However, there are situations when such devices are not enough. Here are some of the best assistive listening devices for the deaf you can consider using:

1. Hearing aid compatible telecoils and phones

The phones that are compatible with hearing aid use either telecoil or acoustic coupling. The hearing aid needs to have a telecoil in telecoil coupling. This is a special feature that only amplifies the phone signal. For the hearing impaired, this is the best feature because telecoils block out background noise during calls.

The acoustic coupling picks up and amplifies sounds from the phone as well as the surroundings. This is why people with hearing disabilities don’t usually prefer such phones. Many of the hearing aids available today have a built-in telecoil. However, the audiologists sometimes miss out on the activation part of it. You’ll need to ask your hearing aid provider about the telecoil activation for this reason.

If you’ve got a hearing disability, the telecoil feature can be of immense help. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time on your phone. Your phone apps can also serve as your own assistive learning device. One such example is a caption app that facilitates the translation of text for speech.

2. Amplified and captioned telephones

Amplified phones allow you to increase the volume according to your hearing needs. This is how they help people with hearing loss listen to speech with clarity. Besides, you don’t need to wear hearing aids to make these devices work for you. With the use of amplified phones, it’ll be easier for you to hear high-pitched sounds.

These are the sounds that many of the hearing impaired struggle to hear. Such phones also feature amplified ringtones. With this feature, they’ll not miss a single call. Captioned phones are helpful for people with severe hearing loss, as they offer real-time captioning.

3. ALDs for televisions

You’ll have a hard time watching your favourite shows if you can’t hear the television clearly. It’s not the best option to raise the volume of your television. This would make the sound distorted and more difficult to understand. Besides, this would be a problem when you’re watching television with others.

The increase in volume will greatly disturb them. Today, there are many ALDs (assistive listening devices) for television that can be of great help in such matters. Whether you’re already using hearing aids or not, they can work for you.

4. Alerting devices

Some of the ALDs are of great help for you to know what’s going on around you. This not only helps in making listening easier but also improves your safety. Such alerting devices use visual cues, amplified sounds, and vibrations to alert you to sounds in your surroundings.

One of the best examples of such alerting devices is a vibrating alarm clock. It helps you to begin your day on time. Another great example is a doorbell alert, which uses flashing lights. This alerts you when a visitor is at your door.

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The management of the establishment must see this as an opportunity to reach other customers. One needs to remember the fact that a casino that serves the needs of its customers gets free publicity. Satisfied customers spread the word about the casino and are more likely to come back.

During their visits to the casinos, customers with disabilities often face several challenges. They include physical barriers in playing the games, insufficient space, and lack of adequate facilities and accessibility. A few other barriers are poor service from the staff, entrance blockage, and insufficient communication and information.

How casinos can improve accessibility for the deaf

Now, let’s say you’re driving on a highway. You’re enjoying a smooth ride with no potholes or any sort of obstacle. While driving, you see markings on every exit. These paths are also easy to access for continuing your journey. How would be your experience in this case?

Well, this is exactly what the experience needs to be for the deaf when they visit the casinos. For example, let’s say that a customer has to get to point C from point A. To make this easy, the point B must properly link the points A and C. This is exactly what casinos need to do for the deaf.

Make the information about directions easily accessible to the deaf or those who are hard of hearing. The deaf community feels excluded with the use of audio as a common means to provide information in casinos. Fortunately, there are many other ways for enhancing accessibility to the hearing impaired in casinos today.

Access to support

Providing all the information directly on the website would be of great help to the deaf community. To be more familiar with the casino beforehand, the deaf can access all the required information on its website. The casino can also use text messaging, live chat, or email to offer all the necessary assistance.

Visual aids

The management of casinos needs to focus on using visual aids, since audio obviously can’t help the deaf. They must ensure the use of proper signage. This will make the venue accessible to the hearing impaired. A combination of pictograms can provide information on opening hours and points of interest.

Having trained staff

The casino personnel can play an important role in making the hearing impaired feel comfortable at the venue. It is, therefore, important to train the staff in dealing with the deaf customers. Something as simple as wearing a name tag indicating the job title can be quite helpful.

How online casinos can help

Instead of struggling with accessibility in a land-based casino, the deaf can access any of the online casinos. Such casinos have all their favorite games, which they can play easily from the comfort of their homes. Besides, the online casinos offer huge welcome bonuses and run many promotional offers. To find out more about real money online casinos.

