What is an Assistive Listening Device

An Assistive Listening Device (ALD) is any device other than a hearing aid or cochlear implant that makes it easier to cope with a hearing impairment. Some examples of ALDs include:

  • Telecoil connections for phones and public address systems
  • Bluetooth streamers and adapters for Bluetooth compatible hearing aids
  • Telephone amplifiers
  • Anti-feedback (whistle stopping) devices for the phone
  • Text telephones (TT), teletypewriters (TTY), or Telephone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
  • Voice Carryover (VCO) telephones
  • Captel phones
  • Flashing signal systems for phones, doorbells, smoke alarms, etc.
  • Infrared amplifiers for the television or stereo
  • FM personal amplification systems
  • Personal amplifiers with direct audio input to hearing aids or headphones
  • Tone ringers to change the pitch of the telephone bell
  • Vibrating alarm clocks and pagers
  • Closed caption decoders for the television
  • Signal systems for automobiles
  • Amplified stethoscopes

Consult your audiologist at Bloomfield Hearing to find out what types of assistive listening devices would be most appropriate for your special listening needs. We can also tell you what types of ALDs will be most compatible with your hearing instruments.