Assistive Listening Devices for the Hearing Impaired and beyond Hearing Aids

Feb. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- Devices enabled for someone to hear better. Examples: hearing aids, personal FM units, sound field FM systems, telephone text device (TTD), closed captioned TV, mild-gain hardware systems.
Beyond Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are often helpful for may hearing impaired individuals, however there are times when more assistance is needed.. Specific situations may call for specialized items such as a smoke detector with a flashing strobe light, personal FM systems to be used in a movie theater etc.
Assistive Devices for the Hearing-Impaired
1.   Telephone equipment includes amplified telephones, amplified telephone accessories, speaker phones, cellular products, emergency calling system
2.   Alerting and signaling devices: designed to monitor sound such as a doorbell, door knock, baby cry, alarm clock, telephone ring, smoke detector and more
3.   Assistive Listening devices: amplification system designed to help people hear better in a variety of difficult listening situations. Includes personal, FM, loop, infrared and more.
Facts About Hearing Loss
•   Ear infections, noise, and aging can cause hearing loss
•   All babies should be screened for hearing loss
•   Even slight or temporary hearing loss can affect learning
•   Ear protection helps prevent hearing loss if used properly
•   Most people with hearing loss can be helped
•   Hearing aids are now smaller and smarter
If youve been looking for the best place to go to get advice on all aspects of hearing aids then look no further. Not only do we publish the most competitive prices around but we can put you in touch with the right person locally to provide outstanding service and aftercare. Just go to http://www.hearingaidsdelhi.com today or call 0091 9810074489 (New Delhi, India)

Guidelines for Communicating With a Hard of Hearing Person
•   Face the individual and gain his/her attention before speaking.
•   Do not put obstacles in front of your mouth.
•   Speak clearly and at moderate pace. Do not shout.
•   Rephrase when you are not understood.
•   Move to a quieter area to talk if there is background noise.
•   Provide written instruction when needed.
•   Do not speak from another room or across a room.
•   When in doubt, ASK the hard of hearing person for suggestions to improve communication.
Home Improvements for the Hearing Impaired
Improving the acoustics of a home to accommodate a hearing impaired person improves the quality of that person’s life. It increases the livability of the home and broadens the hearing impaired person’s opportunities to participate in family activities. Improving acoustics can keep the hearing impaired individual from feeling left out. It helps bring them back into the life of the family, back into the loop of conversation.
Lighting
Lighting that is inadequate or from the wrong direction can adversely affect a hearing impaired persons ability to understand a speaker because that cannot see the speakers face and lips clearly.
•   the room must be well-lit
•   the light should shine directly at the speaker and away from the hearing impaired individuals eyes
•   the room needs to be bright; one or two table lamps are not enough
•   adjust seating arrangements to take advantage of the light
•   do not put a sofa against a wall with a window in it (the window will back light anyone sitting in front of them making it difficult to see the speakers face)
•   move couch at ninety degree angle to the window or to face the window
•   arrange the rest of the furniture to face the other available light sources
•   at night or in dark rooms with few windows use track lighting (may be portable or built in)
•   may use individual spot lights that swivel, if you only need to light one or two particular areas
Furniture
Furniture that absorbs sound should be selected and seating arrangements must be taken into consideration.
•   use cloth covered padded furniture or add pillows
•   use small conversation areas situated away from fans, air-conditioning units or heaters
•   must be able to move chairs closer to speaker or to take advantage of lighting
•   arrange seating so that the hearing impaired individual can see all the speakers
•   position so that the hearing impaired individual’s back is to the light and the light is on the speaker
•   if bedroom furniture is arranged (and cannot be moved) so that the hearing impaired person cannot see the door, hang a mirror on the wall that will help him/her to see when someone has entered
•   use small dining table with hearing impaired individual seated with his/her back to the light source
•   table should be situated in a quiet area away from other diners and/or noise sources.
Offices
The furniture in your offices can be arranged to benefit your hearing impaired residents and/or staff members
•   do not force hearing impaired individual to talk across a large desk
•   walk around the desk to greet him/her
•   have two extra chairs in the room so you can sit face to face with no barriers between you.
Acoustics
Acoustics refers to the way in which specific areas treat sounds. For example, a place with bad acoustics in one in which sound echo. (Bathrooms, kitchens, large workrooms and many offices because of their metal, linoleum, and ceramic surfaces; their bare wall; and lack of curtains.) They echo sound of speaker as well as the sound of a shoe scuffing, a cough, water running, water gurgling, and machines running.
•   cover metal Venetian blinds with cloth window shades
•   use curtains/drapes
•   use carpeting or rugs
•   use framed artwork, wall hangings, tapestry, small rugs, blankets, quilts
•   place bookcases (with books in them) along bare walls
•   use acoustical tile ceilings if possible
Noise:

While we may have become so accustomed to environmental noise that we have tuned it out, it poises a real problem to hearing impaired individuals and can significantly affect their ability to understand conversation.
•   become aware of background noises that may tend to blur speech input and work around it as much as possible
•   setup conversation areas away from sound sources such as TVs, air conditioners
•   do not try to hold conversations in a bathroom or kitchen, a basement, a noisy work area, on a busy street, in a crowded restaurant, or anywhere the combination of background noise and poor acoustics can overwhelm the listener
The above recommendations do not require a major financial investment. Many of them refer to a simple rearrangement of the environment. Other suggestions include items which may already be found on the cottage or may be purchased at low cost.

If youve been looking for the best place to go to get advice on all aspects of hearing aids then look no further. Not only do we publish the most competitive prices around but we can put you in touch with the right person locally to provide outstanding service and aftercare. Just go to http://www.hearingaidsdelhi.com today or call 0091 9810074489 (New Delhi, India)

Center for Hearing Aids
http://www.hearingaidsdelhi.com

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Center for Hearing Aids is the leader in the field of custom hearing aids, complete ear check up for proper audio perception, hearing aid accessories, all types of hearing aids services and fittings.
Visit us at : http://www.hearingaidsdelhi.com