Assistive Listening Devices

Your audiologist may recommend the use of additional amplification options, including FM systems or assistive telephone equipment. If it is determined that hearing aids are not providing adequate amplification for you to hear spoken language, you may be a candidate for a cochlear implant. Your audiologist will discuss these options with you, as appropriate.

An Assistive Listening Device (ALD) is any device designed to improve audibility in specific listening environments or improve a person’s function in everyday living situations. ALDs can be used with or without hearing technology (hearing aids, cochlear implants, and osseointegrated amplification systems).

ALDs are very helpful in unfavorable listening environments for people with hearing loss. Examples of unfavorable listening environments include:

Noisy restaurants
Rooms with poor acoustics due to high ceilings or uncarpeted floors
Great distance between the speaker and listener

Many people with hearing loss can optimize their listening and communication experience by pairing their hearing technology with a properly fitted ALD. Those who do not use hearing technology can also benefit from ALDs as well, from products such as visual alerting systems. An example of a visual alerting system is a fire alarm that when activated, will produce a brilliant flashing strobe light rather than an audible alarm (or both simultaneously).

The MDHC offers the community an Assistive Listening Device Demonstration Room. ALD technology should be personally fitted to each consumer’s lifestyle to optimize use and benefit. We carry alarm clocks, door bells, baby monitors, neckloops, FM systems, amplified phones, text phones, and video phones. All technology can be returned in 30 days with the original receipt and packaging.

NOTE: The ALD products featured on this page are some that we have available to demonstrate in our center. These do NOT include all products we have available or all the products available on the market. Products available for demonstration depend on availability. To see a specific product demonstrated, please call ahead of time.

Hours

Walk-In Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays 2pm-4pm
Or by Appointment (recommended): 720-848-3042 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alerting Systems

For a person with hearing loss, it can be difficult to know when the phone or doorbell is ringing, or if the smoke detector is going off in the middle of the night. Alerting systems remove those anxieties by providing visible or audibly amplified signals.

For the doorbell...


Sonic Alert DB100 – A wireless solution	Sonic Alert DS800 – Hard-wired doorbell/telephone/intercom signaler

For the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector…


A strobe alerter for CO - Silent Call CO2-L	A strobe and vibrator alerter for fire - Silent Call SU-36SKV	A strobe alerter for fire - Gentex 710CS

For the nursery…

Baby cry signaler - Sonic Alert BC400

For the telephone…


Lamp Flasher for your Videophone – Sonic Alert TR75VR	Amplified Horn Alerting Device – Sonic Alert TR100	Amplified Ringer with Strobe Light – Krown RA 05

Other


Weather Alert Device – Silent Call X67-S	An audio monitoring accessory for sounds within the home - AlertMaster AMAX by Clarity	A mat that detects visitors at the door by sounding an alarm. - Bellman Visit Door Entering Contact mat

All-in-one Alerting Stations – AlertMaster AM6000

Amplified Phones

There are phones designed specifically for individuals who have a mild to moderate/severe hearing loss. Not only do these phones amplify sound (make it louder), but they also tend to be more clear because they have built-in features allowing the caller to adjust the tone and frequency of the voice. Of all ALDs, it is most important to try amplified phones before making a purchase.. Every phone will sound different to different people with hearing loss, with different hearing aids, and different speech discrimination abilities. Amplified phones can be in the corded or cordless style and range from $20 to $250.


Cordless Amplified Phone – Clarity W425 Pro	Amplified Corded Phone with Speakerphone – Geemarc Ampli200

Amplified Corded Phone with Large Screen (for those with low vision) – XL45 by Clarity	Amplified Conferencing Speakerphone – SoundPoint Pro SE-225

Text-based and Captioned Telephones

Depending on the severity and type of hearing loss, an amplified phone may not be sufficient. For those who need more support, but do not use ASL as a form a communication, captioned and text-based telephones are a great option.

TTY | CapTel

Video Phones

Individuals who have a profound hearing loss and use ASL to communicate, have the option to use a video phone. Video phones use Video Relay Service (VRS) and ASL interpreters to interpret calls for individuals who are deaf. Video phones also offer the Voice Carry Over (VCO) feature, allowing a person to speak for themselves.

The following companies provide video phones: Sorenson, ZVRS

Vibrating Alarm Clocks

In addition to an amplified audible alarm, these alarm clocks also provide the alerting options of a vibrating disk (inserted under your pillow or mattress) or a flashing lamp as methods to wake you up. Clocks are available in different sizes depending on your allocated table space and if you travel frequently. Prices range from $25 to $175 depending on included features and style.


Features telephone signaler, adjustable volume/tone, and bed shaker - Sonic Alert SBT425ss	Large display with AM/FM radio and bed shaker - Sonic Alert SBR350ss

Travel-size with adjustable volume/tone and bed shaker - Sonic Alert SB200ss	Portable all-in-one bed shaker - Sonic Alert SBP100

Personal Listening Products

There are many ALDs available to help you better hear the television, on your cell phone, and your iPod. Like phones, personal listening products should be tried before buying because many depend on the activation of your t-coil and other programming features of your hearing aids or cochlear implants.


For the TV – Serene TV-100	Pocketalker – Williams Sound Pocketalker Ultra	Neckloop for use with a phone or iPod – Geemarc T-Loop