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More than 90% of people with hearing disabilities use smartphones every day in developed countries. There are plenty of apps available today that eliminate most of the communication barriers. These are the obstacles that make the daily lives of the hearing impaired quite difficult.

The smartphone apps for the deaf in recent times help people with hearing disabilities get in touch with others. They can also communicate with ease using these apps. Here, we’ve listed the most popular apps that the hearing impaired must have in 2022:

1. Ava

This is an instant transcription app. It transcribes the words from a group of people in the live mode. All the participants need to install the app on their smartphones. Then, the transcription of conversations takes place while using a microphone. Ava allows the deaf and individuals hard of hearing to follow a conversation that takes place within a group.

They don’t have to lip-read for this purpose. The Ava app is extremely useful for users of iPhone who don’t have access to instant transcription. It is available for both iOS and Android platforms.

2. RogerVoice

In 2013, Oliver Jeannel created a globally-renowned French app called RogerVoice. The app provides its users with two options. In the first option of live transcription, the app supports telephone conversations in over 100 languages. Answering by voice synthesis is also possible with this app. People who are deaf or those who have hearing loss can use the phone to have conversations.

They can converse with the other person and receive a text of what he or she is saying. RogerVoice also offers the facility to make calls. The free version of this app provides one hour of video calls. The deaf or people hard of hearing can also use this app to request information from a distance.

3. Sound Amplifier

This app for Android phones is equivalent to the Live Listen feature in the settings of iPhones. However, there are more advanced functions that you can find in this app. These functions are great when it comes to the removal of background noise and sound volume adjustments.

While using headphones with this app, there’s an enhancement in the audio quality of devices that use Android. Thus, Sound Amplifier offers a more natural and comfortable listening experience. It amplifies and improves sounds from the real world, which helps the hearing impaired.

4. TapSOS

An app from the United Kingdom, TapSOS helps the hearing impaired to connect with emergency services non-verbally. Emergency responders can provide the best care in case of emergencies to the ones who connect using this app. For this purpose, the user needs to create a profile, which includes personal medical history.

TapSOS pinpoints the exact location and sends data in the user’s profile within seconds. The app does this when the user connects with the emergency services. Such is the effectiveness of this app that it had won the 2018 Digital Health Award.

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The TTY machine will also turn voice messages into text messages. This sounds a lot like text messaging of the mobile phones in use today. However, the TTY machines perform more seamless functions. Its users can communicate continuously as a part of one conversation. The constant message notifications and updates will not disturb them.

You’ll find the TTY mode in many of the mobile phones today. It allows these phones to function as TTY devices. Depending on your phone manufacturer, it might have a built-in TTY software. This mode in the mobile phone allows you to connect it to an external TTY device. Most of the phones have three different modes of TTY in them.

One is TTY Full, which enables both the sender and receiver to send TTY messages for communication. The second mode is TTY VCO, which is for deaf users who can send their messages through voice. However, they’ll need to receive messages on a TTY text display.

The TTY HCO mode enables users to receive voice messages, but they need to send text messages. In recent times, physical TTY devices have become fairly outdated. Most individuals now use TTY mode on their mobile phones or use any of the alternative methods. Now, let’s take a look at some of the alternative communication options for the deaf:

Text messages

Text messaging is the easiest means of communication for individuals with hearing and speech impairments. It is also the most effective means of communication for such people. Sending and receiving text messages is easy and available on every mobile phone today. The best aspect of text messaging is that it doesn’t need any extra setup.

Video calls

The popular apps for video calling today has made life easier for the hearing impaired. They can now communicate easily through video calls using sign language. Individuals with hearing disabilities can also use the video conferencing feature to communicate with a group of friends.

All members in the group can see each other on the screen and communicate easily using sign language. Among the most effective apps used for video, calling are Skype, Zoom, and WhatsApp.

Video relay services

A Video Relay Service (VRS) is one of the forms of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). It enables people with hearing impairments to communicate using the American Sign Language (ASL). A piece of video equipment does this job instead of typing text with the users of the voice telephone. The video equipment used in this form of communication links the user of VRS with a communications assistant (CA).

This enables the VRS user and CA to see and communicate with each other using sign language. A Video Relay Service has become a popular form of Telecommunications Relay Service today. This is because the conversation between the VRS user and CA takes place at a faster pace.

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This inspired the group to establish a resource centre to meet the needs of inquiring visitors and share information. As a result, the Kansas Educational Foundation came into existence in 1988. The following four years saw the incorporation and expansion of the museum. Support poured in from the Kansas Heritage Trust and the City of Olathe.

