Hearing Assistive and Access Technology

For hearing health care and related professionals, educators, and individuals with hearing loss and their families, Hearing Assistive and Access Technology provides both fundamental and current information on a variety of technologies for individuals with hearing loss. Some of these technologies help enhance access to sound such as frequency-modulated systems, induction loop systems, infrared systems, and various short-range wireless device communications. Other technologies help provide auditory and/or visual access to spoken language such as text interpreting, automatic speech recognition, captioned phones, and videophones. There are also a variety of alerting and signaling devices available that enable access to environmental sounds and improved personal safety. Many of these technologies can improve an individual's independence and overall quality of life: through smaller device size and improved portability, increased compatibility among technologies, as well as innovations in engineering, wireless, and mobile applications. To fully appreciate the impact of hearing loss and consider assistive and access solutions, Hearing Assistive and Access Technology includes: Review of acoustic issues, hearing aids, and implantable devices; Overview of legal information and needs assessment; Numerous illustrations and product images; Case examples; Glossary of terms. - Publisher.