Technical Devices

Living in a world which relies heavily on communication, hard of hearing people often find themselves excluded from conversation at home, in the work place, and social settings. However, there are many technical devices that make communication easier.

CHHA-NL provides a loan program for many types of assistive technology. 

Assistive Listening Devices

Telephone Devices

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone over a century ago, he was actually attempting to develop an assistive listening device for the hearing impaired. Ironically, Bell's telephone, while improving communication for most people, is often a major source of frustration for the hearing impaired. However, modern technology has provided many devices to facilitate better communication. These devices can be used with or without hearing aids.

The type of device selected will depend on:

The Compatible Telephone
A flux coil in the ear piece of a telephone makes it compatible with a hearing aid which has a telephone switch. With the switch turned to the "T" position and the volume control adjusted, the incoming voice is amplified, and background noises are practically eliminated. All telephones manufactured or sold in Canada are required to be hearing aid compatible.
In-Line Amplifiers
These add-on amplifiers attach to corded phones to increase the incoming volume.  Some models also feature tone control adjustment. Amplifiers can be battery powered or AC powered.
Telephones with Built-in Amplifiers
These telephones can be used with or without a hearing aid and the volume can be controlled at a level that is comfortable for the user. The volume control switch located on the underside of the receiver can be adjusted to a higher or lower volume. Hearing impaired people can use the telephone by adjusting the volume upwards. People with normal hearing can use it at a lower setting.
Portable Amplifiers
Compact portable amplifiers with and without flux coils are available and can be used with most telephones. They can be carried in a pocket or handbag and fitted over the receiver of most telephones.
Telephone Relay Systems
For those with more severe losses who are unable to hear and/or speak on the phone, there is the TTY (teletype) device, also referred to as TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf) and TT (teletext). The individual using a TTY can call another individual who has a similar machine. When the message is typed into the teletype machine, the person on the other end will receive the message typed through on their machines. They can then type a message back to the sender. Fire departments and police stations have TTY's so that emergency calls can be received from hearing impaired people.

Most provinces now have Telephone Relay Operators on duty 24 hours. This service allows the hard of hearing person to call the relay operator using a TTY and the operator then relays this information verbally to the person being called. The operator then relays the conversation to the hard of hearing person through typing in the TTY. This service is free of charge.
Voice-Over Relay System
For people who are late-deafened and prefer to use their own voice in TTY calls, the can use the Voice-Assisted or Voice-Over Relay. When placing a TTY call, the deafened person should advise the Relay operator that he/she wishes to place a voice assisted call. This consists of speaking into the mouthpiece directly to the other person and receiving the other person's speech via typing by the relay operator. If this Voice-Over option is not yet available in your area, ask the area telephone company to provide it.

Individual Listening Systems

One-to-One Conversation
Some hard of hearing people find it difficult to communicate in one to one conversation even with the help of a hearing aid and quiet surroundings. Several devices are available to help these situations. These one-on-one devices are ideal for:
  • conversations in noisy environments
  • patient care situations
  • very elderly people who can't or won't wear a hearing aid
Direct audio input
Audio is transmitted directly into hearing aids through jacks that attach directly on the aid. Because the signal is brought directly to the hearing aids distortion is reduced and clarity is increased.
Individual FM system
An individual FM system consists of a receiver, worn by the hard of hearing person, and a separate remote transmitter with microphone, worn by the speaker. The run on batteries and is more expensive than the audio input but is generally more powerful and versatile.
Individual Infra-Red system
This consists of an infra-red emitter about the size of a small book. Used with an infra-red receiver with a silhouette or neck loop and T-switch hearing aid. It can also be used with a lightweight headset instead of a hearing aid; or a direct audio input cord.
Television
Most hard of hearing people have difficulty hearing the television if it is at normal volume. If they turn it "up" then it is too loud and annoys everybody else. Direct audio input, FM, and infrared systems are very effective ways of alleviating this situation.

Group Listening Systems

Listening in a large hall, church or theatre presents many problems for hard of hearing people. For some, the situation is so difficult they avoid meetings, theatre and concerts. The problems encountered are due to:

There are amplification systems that create a better listening environment for hard of hearing people. They are:

Induction loops, FM systems, and Infra-red systems are all devices that use electromagnetic impulses, radio waves or infrared light to bring sound directly to the user via the T-switch on the hearing aid or by means of a volume controlled handset. The induction loop is compatible to the T-switch directly, whereas the FM and Infra-red systems require that you use an extra accessory such as a neck loop or silhouette, together with the appropriate receiver.

Assistive Signalling Devices

Alerting Devices

Visual alert systems are designed to make activities of daily living easier and safer. There are devices that help you know when:

These devices use loud sounds, flashing lights, or vibrations to draw attention to doorbells, fire alarms, telephone rings, alarm clocks, baby cries, etc. Portable ones such as the Watchman are quite versatile, relatively inexpensive, and can be used just about anywhere.

Captioning

Television Decoder
This is a television converter device about the size of a small VCR, which contains a chip for decoding closed captions. Many televisions on the market now have a decoder chip built in, so no additional device is needed. Captions appear as subtitles at the bottom of the TV screen, or in some cases, at the top of the screen.
Real-Time Captioning for Meetings
For the very hard of hearing and late deafened, who cannot follow speech in a group, print interpreting could be provided. This service includes a captioneer who types at a computer keyboard, with dialogue projected onscreen, to be read by the viewer.