Hearing Aid Alternatives: Assistive Listening Devices

Audio Help Hearing Centers provides hearing solutions, including assistive listening devices in New York. Our audiology clinics are conveniently located in Manhattan (Chelsea Village, Columbus Circle, and Park Avenue), with additional offices in Scarsdale, NY (Westchester County), and Stamford, CT.

At Audio Help Hearing Center in New York, our audiologists can help you find the best assistive listening device for your needs. These devices can improve your hearing and work alongside your hearing aids to give you the best possible experience. Whether you’re at home, work, or out with friends, we will make sure you have the right tools to hear clearly and comfortably. Let us help you enhance your hearing and enjoy every moment.

Assistive listening devices, or ALDs, are tools that make sounds louder and clearer. They help you hear better by making voices and other sounds easier to understand, especially when there’s a lot of background noise.

ALDs can help you stay connected with friends and family. You won’t have to struggle to hear in social settings, making conversations more enjoyable. Plus, some ALDs can connect wirelessly to technology like phones and TVs, making it easier to hear what’s important to you. With ALDs, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident in different places.

Assistive Listening Devices VS Hearing Aids 

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) help people with hearing loss by making sounds louder, but they don’t give the full sound experience that hearing aids do.

ALDs make all sounds louder, but they don’t help with other hearing problems like tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears.

ALDs are not custom-made for each person. They work the same way for everyone and only help with general hearing loss. Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices are also a type of ALD.

Hearing aids are special devices made just for you. They are adjusted to fit your specific hearing needs. Hearing aids are medical devices that can be set up to work best with your type of hearing loss. They can help with different pitches and sounds based on what you need.

Audio Help Hearing Centers offers custom hearing aids. These hearing aids are made to help you understand speech better, make sounds clearer, reduce wind noise, and help with tinnitus.

Types of Assistive Listening Devices 

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are different from the custom hearing aids you’ll find at Audio Help Hearing Centers. There are many types of ALDs, but it can be tricky to know which one is right for you. While ALDs make sounds louder, it’s important to have a hearing solution that fits your specific type and level of hearing loss.

If you have questions or want to bring your assistive listening devices to Audio Help, we’re happy to assist. We can also help you find a complete hearing solution that includes hearing aids and ALDs that work well together.

Here are some common types of ALDs:

  • TV Streamers: These connect to TVs and send the sound directly to your hearing aids. You can set the TV volume to your liking without changing the volume for others in the room. You can even mute the TV for everyone else while still listening at a comfortable volume through your hearing aids.
  • Remote Microphones: These pair with your hearing aids and can be used as a personal mic to make one person’s voice clearer or placed on a table to improve the sound from around the room.
  • CaptionCall: This is a free phone service for people with hearing loss. It shows real-time captions during phone calls, so you don’t miss anything important in the conversation.
  • Hearing Loops: These help hearing aid users hear better in public places like theaters. Hearing loops use a special wire to send sound as a magnetic field. Hearing aids need a telecoil or T-coil to pick up this sound.
  • Sound Enhancers: Also called personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), these make all sounds louder. They are for people with normal or mild hearing loss and are sold over the counter, not as medical devices.

Assistive Listening Devices FAQs 

What is the most commonly used assistive listening device?

Aside from hearing aids, another helpful tool for people with hearing loss is the personal sound amplification product (PSAP). PSAPs work a lot like hearing aids, but they usually cost less and you can buy them without a doctor’s prescription. They make sounds louder and can help people who have mild to moderate hearing loss. However, it’s important to remember that PSAPs are not treated as medical devices like hearing aids are.

Why are assistive listening devices necessary?

Assistive listening devices are tools that help people with hearing loss hear better. These devices make it easier to hear and understand speech, especially in noisy places or when the speaker is far away. They work by making sounds louder, clearer, and cutting down background noise. This helps people take part in conversations, meetings, lectures, and events. By using these devices, people with hearing loss can enjoy better communication and feel more included and involved in different activities.

Can assistive listening devices take the place of hearing aids?

Assistive listening devices, like personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), can help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. These devices make sounds louder and can be useful in certain situations. However, they are not the same as hearing aids.

Hearing aids are specially designed to meet an individual’s hearing needs. They are often recommended by audiologists for people with more severe hearing problems. Hearing aids have advanced features such as customization, which means they can be adjusted to fit the user’s specific hearing loss. They also reduce background noise and prevent feedback, providing better overall support for different levels of hearing loss.

Audio Help Hearing Centers provide a wide selection of hearing aids in New York. We have licensed audiologists ready to help you start your journey to better hearing.

Assistive Listening Devices | NYC 

Audio Help Hearing Centers provide assistive listening devices in New York.

We have three New York City audiology clinics conveniently located in Manhattan (Chelsea Village, Columbus Circle, and Park Avenue) and additional offices in Scarsdale, NY (Westchester County), and Stamford, CT.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!