Title: Assistive Listening Technology Phoenix College Interpreter Training Program
1Assistive Listening TechnologyPhoenix College
Interpreter Training Program
S. Randall Collins Director Arizona Technology
Access Program Northern Arizona University
16 September 2009
2Overview
- Deaf, Hard of Hearing Their Differences
- Hearing Aids
- Home Modification
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Telecommunication
- Manual Communication
3Hearing Loss Statistics - Hearing loss is the
number one disability in the world. - Hearing
loss is the most preventable disability in the
world. - Number of people who need hearing
aids 25 million - Number of people who own
hearing aids 5 million - Nearly 90 of people
over age 80 have a hearing loss. - The hearing
aid is the second most widely used assistive
technological device. - of inductees into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a hearing loss
60 - Etiology Noise 33.7
Age 28 Infection or
injury 17.1 Birth 4.4 of
people who lose their hearing before age 3 5.4
of people who lose their hearing between 3
and 18 14.2 of people who lose their
hearing at age 19 and over 76.3
Source bhNews listerve
4As a result of our aging population, between 1990
and 2050 the number of hearing-impaired Americans
will increase at a faster rate than the total
U.S. population. Every seven seconds, a baby
boomer turns 50.
5Individuals who are Hard of Hearing
- Hearing loss
- Monaural or binaural
- severity (dB) and frequency (Hz)
- may fluctuate or be progressive
- Denial
- Losing ability to communicate
- Low acceptance of hearing aids
- Knowledge of and comfort with ALDs
6Individuals Who Are Deaf
- Sign language is their native language
- Onset of loss usually pre-lingual
- May wear hearing aids
- Proud to be Deaf
- Self advocates for assistive technology
7Some people Start Their Day With Sadness,
Depression, Anxiety, Paranoia, Social Isolation,
Frustration, Anger, Insecurity, and Poor Self-
Esteem.
- Many perhaps most of these people dont
have to! Unfortunately many of them have been
stigmatized into not giving the solution a chance.
8Isnt the Hearing Aid Enough?
Individuals who have a hearing loss have much
more difficulty with intelligibility than those
with no loss.
Listening Devices Hearing Aid behind the ear
In the Canal Completely in the Canal, T-switch
or T-coil
Once the person with a hearing loss perceives the
sound, that person must still interpret sound to
understand it.
9Do hearing aids make that much difference in a
persons life?
- Improvement Aids users reporting Family
reporting - Relations, home 56
66 - Feelings, self 50
60 - Life overall 48
62 - Relations, family 40
52 - Mental health 36
39 - Self-confidence 39
46 - Senses of Safety 34
37 - Social life
34 41 - Relations, work 26
43 - Sex life
8 NA - National Council on Aging
10Phonemic Regression
- As we age even people with normal hearing have
difficulty understanding what is being said.
Accompanying aging is the slowing down of the
rate we process speech. Sometimes comprehension
cannot keep up with content. Added to hearing
loss phonemic regression can make listening very
difficult and very frustrating.
11Secondary Disability As a Consequence of Hearing
Loss
A secondary disability can be a self-imposed
additional condition or an exacerbation of a
primary physical, cognitive, or psychological
disability caused by experiences relating to the
primary disability.
Could lead to
- A perception of a greater primary disability than
is actually the case - Unnecessary/irrational lifestyle changes
- Intermittent depression and even total surrender
12Hearing Loss and Loss of Focus The Downward
Spiral
Cant hear, feeling inadequate because of hearing
loss
Less informed, less involved
Less informed, less involved
Stop paying attention, withdrawal, tuning out
13Brave New World
- Hearing loss
- Phonemic Regression (as we age)
- Secondary disability
- Speech
What are the ways to greater independence?
14Hearing Friendly Home
- Lined drapery
- Carpeting
- Double paned windows
- Acoustical ceiling (maybe wall) tiles
- Use kitchen appliances at a non social times
- Arrange seating for face to face conversation
- Lighting behind the hoh person
- Closed Captioned TV
15Friendly Home continued
- Flashing doorbell alarm
- Flashing fire alarms
- Flashing phone alarms
- Vibrating alarm clock
- Vibrating wireless kitchen timer
- Hearing dog
- Pocket Talker
- Sound meter
- Take notes or use a personal digital assistant
16FM Systems(Just Like Oprah!)
