Technology Options for Hard-of-Hearing Students

Speech-to-text Services, C-Print, TypeWell and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) are just some of the assistive technology devices that help people with hearing loss to communicate and receive information from teachers, fellow students and their surroundings. Learning more about these devices is key to understanding the most used technologies in and around the classroom.

During one of CSUN’s first presentations, given by Annette Leonard and Sharaine Roberts (both involved in the Postsecondary Education Programs Network (PEPNet)), it became clear that there are a many assistive technology devices used to help compensate for hearing loss. Although none of the devices gives back the lost hearing, it does give an opportunity to process audio from the environment and learn to use these sounds to improve daily life.

Speech-to-Text Services

For classroom applications, Speech-to-text services like C-Print, TypeWell and CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) can be used to follow the teacher. All need a human translator to make choices on what parts of the conversation is important to translate. The only technology that gives exact captioning is Automated Speech Recognition (ARS), but with changing teachers and an extensive training time, this technology proved only to be successful at Captel’s own captioning service. Here ARS is used with positive results by translators that give captioning to deaf and hard-of-hearing clients.

Coupling Devices

A coupling device, such as a set of headphones, takes the signal from the receiver and brings it directly to the ear. Coupling devices are used in conjunction with the ALD to bring the sound to the user. There are several options, depending on personal preference and type of hearing aid, if any.

• Unaided users may wear a headset or ear buds.
• Hearing aid users without T-coils may wear a headset. This may cause feedback with some hearing aids, so the hearing aid can be removed to eliminate the feedback.
• Hearing aid users with T-coils can wear neck loops or silhouettes. These devices produce a magnetic induction loop that transmits wirelessly to the T-coil on the hearing aid. A neck loop fits around the neck like a loose necklace. A silhouette inductor is embedded in a thin plastic shape similar to a behind-the-ear hearing aid.
• FM receiver boots can be used by individuals with certain hearing aids (mainly BTE). Some of the newer FM/BTE hearing aids have the FM receiver built into the aid. Receiver boots connect to the aid and receive the FM signals wirelessly.
• DAI and patch cords enable individuals with hearing aids and cochlear implants to connect directly to ALDs.
• Infrared transmission can also be used and although FM has the best reach, an infrared device gives the fullest audio of the coupling devices.

Source: CSUN presentation ‘Technology Options for Deaf and hard of Hearing Students’ Annette Leonard and Sharaine Roberts