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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

Personal Loops Room loops TV Computer Chairpad loops Tableloops

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

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

Bluetooth NFMI

Bluetooth Analog

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

Assistive Listening Systems FM IR Loops Installation Permanent Portable Movies, Auditoriums, Theaters, Stadiums, Churches, Classrooms,

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.

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

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.

Finding Systems Signs Websites IR Loops ALDs www.aldlocator.com www.loopamerica.org http://www.americanhearingloop.com/hearing-loop-locations.html www.captionfish.com http://www.hearinglossweb.com/tech/ald/loop/loop.htm

Resources www.ncatp.org www.ncdhhs.gov/dsdhh/ www.nchearingloss.org Information Trial equipment www.ncdhhs.gov/dsdhh/ Regional Centers Equipment Distribution www.nchearingloss.org Glossary defines terms HLAA Conventions Don’t miss the exhibit area

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.

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

I’ll stay as long as you like Later Questions? Now I’ll stay as long as you like Later Email me at steve.barber@earthlink.net