Hearing loss is a very common condition that many of us are likely to experience as we get older, although it can happen to anyone at any stage of life. Hearing aids are the most common treatment of choice for most people who have noticed that they are experiencing hearing loss and cannot communicate with loved ones as effectively or enjoy the sounds around them as much as they used to.

However, when it comes to hearing loss, hearing aids are no longer the only game in town; there are a number of assistive technologies that can also be useful for mitigating against hearing loss. By combining their use with the use of hearing aids, you can hear far more clearly and comfortably than ever before.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what assistive technologies are and the benefits of combining hearing aids with them.

What are Assistive Technologies?

Assistive technologies are any tools or devices that can help people who are experiencing hearing loss to hear with more clarity and better communicate with their environment. These devices can range from simple audio amplifiers to advanced hearing assistive technologies.

One of the most popular assistive technologies that your audiologist might recommend is the personal sound amplification product (PSAP). This is a device that amplifies sound to make it much louder and clearer. Many people use these in place of hearing aids, but the fact is they are not as good at helping with hearing loss as actual hearing aids are, although they can be helpful for amplifying sounds for some people when directed by an audiologist.

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the other assistive technologies available which can be used with hearing aids and what benefits they may bring.

Frequency Modulated (FM) Systems

Many people who are experiencing hearing loss use FM systems to transmit sounds directly into their hearing aids through a wireless transmitter. This can be very helpful for people who spend a lot of time in noisy environments where their regular hearing aids may struggle to pick out the sounds as well. For this reason, many children choose to use FM systems when they are in the classroom.

Captioning Devices

Captioning devices are another type of assistive technology that can be used in conjunction with hearing aids. As you might have deduced from the name, captioning devices are a tool that will display text captions for any words that are spoken in the vicinity of the user. This enables hearing aids users to not only hear what is being said through their aids, but to also read along via the captioning device.

For individuals who really struggle to follow spoken conversations, this can be completely transformational. As well as conversations, these devices can be used for movies, TV shows and music.

Hearing Loop Systems

Hearing loop systems, or induction loop systems as they are sometimes called, are made up of wires and amplifiers which can be positioned around a room to help transmit sound using electromagnetic energy. They are great for people with hearing loss who maybe do not want to wear their hearing aids all of the time when they are at home and are great at amplifying common household sounds such as the TV or telephone.

Bluetooth Systems

These days, you can buy hearing aids that come equipped with Bluetooth technology, if you have one such device, then using Bluetooth speakers, TVs, and other systems is a great way to ensure you can hear the media around you as clearly as possible because it will be beamed directly into your ear.

As you can see, there are a number of assistive technologies that can complement your use of hearing aids quite well giving your more options and more clarity of sound than ever before. However, before you start using any of these assistive technologies day-to-day, it is a good idea to first consult your audiologist, just to ensure that you aren’t doing anything that could potentially harm your hearing or cause further hearing loss. When it comes to your hearing health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Get in Touch with the Audiology and Hearing Aid Center Today!

If you would like to know more about the benefits of combining hearing aids with other assistive technology, do not hesitate to get in touch with the Audiology and Hearing Aid Center to speak to an experienced audiologist today. You can call us at (920) 486-6922. We’re here to help you hear!