Do you know what a cyborg is? You most likely imagine a half human, half machine when you think about cyborgs, particularly if you love science fiction movies (these characters are typically cleverly used to comment on the human condition). Hollywood cyborgs can seem wildly bizarre.
But actually, somebody wearing something as simple as a pair of glasses could be considered a cyborg. After all, biology has been upgraded with technology.
The human experience is usually enhanced with these technologies. So, if you’re wearing an assistive listening device, like a hearing aid, you’re the coolest kind of cyborg in the world. And there’s much more technology where that comes from.
Hearing loss negative aspects
There are definitely some drawbacks that come with hearing loss.
When you go to see a movie, it can be difficult to keep up with the plot. It’s even more challenging to understand what your grandkids are talking about (part of this is because you have no idea what K-pop is, and you never will, but mostly it’s due to hearing loss). And it can be profound (and often negative) how much your life can be affected.
Left unchecked, the world can get pretty quiet. That’s where technology has a role to play.
How can hearing loss be managed with technology?
Broadly speaking, technology that helps you have better hearing is lumped into the category of “assistive listening devices”. That sounds pretty technical, right? The question may arise: exactly what are assistive listening devices? Where can I buy assistive listening devices? Are there challenges to utilizing assistive listening devices?
These questions are all normal.
Typically, hearing aids are what we think of when we consider hearing aid technology. That’s logical, as hearing aids are an essential part of dealing with hearing loss. But they’re also just the start, there are many types of assistive hearing devices. And, used correctly, these hearing devices can help you more fully enjoy the world around you.
What are the different types of assistive listening devices?
Induction loops
Often called a “hearing loop,” the technology of an induction loop sounds really complicated (there are electromagnetic fields involved). Here are the basics: people who wear hearing aids can hear more clearly in locations with a hearing loop which are usually well marked with signage.
A speaker will sound clearer due to the magnetic fields in a hearing loop. Induction loops are good for:
- Locations that tend to have a lot of echoes or have poor acoustics.
- Events that depend on amplified sound (such as presentations or even movies).
- Lobbies, waiting rooms, and other noisy settings.
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 needed for this kind of system to work. FM systems are great for:
- Anywhere that is loud and noisy, particularly where that noise makes it challenging to hear.
- Anyone who wants to listen to sound systems that use amplification (this includes things like a speaker during a presentation or dialogue during a movie).
- Conferences, classrooms, and other educational events.
- Civil and governmental locations (for example, in courtrooms).
Infrared systems
There are similarities between an infrared system and an FM system. It’s composed of a receiver and an amplifier. With an IR system, the receiver is often worn around your neck (sort of like a lanyard). IR hearing assistance systems are great for:
- Inside environments. Strong sunlight can interfere with the signals from an IR system. So this kind of technology works best in indoor spaces.
- People who use cochlear implants or hearing aids.
- Scenarios where there is one main speaker at a time.
Personal amplifiers
Personal amplifiers are like less specialized and less robust versions of a hearing aid. Generally, they consist of a microphone and a speaker. The microphone picks up sounds and amplifies them through a speaker. Personal amplifiers may seem like a confusing solution since they come in various styles and types.
- You need to be cautious, though, these devices can expedite the decline of your hearing, particularly if you aren’t careful. (You’re essentially putting a super loud speaker right in your ear, after all.)
- Before you use any type of personal amplifier, speak with us about it first.
- For individuals who only require amplification in specific circumstances or have very slight hearing loss, these devices would be a practical choice.
Amplified phones
Hearing aids and phones sometimes have trouble with one another. Sometimes there’s feedback, sometimes things become a bit garbled, sometimes you can’t have a hard time getting the volume quite right.
One solution for this is an amplified phone. These devices give you control over the volume of the phone’s speaker, so you can make it as loud or quiet as you want, depending on the situation. Here are some things that these devices are good for:
- People who only have a difficult time hearing or understanding conversations over the phone.
- Families where the phone is used by several people.
- People who don’t have their phone synced to their Bluetooth hearing aid (or who don’t have Bluetooth available on either their hearing aids or their principal telephone).
Alerting devices
Sometimes called signalers or notification devices, alerting devices utilize lights, vibration, or sometimes loud noises to get your attention when something occurs. For instance, when the doorbell dings, the phone rings, or the microwave bings. So when something around your workplace or home needs your attention, even without your hearing aids, you’ll be conscious of it.
Alerting devices are a good solution for:
- Home and office spaces.
- When you take breaks from your hearing aids.
- Anybody whose hearing is completely or almost completely gone.
- Circumstances where lack of attention could be dangerous (for example, when a smoke alarm sounds).
Telecoils
Once again, we come back to the sometimes frustrating link between your telephone and your hearing aid. The feedback that happens when two speakers are put in front of each other is not pleasant. When you put a hearing aid close to a phone, the same thing happens.
That connection can be avoided by a telecoil. It will link up your hearing aid to your phone directly, so you can hear all of your conversations without interference or feedback. They’re good for:
- Anyone who isn’t connected to Bluetooth in any way.
- People who use the phone frequently.
- People who have hearing aids.
Captioning
Nowadays, it has become fairly commonplace for people to use captions and subtitles to enjoy media. You will find captions pretty much everywhere! Why? Because they make what you’re watching a bit easier to understand.
For individuals with 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 where can you get assistive listening devices? This question indicates a recognition of the advantages of these technologies for people who use hearing aids.
To be sure, not every strategy is right for every individual. If you have a cell phone with easy-to-use volume control, you may not need an amplifying phone, for example. A telecoil might not even work for you if you don’t have the right type of hearing aid.
The point is that you have possibilities. You can personalize the kind of amazing 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 movie theater or the conversation with your grandkids.
Hearing Assistive Technology can help you hear better in some situations but not all. If you want to hear better, call us today!