In 2000, construction started on the structure. The building work was completed in the following year. About four years later, the museum started hosting exhibitions. It got the name Deaf Cultural Center Foundation four years later. In 2017, there was a change in the museum’s name to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture (MDHAC).

The museum showcased the vibrant history, language, arts, and culture of the deaf people. If you’re curious to know what it is like to be hearing impaired, this museum would be the right place.

The deaf experience at MDHAC

Upon getting to the museum, you’ll notice that it is neither too long nor too short. While exploring the two exhibit halls, you’ll come across some interesting exhibits and memorabilia. They’re from the early days of Kansas School for the Deaf.

In this museum, you’ll also get to watch some videos. They’ll help you know more about the Deaf experience. These videos also tell you about the experiences of growing up deaf. You’ll also get to witness some school memorabilia.

More about the Deaf culture

The word ‘deaf’ will have the capital ‘D’ when referring to the cultural elements. The Deaf culture includes several things, which you might’ve never imagined. It includes social beliefs, literary traditions, art and history. The Deaf culture also includes shared institutions, values of the deaf community, and a set of behaviours.

A famous Deaf linguist known as Carl G Cronenberg coined the term ‘Deaf Culture’. He was the first individual to explain the analogies between the hearing and Deaf cultures. His work on American Sign Language also won him recognition. For the hearing impaired, deafness is not a disease or a disability. They tend to view their condition as a difference in human experience.

Many from the Deaf community feel proud of their identity as they’re a linguistic minority. However, the ones who don’t know sign language might misunderstand those who belong to this community. One can find many distinct Deaf communities globally. Their cultural norms vary and they communicate using different sign languages.

Often, the Deaf culture also comes into contact with other types of cultural identity. It intersects with ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, class, and sexual orientation. This leads to a culture that’s small and extremely diverse at the same time.

The mission of MDHAC

The Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture (MDHAC) strives to advance and preserve knowledge about Deaf people. It also endeavours to preserve their cultures and languages. The MDHAC aims to inspire visitors with the experiences of the vibrant Deaf community. It believes that there’ll be an increased awareness of the values and struggles of the Deaf community.

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It helps them communicate with their friends, close relatives, or members of the family. People with normal or limited hearing can also learn this expressive language. Here are some of the effective ways to learn the sign language:

1. Enroll for a sign language class

This is one of the best ways to learn sign language. Many of the community colleges or other educational centers offer classes for learning this language. So, if you’ve been considering learning the sign language, you can enroll for these classes. Having a qualified sign language tutor to guide you is the greatest benefit of taking sign language classes.

Such classes would also give you the opportunity to meet new people and practice learning this language with them. You can also take online classes. If you’ve enrolled for classes that lead to a certification and a job, it would be a great investment.

2. Watch a DVD of sign language learning

You can consider buying one of the sign language learning DVDs. It would contain several pre-recorded videos that helps one learn this language with ease. There are some organizations for the hearing impaired that provide such videos or DVDs. If you need help in choosing the right DVDs, contact your nearest organization for the deaf. Your can also explore the local library for this purpose.

3. Learn online

With all the technological advancements of recent times, you can do many things online today. Using several free resources, such as YouTube, you can now learn sign language easily. Such online platforms have a series of videos that teach sign language.

You can watch these videos as many times as you like. You can also replay any part of the video if you feel you’ve missed something. The best part is that you can do all of this from the comfort of your home.

4. Join a sign language group

There are several clubs or groups of hearing impaired that you can join for learning sign language. Members of such groups often meet regularly and use only sign language to communicate with each other. You’ll have a wonderful experience meeting new people who are hearing impaired.

This would also give you the chance to improve your sign language skills. You can contact an organization for the deaf in your neighborhood or find a group on social media sites.

5. Learn through an app

Apps like Sign BSL can be great for learning sign language. You can search how to use a sign for a particular word on such apps. This is what makes such apps a fabulous resource for the learners. Another great learning platform for sign language is Drops. The app called ‘Scripts’ includes the American Sign Language (ASL).

This release coincided with the United Nations’ International Day of Sign Languages. It teaches learners of the language how to read and write alphabets. The app is also making constant improvements and leveraging its large global user base.

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These hearing aids contain small microphones that collect all the sounds. These sounds are then amplified with the help of a computer chip, which converts sound inputs into digital codes. The sounds then go through the necessary analysis and adjustments according to your listening needs. The sounds also require analysis and adjustments based on your hearing loss and the level of sounds around you.

