Pen mic

• Clipon mic

• Boot or embedded receivers

• Cochlear Dynamic FM

• For BAHA

• For Nucleus CI (soon)

• MFi (Made for iPhone) hearing aids

• Some direct to aids from several manufacturers

• Some to a “gateway” device

26

Questions?

• Now

I’ll stay as long as you like

• Later

Email me at steve.barber@earthlink.net