1. Why do we need Assistive Listening? User Interface Options
ALD Introduction
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

2. Hearing Aids and CIs Best in Quiet and Close
Why We Need ALDs
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

3. The Big Three Distance Noise Reverberation
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.

4. Reverberation Reverberation and echos reduce speech intelligibility
Loops solve the problems of distance, of background noise and of reverberations. Sound doesn’t travel in a straight line to your ears, it bounces all around and arrives at different times. That makes it very hard to understand, especially if you have some hearing loss. Using your telecoils in a looped facilitiy, the sound goes straight into your hearing aid and you can turn off your hearing aid microphones so you don’t hear background noise.
Reverberation and echos reduce speech intelligibility

5. The TV from Across the Room On the Phone In the car
Hearing Your Best
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

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

7. Other Input Paths
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

8. Headphones (no Hearing Aids or Cis or telecoils)
Interface Options
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)

9. Pocketalker (or similar) Wired Connect Via
Personal Amplifiers
Pocketalker (or similar)
Wired
Connect Via
Neckloop
Silhouettes
DAI
Headphones
~$140

10. Transmit sound from transmitter to receiver by FM radio.
Personal FM Solutions
Transmit sound from transmitter to receiver by FM radio.
Directional Microphones
You choice of Interface

11. Transmit sound from transmitter to receiver by Infrared light.
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. Bluetooth 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 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

15. Bluetooth NFMI

16. Bluetooth Analog

17. Bluetooth Good Possible issues 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. Assistive Listening SystemsFM IR
Loops
Installation
Permanent
Portable
Movies, Auditoriums, Theaters, Stadiums, Churches, Classrooms,

19. Stereo (2 ring, 3 sections) Cell Phone (3 rings, 4 sections)
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
Jack commonly refers to a connector often with the female electrical contact or socket, and is the "more fixed" connector of a connector pair. Plug commonly refers to a movable connector, often (but not always) with the male electrical contact or pin, and is the movable (less fixed) connector of a connector pair.

20. Place a good mic near the TV
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

21. Patching to a TV Then with appropriate adaptor
to your favorite interface
Bluetooth TV adaptor FM
InfraRed
Stereo System
Room Loop
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 Websites IR Loops ALDs www.aldlocator.com

23. Resources www.ncatp.org www.ncdhhs.gov/dsdhh/ www.nchearingloss.org
Information
Trial equipment
Regional Centers
Equipment Distribution
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. I’ll stay as long as you like Later
Questions?
Now
I’ll stay as long as you like
Later
me at