Once again, the conversion of all these amplified signals takes place before delivering them to your ears. They receive these sound waves through receivers or speakers. Here are some of the key things that you need to do before buying a hearing aid:

1. Go for a checkup

Consult your doctor to know about the causes of your hearing loss. In many cases, the culprit is an infection or earwax. You might want to get a hearing aid. In this case, it is necessary that an audiologist or a hearing specialist tests the device.

2. Ask your doctor to suggest a reputed audiologist

Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor to refer you to a reputed audiologist if you don’t know about one. An audiologist would assess all the important aspects of your hearing. The audiologist will also suggest you the most appropriate hearing aid. The device will then be subject to certain adjustments to meet your requirements.

3. Assess the future needs of your hearing aid

Don’t forget to ask whether your chosen hearing aid can be useful in the future. This is extremely important for you to know. It will assure you of your device’s performance if your hearing loss gets worse. Hearing aids usually perform well only for a certain period. You must make sure that they last for at least five years.

4. See if you can have a trial period

You’ll certainly need some time to make sure whether the device is right for you. Besides, it might also take you a while to familiarize yourself with the hearing aid. You can ask whether you can try out the device for a certain period. You must also ask whether you’ll have to pay a certain amount for the time of the trial.

5. Beware of any misleading information

Hearing aids can’t remove all the background noise. Neither can they restore normal hearing of an individual with a hearing loss. So, it is extremely important to beware of advertisements of hearing aids that make false claims. They may mislead people, claiming that the device can restore normal hearing or eliminate background noises.

6. Check the warranty

Make sure that the hearing aid you’ve purchased includes a warranty. It must cover parts and servicing for a specific period. Some of the providers of hearing aids might include professional services or office visits in the warranty terms.

7. Plan for the expenses

The cost of hearing aids vary. You’ll have to pay extra for remote controls, professional fees, accessories, and other options. If you’re concerned about the expenses, talk to your audiologist. This will help you in assessing your needs and planning for your expenses.

There are some private insurance policies that cover a certain portion or the entire cost of hearing aids. You might, therefore, want to check your policy for an assurance.

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They are small electronic devices that address varying types of hearing loss. Customization of such devices is also possible. Every digital hearing aid has at least one microphone that picks up sound. It is then amplified by a computer chip and processed. With the help of a speaker, the individual’s ear receives the signal.

All the hearing aids operate with the help of batteries. There are more sophisticated models that provide additional features. They include direct connection to neural networks or a smartphone. Now, let’s take a look at two basic types of hearing aids:

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids

Worn in the ear canal, the ITE hearing aids are usually custom-fit. It is based on the observations of your hearing-care professional. He or she makes these observations during your consultation with regards to the use of hearing aids. The ITE hearing aids are available in different skin tones as well.

It makes the device blend well with the outer ear. Some types of ITE hearing aids are closer to the outer ear. Others fit very deeply within the ear canal.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids

Placed either behind or on top of the outer ear, BTE hearing aids are available in different colors. You can choose their desired color to match your skin or hair tone. They’re also available in flashier designs for a more personalized flair. Usually, these devices come with tubing that sends the sound down into the ear canal.

This is possible with the help of a custom-fit earmold. A dome-style BTE hearing aid performs a similar function. However, it doesn’t block the entire opening of the ear canal.

Most of these devices come with standard button batteries. These button batteries need frequent replacement. Today, you’ll also come across rechargeable batteries. Now, let’s see the different styles of hearing aid styles available in these two types of hearing aids:

Invisible in the canal (IIC) style and Completely in the canal (CIC) style

The smallest and the most discreet styles in hearing aids are the IIC and CIC styles. The IIC-style hearing aids are virtually invisible. A person wearing this style of hearing aids places them deeply in his or her ears. You can remove it from the ear with the help of a pull-out string. The CIC-style hearing aids are quite similar to the IIC-style hearing aids.

The only difference is that the CIC-style devices don’t go that deep into the ears. Individuals with hearing loss ranging from mild to moderate typically use both these styles of hearing aids. As these devices are smaller in size, they don’t usually have manual controls.

As they fit within the ear, these devices have a good sound quality. There are certain disadvantages as well. Such hearing aids are susceptible to moisture damage and ear wax. Their small size can be a problem for dexterity and connectivity to wireless devices.

In-the-canal (ITC)

You can wear the ITC-style hearing aids in the lower portion of the outer bowl of your ear. This makes such hearing aids easy and comfortable to use. In-the-canal hearing aids have a slightly longer battery life. This is due to the fact that they’re slightly larger than the IIC and CIC styles.