FM systems are miniature radios. They broadcast
from a small transmitter on a narrow frequency
band. The person talking wears the transmitter
(Just like Oprah!) and a small mic. The person
listening wears a small receiver that is
connected to a neck loop, a silhouette, or
headphone.
17FM Systems Continued
- Advantages
- Wireless
- Broadcast distance indoors and outdoors
- Ease of use with PA systems
- Cross disability use LD ADHD Autistic
- Disadvantages
- Need multi-channels if more than one system is
used at a time - Privacy (Can be overheard by radios)
18Infrared Systems(Beam Me Up Scotty!)
Infrared systems look very much like FM systems.
The speaker has a transmitter and mic and the
listener wears a receiver that looks similar to
an FM system. BUT sound is carried on a beam of
infrared light. Just as with FM system listeners
using an infrared system may use a neck loop, a
silhouette or a direct connect if they have a
T-switch on their hearing aid. Or if a student
does not have a T-switch head phones may be used.
19Infrared Systems Continued
- Advantages
- Outstanding sound quality
- No cross feed from other systems
- Privacy Line of sight broadcast only
- Disadvantages
- Limited broadcast distance Out of sight, out of
range - Light diffusion
20Induction Loop System(Everyones In the Loop!)
The Loop system works on the simple process of
electromagnetics. A mic is used to send sound
signals to an amplifier which converts the sound
to electromagnetic energy. A small wire is
connected to a driver (think amplifier), looped
around an area of a room on the floor or in the
ceiling and is connected again to the driver
making a loop through which the sound energy is
carried. People with a T-switch and people using
special loop receivers sitting inside the loop
can hear everything spoken into the microphone.
21Induction Loop System Continued
- Advantages
- Relatively inexpensive system
- For listeners with manual t-switches on their
hearing aid no other device is needed. Auto
t-switches are not compatible. - Disadvantages
- Hardwired system Not as portable as other
systems - Sound quality varies and can drop off in larger
loops
22Sound Field Systems(A Sound Idea In Most Meeting
Rooms)
A sound field system is an FM transmitter the
presenter wears a transmitter and a mic that
broadcasts to a speaker or speaker(s) placed
around the room. Speech is amplified to
approximately 10 to 12 decibels (dB). The sound
field system can be connected to hardwired
speakers or can be broadcast via FM signal
directly to the portable amplifier/speaker.
23Sound Field Systems Continued
- Advantages
- Raises presenters voice above general noise
- Improves signal to noise ratio reducing sound
echoes - Reduces the sound distance between speaker and
listener - Reduces presenter fatigue
24Manual Communication
- Finger Spelling Probably best
- Signed English Difficult to Learn
- American Sign Language Difficult
- Home Signs Good idea and helpful for late
deafened adults
25Turn the TV Down Please!
- Captioning
- Open
- Closed
- Infrared
- Frequency Modulated (FM)
- Self wired system
26Telecommunication Issues
- Using one ear
- Cannot speech read
- Hearing aid compatibility
- Sound quality of phone
- Background noise
27Alerting Devices
These alarms have flashing strobe lights for
people who cannot hear them. The alarms can be
placed anywhere deaf or hard of hearing people
require audible alarms.
- Telephones
- Alarm clocks
- Kitchen timers
- Door bells
- Fire/smoke alarms
28Arizona Telecommunications Equipment Distribution
Program
- Telecommunications devices for hard of hearing,
deaf, speech or deafblind -
- 1. Arizona resident
- 2. Have a hearing or speech loss
- 3. Complete Application and receive training
29CapTel Telephones for Hard of Hearing and Late
Deafened Adults
30How Does the CapTel Phone Work?
31Resources
http//www.delicious.com/Randy_Collins/Phoenix