Transcript 7.13 ALDs -Morrisx

Assistive Listening Devices: Why,
When, and Which One?
AHEAD Conference/
pepnet 2 Training Institute
June 2016
Your Presenter
Becky Morris,
Hearing Loss Assistive Technology Consultant
Independence, Kentucky
Hearing Loss in the United States
• Third most common physical condition after arthritis and heart
disease.
• One in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30
million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears.
• Apprx. 15 percent of Americans (26 million people) between
the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to
noise exposure at work or during leisure activities. (NIDCD estimate)
• Sudden, noise-induced hearing loss from gunfire and
explosions is the number one disability caused by combat in
current wars.
• In the United States, roughly 58,000 cochlear implant devices
have been implanted in adults and 38,000 in children (as of
Dec.2012).
Why Hearing Aids and Cochlear
Implants May Not Be Enough
Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
• Hearing aid and cochlear implant (CI)
technology processes sound from a
microphone at ear level and delivers sound
into the ear at prescribed amplification levels.
• Even with all the recent technological
advances, these devices don’t perform well in
all situations.
• Environmental factors challenge how well the
hearing aid/CI perform.
Factors Affecting Speech
Recognition
Reverberation
caused by reflective walls
presents an acoustic challenge.
Sound is distorted.
No Reverberation
(Adapted from Olsen, 1988) – Courtesy Sam Atcherson, Ph.D.
Reverberation
(Adapted from Olsen, 1988) – Courtesy of Sam Atcherson, Ph.D.
Effect of Reverberation on Speech:
A Visual Example
No Reverberation
Low Reverberation
Moderate Reverberation
Too Much Reverberation
Courtesy: Sam Atcherson, Ph.D.
Factors Affecting Speech
Recognition
Factors Affecting Speech
Recognition
More Factors Affecting Speech
Recognition
•
•
•
•
Student Fatigue.
Interactive class discussions (multiple speakers).
Is the sound level loud enough?
Is the sound level louder than competing
background noise?
• Is the sound level consistent throughout the
room?
Audiogram and Everyday Sounds
125 250 500
Normal threshold
Breathing
Whispering
30
Food blender
50
60
70
80
90
Power tools
100
110
Busy street
8000
0
10
20
40
Speech
1000 2000 4000
f
z v
j mdb
n
ng
e i
u
th
i a
o
r
ph
g
ch
sh
k
s
Visual Example of How Speech Sounds are
Heard by Person with Hearing Loss
Photo credit - PA Hands and Voices
Hearing Assistive Technology
and ALDs
ALD Benefits
• ALDs use a remote microphone to pick up the
desired sound source and deliver it to the
hearing aid/CI via some type of connection.
• Offers consistent sound signal regardless of
distance.
• Overcomes challenges of reverberation and
background noise.
• Some describe ALDs as “binoculars for the
ears”.
How ALDs Work
SPEECH
SPEECH
SPEECH
SPEECH
SPEECH
SPEECH
Microphone
Transmitter
Receiver
Courtesy Sam Atcherson, Ph.D.
3 Types of ALDs
Permanent
Portable
Personal/Miniature
3 Types of ALDs
• Permanent (Large Area) system installed with
PA system
– FM
– Infrared
– Room Loop
• Portable FM system
• Personal systems dependent on specific
hearing aid manufacturer
Permanent ALD Systems
Large Area systems use a transmitter
connected to an existing PA system.
•
Infrared and FM systems use a receiver
listening option for connection to the
hearing aid/CI.
•
Room Loops Use TELECOIL in hearing
aid/cochlear implant.
Large Area FM Systems
Manufacturers:
Williams Sound and Listen Technologies
LT-L02 Basic FM Listening System
from Listen Technologies.
1500 ft. range
Personal PA 377 FM
Listening System from
Williams Sound.
1000 ft. range
Large Area Infrared Systems
Two Manufacturers:
Williams Sound and Listen Technologies
LS-90 ListenIR iDSP Level I System.
Up to 50 seat range.
WIR TX75 PRO System
Room Loops
Portable FM Systems
For Mild – Moderate Loss
Williams Sound PFM Pro (Motiva, Hearing Helper)
Portable FM Systems
For Mild – Moderate Loss
Listen Technologies Systems
Portable FM/Digital System
For Mild – Moderate Loss
Williams Sound Digiwave 300
Portable FM/Digital System
For Mild – Moderate Loss
Comfort Audio Contego
Omni
Directional
Portable FM System
For Severe to Profound Loss
Comtek AT216
Portable Receiver
Listening Options
For People without Hearing Aids
Earbud
Dual
Earbud
Headphones
Earphone
Portable Receiver Listening
Options
Hearing Aids/CI Speech Processors w/telecoils
Behind-the-Ear Aid
w/telecoil
Neckloop
Ear Level Speech
Processor w/telecoil
Photos courtesy of Beltone, Cochlear Corp, Listen,
Telecoils
• An option built-into a majority of hearing aids.
• Uses induction to pick up a sound signal.
• Is a recognized universal method to receive
sound.
• Neckloops and Room Loops create the signal
for the telecoil to pick up.
Personal FM Systems
• Systems include a body worn transmitter and
miniature receiver.
• Works only with BTE hearing aids or CI.
• Good for group listening because hearing aid
microphone can remain ON.
• Can plug into some streamer devices.
• Best option for many people with severe-toprofound hearing loss.
Personal FM System
From Phonak
Roger Pen, Roger
EasyPen, RogerMic
MyLink Neckloop
Receiver
Roger MLXi
Receiver
Assistive Listening Systems with
Multiple Microphone Options
Phonak – up to 10 Roger Pens/Clip-on
Mics
Williams Sound DigiWave
System
Assistive Listening Systems for
Severe-to-Profound Hearing Loss
Phonak
Comtek
Which One Do I Choose?
User Considerations
• User’s previous
experience with ALDs.
• Level of hearing loss.
• Hearing aid or cochlear
implant model.
• Telecoil programmed?
Classroom Considerations
• Size of lecture
hall/classroom.
• Is PA system set up in
class.
• Single speaker vs.
multiple speakers.
• Lecture vs. class
interactions.
The Student Who Wants to Use
Bluetooth
Only 2 hearing aid
models have Bluetooth
Built-into the aid. (Linx2
and Halo)
These 2 models pick-up
the Bluetooth signal from
cell phones that they
have been paired with.
They do not function as a
traditional style ALD (or
FM system).
Streamers
• Device that uses Bluetooth to connect to cell
phones or other Bluetooth enabled devices.
• Must be worn around the neck like a neckloop
or in a shirt pocket. (close proximity to ha/ci).
• Delivers sound to a receiver built-into the
hearing aid/cochlear implant.
• Accessories include small remote mics and TV
connectors.
• (works similar to a neckloop)
Streamers Are Not Universal
• They are manufacturer specific. (Oticon
hearing aids cannot use a Phonak streamer.)
• An audiologist must program the streamer to
the hearing aids.
• Streamer accessories like remote microphones
are also manufacturer specific.
• Accessories use proprietary programming.
(They are not universal.)
Streamers Are Personal Devices
While the streamers are generally considered
personal devices, many of them can, in fact,
connect to personal FM systems like the
Phonak Roger receiver.
Phonak Roger FM and Compilot
Streamer
Only 2 Streamers Can Connect
4 Streamers Cannot Connect
Amplified Stethoscopes
Thinklabs ONE
Cardionics Viscope
Cardionics Escopes
Other Questions?
Contact Information
[email protected]
859-992-3794 (email preferred)