Assistive Listening Devicies
The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) requires communication accessibility for those individuals with hearing loss. Use of assistive listening devices by persons with hearing impairment helps to accomplish this goal. There are three types of ALDs: 1) those that assist in face-to-face communication and with listening to the television; 2) those that assist in telephone communication, and 3) those that assist in awareness of environmental sounds. ALDs can be very simple and inexpensive or very elaborate and expensive. For example, an inexpensive portable phone amplifier that runs on batteries can be carried in the pocket or purse by a person with hearing impairment. When that person wants to use the telephone, they simply slip the device over the phone receiver to listen to amplified speech over the telephone. ALDs can be much more elaborate such as listening systems for churches, meeting rooms and classrooms. ALDs should be fit to the individual and delivered by an audiologist who has the professional expertise to make sure the device is compatible for a person’s hearing aid.