The Right Assistive Listening Devices for You & Your Loved One

Individuals with a hearing loss are able to continue their active and independent lifestyle through the use of hearing aids, but there are situations and circumstances when hearing aids don’t do enough.

Assistive listening devices (ALD) main image

Denton Hearing Health Care understands that some of our patients need something to enhance what their hearing aids do in order for them to enjoy a better hearing experience and a richer quality of life. We also understand that some individuals aren’t quite ready for hearing aids.

Along with fitting our patients with hearing aids and providing ongoing support, we provide assistive hearing technology to boost their ability to communicate in public and private settings by filling in the gaps.

Assistive hearing technology includes two different types of devices: assistive listening devices (ALD) and assistive listening systems (ALS).

ALD Hearing Devices

In general, ALD enhances personal connections to audio sources for telephones, music, and TV as well as visual, tactile alerting, or alarms.

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Amplified and Captioned Telephones

Specifically designed for people with a hearing loss, amplified devices allow you to turn up the volume on your telephone in order to hear speech clearly with or without hearing aids, and they often come with amplified ringtones, so you’ll never miss a call.

Rather than amplification, captioned phones provide real-time captioning, like the closed captions you see on TV, and are particularly helpful for people with a severe to profound hearing loss.

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Hearing Aid Compatible Phones and Telecoils

By law, telephone manufacturers, including iPhone and Android smartphones, must make phones compatible with hearing aids. Hearing aid compatible phones use either acoustic coupling, which amplifies sounds from the phone as well as any noise around you, or telecoil coupling, which requires a special feature that only picks up the phone conversation while blocking out background noise.

Smartphone apps often serve as a type of ALDs, as do captioning apps that provide text transcription for speech.

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ALDs for Televisions

Turning up the volume on your television isn’t always the best option for those around you and it can distort the sound, making it even more difficult to understand. Some television amplifiers work even without hearing aids, such as TV Ears® or a wireless headset with a personal volume control that plugs directly into your TV’s earphone socket.

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Alerting Devices

Alerting devices typically rely on amplified sounds, visual cues, and even vibrations to alert you to sounds in your environment. Some examples are vibrating alarm clocks and doorbell alerts that flash the lights to let you know someone is at your door as well as vibrating and flashing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Assistive Listening Systems for Public Settings

Assistive listening systems (ALSs) are used in public settings, such as a theater, airport, church, or lecture hall. They are mandated and regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and public facilities must post notification of the system at entrances to buildings with ALS.

There are three approved types of assistive listening systems:

HEARING LOOPS

RADIO FREQUENCY

INFRARED SYSTEM

Hearing Loops (aka induction loops or audio frequency induction loop systems). They include a system of copper wire placed within a room, theater, or counter connected via a special loop “driver” to a public address or sound system. Sound is wirelessly transmitted via small changes in the magnetic field and is directed into the telecoil of hearing aids, cochlear implants, or telecoil receivers worn on the body.

FM or DM Systems (radio frequency assistive listening systems). This type of ALS transmits wireless, low-power FM frequency radio transmission from a sound system to FM receivers. Using the system requires a receiver and either headphones or a neckloop, but those with telecoil-equipped hearing aids or neckloops do not need headphones.

Infrared Systems (IR). Speech or sound transmission from a public address system uses invisible infrared light waves which are transmitted to an IR receiver. This technology requires line-of-sight and is interrupted in direct sunlight.

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J A.
 Excellent in every way. I have been treated by Dr.Katie Bessent since 2014 and she is one of the most patient person I have ever come across. She listens to all my auditory needs and tries to help me out - every single time. I do not think I could have received better care anywhere else. So thankful. And wonderful front desk people too. 
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Francisco L.
 I know the Caudles from their work with developmentally disabled people who live in the area and have always been impressed with their treatment and their success with these special people. So when I knew I needed help with hearing problems I went to Denton Hearing Health Care. As a patient I have only met with Katie, but she is as good as they come. I am so happy with the care I receive. Their follow up service is incredible. This is just an excellent group of professionals. 
Linda W.
 Katie Bessent was amazing! She was kind and patient with my special needs son. He took to her immediately. She was able to examine his ears and do a hearing test. We were in and out in under 20 minutes. I highly recommend her. In the past (at our ENT office) my son has been too scared to comply, so this was a huge deal for us. Thanks Dr. Bessent! 
meag B.
 My daughter and I both go to see Dr. Katie Bessent, been with her for almost 4 years! She is awesome! So great with my daughter. She was only 10 months old when we came to see her the first time. Thanks Katie for all you do! 
Callie S.
 I have had hearing aids for 25 years. to get an exceptional Audiologist i was going to Dallas for years. I heard of Chris Caudle and made an appointment. Chris is one of those people that is truly concerned about the quality of hearing his patients are experiencing. i have been very satisfied with the care i have received and plan to continue with the Caudles' as my Audiologist in the future. 
Dalton A.

Assistive Listening Technology Available from Denton Hearing Health Care

CapTel

This is the ideal solution for people with some degree of hearing loss. It works like any other telephone but displays a text version of every word the caller says throughout the conversation, allowing the user to both listen to the caller and read the written captions in the display window.

Set up involves connecting a phone line to your device and plugging it in, or you can use it along with your high-speed internet service.

LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement)

Designed by leading audiologists at the University of California, San Francisco and developed by Silicon Valley software veterans, LACE auditory training programs retrain the brain to comprehend speech up to 40% better in difficult listening situations, such as:

Noisy restaurants
Rapid speakers
Competing speakers

LACE can help you develop skills and learn strategies for dealing with situations when hearing is inadequate in the same way physical therapy helps you rebuild muscles and adjust movements to compensate for physical weakness or an injury.

LACE training is accessible from any modern web browser with an internet connection on Apple and Windows computers as well as iOS and Android devices.

An ALD user controlling volume through his mobile phone

Ask Denton Hearing Health Care about Assistive Hearing Technology

Hearing aid technology provides a solution to hearing loss for most individuals, but if you have unique needs that aren’t addressed by your hearing aids, or you aren’t yet ready for hearing aids, Denton Hearing Health Care provides assistive listening devices or systems to enhance private or public communication.

To learn more about the assistive hearing technology available from us, fill out and submit the adjacent form to contact one of our team members who is able to address your questions or concerns.

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