1. Liz Kobylak and Ann Liming
Promoting Safety And Independence Through The Use Of Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT)
Liz Kobylak and Ann Liming

2. Introductions
Hearing Loss Association of America, Michigan State Association
Hearing Technologist Resource Specialists:
Ann Liming
Liz Kobylak

3. Overview of the problem
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are often not enough to help people with hearing loss to function independently and with confidence in all aspects of daily life.
Therefore, any hearing assistive device that fosters communication and independence will lead to a more successful and productive quality of life.

4. Three categories of HAT
Alerting
Alarm and signaling devices
Listening
Personal amplifiers, FM Systems, Bluetooth devices
Microphones and coupling devices
TV listening devices
Telecommunication
Telephones
Telephone amplifiers

5. Disclaimers We do not promote specific manufacturers or products.
Some examples are mentioned for informational purposes only.

6. Alerting Devices
Clocks - Provide independence for individuals with hearing loss and reduce stress
Adjustable volume and/or tone controls
Utilize other senses through vibration and/or flashing lights
Operate on electricity with battery back up
Battery operated portable models available

7. Clock Examples
iLuv wireless shaker
SB-1000
Ditto
SB-P100

8. Alerting Devices
Smoke/CO detectors – Provide safety and peace of mind for persons with hearing loss
Increased volume, lower frequency
Utilize other senses through vibration and/or flashing lights
Systems can be customized to specific needs through the use of transmitters and receivers
One bedside option is compatible with existing smoke detectors that emit a T3 signal.

9. Smoke Detector Examples
Sidekick II
Lifetone

10. Alerting Devices
Alerting Systems – Provide alerts of daily home activities for people with hearing loss
Multi-purpose systems utilize loud sound, vibration and flashing lights
Transmitters and receivers can be customized based on individual needs and abilities
Single function devices can offer solutions to specific needs: lamp flashes when phone rings; door knock/chime alerts; motion detector; personal pager; baby cry

11. Alerting Systems Example
Central Alert Notification System
Wearable personal and vibrating remote receivers available
Operating range 200 feet
Bright icons let you know which alarms have gone off
Dual bed shaker output jacks
Two phone jacks for separate telephones/fax/video phone

12. Alerting Systems Example
Personal Pager
Allows the user to summon help with the press of a button.
The receiver can immediately confirm back that a page has been received by pressing the button.
Has three unique alert modes: Bright flasher, adjustable ringtone, and strong vibration.
150 foot range transmits alerts to any location in the house.

13. Listening Devices
Personal Assistive Listening Devices – Provide enhanced sound in a variety of difficult listening environments
Amplifiers – amplify sound close to listener while reducing background noise. Useful in small groups, one-on-one conversations, car and with TV
FM systems – enhance sound in larger environments while also providing wireless one-on- one communication features

14. Needed: T-coils, please!
Telecoils – Improve quality of life for hearing aid users by extending the functionality of hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Cochlear implants (100%) utilize t-coils to maximize effectiveness of this technology to benefit patients.
The same can be accomplished for hearing aid users with proper education of patients about the benefits of t-coil technology so that t-coils are standard for all hearing aids, whether they are activated or not.

15. Public Access With T-coils
Many public places are equipped with HAT
T-coils cross “brand compatibility barriers”
With T-coil, a hearing aid wearer can utilize public ADA accommodations provided through the following:
electromagnetic hearing loop
FM system

16. T-coils Improve Hearing
Computers
Audio devices
Telephones

17. Personal Amplifier Examples
Pocketalkers – Pro & Ultra:
One-to-one conversations,
Indoor/outdoor activities,
TV or radio listening,
Restaurants or small groups,
Listening in a car
All have tone control
Pocketalker Pro
Pocketalker Ultra

18. Personal Amplifier Examples
Pocketalker 2.0
Comfort Duett

19. Personal FM System: Example
Comfort Contego
Sound is picked up by the transmitter and sent to the receiver for improved hearing.
Receiver may be used alone as a personal listener.
Both the transmitter and receiver microphones operate in omni- directional or directional mode.
Transmission is a digital, coded radio signal.