The ITC-style hearing aids also fit a wide range of hearing losses. As they are larger in size, they can have additional features, such as manual controls and directional mics. However, they can give the wearer a plugged up feeling. They might also have a problem connecting to wireless devices.

Low-profile hearing aids

Low-profile hearing aids range from half-shell designs to full-shell designs. They’re quite similar to the ITC styles. The low-profile hearing aids of half-shell designs fill half of the outer ear’s bowl. The ones with full-shell designs fill almost the entire bowl of the outer ear.

Just like the ITC styles, low-profile designs can accommodate manual controls and directional microphones. People with issues of dexterity often desire low-profile hearing aids. This is because the low-profile hearing aids are much easier to handle. One can insert and remove them with greater ease owing to their larger size.

Such devices can also connect to phones and other wireless devices. Among their disadvantages is the fact that they’re less discreet than the smaller ITE styles. Owing to more occlusion, the low-profile hearing aids can make the ones wearing them feel plugged up.

Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE)

Depending on the manufacturer, this style of hearing aids can either be receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) or receiver-in-canal (RIC). Both of them are open-fit style of hearing aids. They have a speaker built into the ear dome that’s insertable. The speaker of these hearing aids are in the ear canal.

A tiny case placed behind the ear accommodates the processor and microphone. A thin wire connects both of them. The sound quality of such hearing aids are above average. All the leading hearing-aid manufacturers make this style of hearing aids. If there’s a damage, you can replace their speaker portion that fits in the ear.

A hearing-aid center offers replacement of hearing aids. This avoids the process of shipping the damaged device to the manufacturer for repair. This style of hearing aids comes with the option of rechargeable battery. You can also enjoy wireless connectivity to smartphones with the RITEs and RICs.

In recent times, they also come with advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence. The microphone and sound processor of these devices sit behind the ear. This makes them quite noticeable. Smaller sizes of RITE can become a problem for dexterity speaker that’s inside the ear.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) with earmold

The BTE-style hearing aids with earmolds are suitable for any type of hearing loss. They have a longer shape that follows the contour behind the outer ear. Generally, these devices can have more features, battery power, and controls.

In case of children with hearing impairments, the use of BTE-style hearing aid with earmold is common. This is because reprogramming of the BTEs is possible according to an individual’s needs. Besides, as the child grows up, the parents usually replace the earmold. These devices are less susceptible to damage caused by moisture.

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They were of the opinion that the technology’s ‘speech only’ approach was hurting deaf children. The researchers believed that it was preventing deaf children from learning the language. Since this was happening in the first critical years of these children, it was impairing their brain development. As a result, it had lasting harm to their psycho-social and cognitive functioning.

The researchers contended that there was a much better approach for parents of such children. It was to begin teaching them to sign language as early as possible.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants

The children with hearing loss use either hearing aids or cochlear implants. In some cases, they receive both. The function of hearing aids is to amplify residual hearing. On the other hand, cochlear implants bypass the ear and take the electronic impulses straight to the brain.

The authors of the article published in Social Service Review have criticized the promoters and makers of these implants. According to the authors, these individuals discourage the parents of deaf children from teaching their kids sign language. Many of these parents have little or no experience with deafness.

About 96% of deaf children are born to hearing parents. So, these children rely greatly on their parents’ guidance. One of the biggest problems with hearing technology is that it often doesn’t work that well. It is quite a task to learn how to use cochlear implants.

Researchers have pointed out a study that involved over 20,000 deaf children. They had received implants in 2000. The study found that 47% of them had stopped using the devices. It gave researchers a reason to believe that using devices for teaching deaf children spoken language is a gamble.

Most of the deaf children raised using only spoken language have inadequate access to auditory information for developing language. The authors of the article published in Social Service Review have termed this ‘linguistic neglect’.

Why sign language is a much better option

Of course, it isn’t easy to teach deaf children sign language. Parents have to learn the language as well. According to the authors of the article, this method is more reliable for introducing such children to the language. It ensures that these children receive cognitive and other benefits associated with language acquisition.

According to research, deaf children do better across a range of functions upon learning sign language early. This is also true with their academic achievement. The children who start learning sign language at birth would successfully learn to use cochlear implants for accessing speech. According to the authors, social workers can play an important role in addressing ‘linguistic neglect’.

This is not just because of their involvement in promoting child welfare. The social workers can truly see the consequences that linguistic neglect can have on such children.

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