Do you know what a cyborg is? You most likely imagine a half human, half machine when you think about cyborgs, especially if you love science fiction movies (the human condition is frequently cleverly depicted with these characters). Hollywood cyborgs can seem wildly outlandish.
But the truth is that, technically, anyone who wears a pair of glasses could be viewed as a cyborg. The glasses, after all, are a technology that has been incorporated into biology.
The human condition is generally enhanced with these technologies. Which means, if you’re wearing an assistive listening device, such as a hearing aid, you’re the coolest kind of cyborg in the world. And the best part is that the technology doesn’t end there.
Hearing loss negative aspects
Hearing loss undeniably comes with some drawbacks.
It’s difficult to follow the plot when you go see a movie. 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 because of hearing loss). And it can be profound (and often negative) how much your life can be impacted.
The world can become really quiet if your hearing loss is neglected. This is where technology comes in.
How can hearing loss be addressed with technology?
Broadly speaking, technology that helps you have better hearing is lumped into the category of “assistive listening devices”. Ok, it does sound somewhat technical! You might be thinking: what are assistive listening devices? Is there someplace I can go and buy one of these devices? Are there challenges to utilizing assistive listening devices?
These questions are all standard.
Typically, hearing aids are what we think of when we consider hearing aid technology. That’s reasonable, as hearing aids are a vital part of managing hearing loss. But hearing aids aren’t the only type of assistive hearing device. And, used properly, these hearing devices can help you more fully enjoy the world around you.
What types of assistive listening devices are there?
Induction loops
Often called a “hearing loop,” the technology of an induction loop sounds pretty complex (there are electromagnetic fields involved). Here are the basics: people who wear hearing aids can hear more clearly in places with a hearing loop which are normally well marked with signage.
A speaker will sound clearer due to the magnetic fields in a hearing loop. Induction loops are good for:
- Lobbies, waiting rooms, and other loud places.
- Events that depend on amplified sound (such as presentations or even movies).
- Locations that tend to have lots of echoes or have low-quality acoustics.
FM systems
These FM systems are similar to a walkie-talkie or radio. In order for this system to function, you need two elements: a transmitter (normally a microphone or sound system) and a receiver (often in the form of a hearing aid). Here are a few situations where an FM system will be useful:
- An event where amplified sound is used, including music from a speaker or sound at a movie.
- Education situations, like classrooms or conferences.
- Courtrooms and other government or civil places.
- Anywhere that is loud and noisy, especially where that noise makes it challenging to hear.
Infrared systems
An infrared system is similar to an FM system. There’s an amplifier and a receiver. With an IR system, the receiver is usually worn around your neck (sort of like a lanyard). IR hearing assistance systems are ideal for:
- Individuals who have cochlear implants or hearing aids.
- Scenarios where there’s one primary speaker at a time.
- Indoor environments. IR systems are frequently impacted by strong sunlight. Because of this, inside venues are generally the best ones for this type of technology.
Personal amplifiers
Personal amplifiers are like less specialized and less powerful versions of a hearing aid. They’re generally made of a microphone and a speaker. The microphone picks up sounds and amplifies them through a speaker. Personal amplifiers come in a few different styles and types, which might make them a challenging possible solution.
- For best results, speak with us before using personal amplifiers of any type.
- For people who only need amplification in specific situations or have very slight hearing loss, these devices would be a good option.
- Your basically putting a really loud speaker right inside of your ear so you need to be cautious not to damage your hearing further.
Amplified phones
Hearing aids and phones often have difficulty with each other. Sometimes you have feedback, sometimes things get a little garbled, sometimes you can’t get the volume quite right.
One solution for this is an amplified phone. Depending on the circumstance, these phones allow you to control the volume of the speaker. Here are some things that these devices are good for:
- Individuals who don’t have their phone synced to their Bluetooth hearing aid (or who don’t have Bluetooth offered on either their hearing aids or their primary telephone).
- Households where the phone is used by multiple people.
- When somebody has trouble hearing phone conversations but hears fine in other situations.
Alerting devices
Sometimes called signalers or notification devices, alerting devices utilize lights, vibration, or occasionally loud noises to get your attention when something occurs. For instance, when the doorbell dings, the phone rings, or the microwave bings. This means even if you aren’t wearing your hearing aids, you’ll still be aware when something around your home or office requires your consideration.
Alerting devices are a good solution for:
- Those who have total or near total hearing loss.
- When alarm sounds such as a smoke detector could lead to a dangerous situation.
- Individuals who periodically take off their hearing aids (everyone needs a break now and then).
- When in the office or at home.
Telecoils
So the link (sometimes discouraging) between your hearing aid and phone comes to the front. When you put a speaker up to another speaker, it causes feedback (sometimes painful feedback). This is essentially what happens when you hold a phone speaker close to a hearing aid.
A telecoil is a way to get around that connection. It will connect your hearing aid to your phone directly, so you can listen to all of your conversations without interference or feedback. They’re great for:
- Anybody who uses hearing aids.
- Anyone who frequently talks on the phone.
- Those who do not have access to Bluetooth hearing aids or phones.
Captioning
Nowadays, it has become fairly commonplace for people to use captions and subtitles to enjoy media. Everybody uses captions! Why? Because they make what you’re watching a little easier to understand.
For individuals with hearing loss, captions will help them be able to understand what they’re watching even with loud conversations around them and can work together 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 purchase assistive listening devices? That’s a good question because it means you’ve recognized how all of these technologies can be worthwhile to people who have hearing loss.
To be sure, not every solution is right for every person. For example, you may not need an amplifier if you have a phone with reliable volume control. A telecoil might not even work for you if you don’t have the right kind of hearing aid.
But you have choices 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 understand the dialogue at the movie theater or the conversation with your grandkids.
Some situations will call for assistive listening technology and some won’t. If you’re interested in hearing better, call us today!