20. Personal FM System: Example
Comfort Contego, Cont.
Transmitter and receiver are paired, making the signal secure and almost impossible to intercept.
The receiver controls the volume of both the transmitter and receiver microphones.
An unlimited number of receivers can be paired with one transmitter
Distance for signal to be transmitted is 75 feet
Cannot pair with other FM systems that use other radio frequencies

21. Personal FM System: Example
Features 17 selectable channels on the MHz band
Operating range of up to 150 feet
Auxiliary Input – broadcast from any audio source with a 3.5mm audio output jack.
Charger - a two slot, drop-in charger and rechargeable batteries are included
Up to 20 hours battery life per charge, recharges in hours.

22. Boosting Performance of ALD’s
Couplers and Microphones –
Provide a variety of options for specified listening solutions

23. Couplers

24. Microphones Impacts the functioning of a listening device
Extends the range a microphone can reach
Can be omnidirectional and directional

25. Listening Devices
TV Listening Devices – Provide people with hearing loss access to information and entertainment of broadcasts
Wireless TV Speaker systems
Bluetooth
Infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) TV Listener
Induction loop

26. TV Speaker System TV Sound Box
Volume control works independently of the TV speaker
Can be used with a headphone jack
Totally wireless, can be taken to another room
Charge speaker on transmitter base
Up to 50 speakers can be used with the transmitter base

27. TV Speaker System Sound of Light Wireless Lamp Speaker
Screw the speaker(s) into any existing light socket and the speakers disappear into the lamp shade
Lighting, volume and power functions are all controlled via remote
Transmits up to a 200 foot range
Works seamlessly with iPod’s, MP3 players, TV’s, computers, home stereos and more
Works with Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs

28. TV Listening Device Q-Link-TV
Allows user to link a variety of audio devices with a Bluetooth receiver.
Automatically reconnects to the last device used
Pairs to a Bluetooth receiver for direct sound
Up to 33 feet working distance
Charging time is 2-3 hours, with full functionality while charging

29. IR or RF TV Listener Infrared (IR) listening systems
Transmit sound by invisible light beams
The infrared signal is limited to line of sight transmission, so there is no spill over from room to room
Not suitable for outdoor use because sunlight and bright incandescent light can be a cause of interference. TVs.

30. RF TV Listener RF Systems General Information for both
Uses a radio frequency transmission
Able to penetrate walls allowing the receivers to be moved from room to room without loss of signal
Range up to 100 m, transmits through walls
General Information for both
Can be connected directly to your TV, or other sound sources
Maximum gain is approximately 125 dB.

31. TV Listening With Loops

32. Telecommunication Devices
Landline phones – Offer persons with hearing loss a variety of options for daily communication which leads to independence
Some available features: adjustable volume controls, visual alert, answering machine, speaker phone, Bluetooth connectivity, audio jack, caller ID, memory dial
Needs of individual users determine the “best” phone: Degree of amplification needed; corded or cordless; manual dexterity; vision loss or other factors

33. Landline Phone Examples
Amplified Cordless
Amplified Corded Bluetooth
Amplified Corded

34. Telecommunication Devices
Captioned Phones – Help people with hearing loss by providing amplification as well as displaying test of the conversation
No charge for phone or service
Verification of hearing loss from provider is needed
Variety of models for consumer to choose
Utilize voice to text technology

35. Captioned Phone Examples
Captel
CaptionCall
Clarity Ensemble

36. Resources HLAA-MI: www.hearingloss-mi.org HLAA: www.hearingloss.org
HTRS:
Liz Kobylak:
Ann Liming:
List of HAT vendors is available on HLAA-MI website under RESOURCES (click Resource Documents) or go to:
content/uploads/2015/04/VendorMfgList_2015Feb-_1_.pdf