Hearing amplifiers and other types of hearing aid
Not everyone with diminished hearing needs (or wants) to wear a conventional hearing aid and when this is the case there are other options.
One of these options is to try and heighten hearing awareness and the brain’s ability to interpret any sounds that it processes. For more information on this refer to this Hearing re-training page.
A second option is to use a hearing amplifier or special audio equipment like a volume adjustable phone. Doing this can postpone or remove the need for a hearing aid in certain situations.
Hearing amplifiers
Hearing amplifiers come in a number of forms and with general and specific applications.
The most common hearing amplifier is one that combines a small portable case with headphones. The case, which contains all of the electronics and the battery, can usually be attached to a pocket top or lapel.
These amplifiers work by boosting sound levels which are then sent to small earphones via wires. They look very similar to MP3 players and, for this reason, they are not normally associated with hearing aids. They can be used for conversations, watching TV, or listening to music and the volume can be adjusted to the listener’s desired level.
T setting amplifier
There are a number of hearing amplifiers that can work in conjunction with the T-setting of a conventional hearing aid. The "T" stands for "telecoil" and it is sometimes referred to as "loop induction" or "coil induction". When this is the case it is possible to wirelessly connect the hearing amplifier directly to a hearing aid via an induction loop (more below). When using this type of hearing amplifier with an induction loop and the T-setting on a conventional hearing aid, sound features like volume and tone control can be controlled directly from the amplifier.
The T setting on a hearing aid enables the hearing aid to detect transmitted audio sources without any background noise, i.e. it picks up a direct sound signal. This can be very useful if watching the TV with other family members, or when in busy or noisy environments that use the telecoil system.
Examples of public places that have adopted the telecoil or loop induction system vary from country to country with the USA lagging behind some European nations. However, in Northern Europe and the UK this T setting feature can normally be used in such places as theatres, churches, airports and railway stations etc.
The T-setting will only work with hearing aids that have both the standard (M) and induction loop T setting. Many of the micro hearing aids, e.g. CIC and ITC, do not have this option, mainly because of the limitations of their size. If your hearing aid does have a T-setting option it will be necessary for you to manually switch the hearing aid from the M-setting to the T-setting in order to use this facility.
Phone amplifiers
Whilst some hard-of-hearing people find the volume adjustment available on a telephone handset adequate, many do not and this is where a telephone amplifier can be valuable.
A phone amplifier is a simple device that attaches to the ear piece section of a handset and boosts the volume. This increase in volume may be a direct boost to the speakers audible sound output, or it may use the T-setting of a hearing aid (as described above) for hearing aid wearers.
These small amplifiers normally use standard batteries and a strap or elastic fitting holds them firmly in place.
Telephone ringer amplifier
Being able to hear the person at the other end of the line whilst using a phone is no good if you cannot hear the phone ring in the first place.
Ringer amplifiers produce a very loud "phone ringing alert" noise that can be heard by most people, even if their hearing is impaired.
Normally this loud ring is accompanied by a flashing light or strobe.
Phone ringer amplifiers should come with a reasonable length of cable to allow their placement in the visual field of the hearing impaired person. The noise level of one of these amplifiers can reach 90 dB. They are powered by normal batteries.
