Assistive Hearing and Listening Devices
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 17 Jul 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - FAQ's - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis: Assistive listening devices including FM systems, infrared systems, and hearing aids help deaf and hard of hearing people hear clearly despite noise and distance.
At a Glance
- 1 - Personal FM systems work like miniature radio stations, operating on special frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to send a speaker's voice straight to a listener's receiver and headset.
- 2 - Wearing two hearing aids, known as binaural use, lets more information reach the brain and makes it easier to pick out speech against background noise.
- 3 - Roughly 360 million people worldwide live with disabling hearing loss, yet about half of all hearing loss is preventable through public health actions.
- Topic Definition: Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices, often grouped under the broader term Hearing Assistive Technology, are tools designed to help people hear more clearly in situations where a hearing aid or implant alone is not enough. They tackle the common obstacles to good listening - background noise, poor room acoustics, and distance from the speaker - by delivering sound directly and wirelessly to the listener, and they can be used either on their own or alongside a hearing aid. Typical examples include personal FM systems that act like small radio stations using frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, infrared systems that carry sound on light waves in settings such as home televisions or large theaters, and hearing aids themselves, which capture sound through a microphone, amplify it, and channel it into the ear to stimulate the nerve fibers that send signals to the brain. Because no single product suits everyone, these systems are widely used in classrooms, places of worship, theaters, and sporting venues to help people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or simply seeking a richer listening experience take part in everything being said.
Introduction
Hearing Assistive Technology, or HAT as it is commonly referred to, is technology that can help in various listening situations. Assistive Listening Technology (ALT) is technology that can help in various listening situations. Often, a hearing aid or an implant is not enough. In such cases, there are technologies that are designed to help people hear better. These are designed to enhance telephone communication, TV reception or listening in various kinds of public venues.
Whether in a theater or at a sporting event, people want to experience every word and hear every sound. That's what they come to events for, and they deserve to participate by hearing every single word. But what if someone has a hard time hearing at an event?
Although many are OK listening to a standard sound system or PA and others have their own hearing aid, there are inevitably several people in every gathering who could use a little hearing help. Some hear fine but want an enhanced auditory experience. In these cases, you may want to consider trying an Assistive Listening Device or ALD.
Hearing devices can be used to overcome the effects of background noise, poor room acoustics or far distance from the speaker. And for people who are hard of hearing, an assisted listening device may be used with or without a hearing aid. There are a variety of listening systems on the market, all designed to provide an easy-to-use and convenient wireless sound solution for you or your patrons and guests.
Main Content
Examples of Assistive Listening Devices
Personal Frequency Modulation (FM) Systems
These are like miniature radio stations. They operate on special frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission. They usually consist of a transmitter microphone used by the speaker and a receiver and headset used by the listener.
FM systems are used in a variety of situations such as listening to a tour guide, a classroom lecturer, a sales trainer, a church leader, or to sounds at a sporting event or theater. In most situations, the microphone and transmitter is built into the overall sound system. You or your customer is provided with an FM receiver that can connect to a headset or even to a hearing aid.
Infrared Systems
Infrared systems transmit sound using infrared light waves. Although they are often used in the home with TV sets, they can also be used in large settings like theaters and sporting events.
Hearing Aids
A hearing aid is an electro-acoustic body worn apparatus which typically fits in or behind the wearer's ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sounds for the wearer.
Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. Your listening skills should improve gradually as you become accustomed to amplification. The sound you hear is different because it's amplified. Even your own voice sounds strange when you wear a hearing aid.
Many types of hearing aids exist today for the hearing impaired and elderly.
All hearing aids work by collecting sounds from the environment through a microphone, amplifying the sound, and then directing this amplified signal into your ear by way of a loudspeaker. The amplified signal stimulates your inner ear, which activates nerve fibers that carry the sound impulses to your brain.
In most cases, it's better to have two hearing aids. Wearing two (binaural) hearing aids allows more information to reach your brain and makes it easier to hear speech against background noise.
Whatever system you end up using for your organization's listening needs, it is important to pick a company that sells a wide range of solution and technology that can tailored to your specific needs. One size does not fit all in the ALD industry. Likewise, it is important to be able to try the equipment before you purchase a system. You really need to know first hand how an assistive listening system will benefit you.
Hearing Loss Facts
- Noise is a major avoidable cause of hearing loss.
- Chronic ear infections are a leading cause of hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can be due to the use of ototoxic medications.
- 50% of hearing loss is preventable through public health actions.
- There are 360 million persons in the world with disabling hearing loss.
- Nearly one out of every three persons over 65 are affected by hearing loss.
- Approximately 0.5-5 of every 1000 infants are born with or develop in early childhood disabling hearing loss.
- Deaf people develop keener senses of observation, feeling, taste and smell to compensate for their loss of hearing.
- There are more than 22 million deaf or hearing-impaired persons in the U.S. - six million of which are profoundly Deaf.
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing people who use sign language much prefer the term Deaf. The word hearing-impaired implies there is something impaired or broken, and Deaf people are not broken - they simply use a different means of communication.
- Those who were born completely deaf and only learned sign language will, not surprisingly, think in sign language. What is surprising is those who were born completely deaf but learn to speak through vocal training will occasionally think not only in the particular sign language that they know, but also will sometimes think in the vocal language they learned, with their brains coming up with how the vocal language sounds.
Hearing Loss Statistics
- Men are more likely than women to report having hearing loss.
- More than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents.
- Five out of 6 children experience ear infection by the time they are 3 years old.
- About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.
- Roughly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 25 million Americans, has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.
- One in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30 million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, based on standard hearing examinations.
- As of December 2012, approximately 324,200 people worldwide have received cochlear implants. In the United States, roughly 58,000 adults and 38,000 children have received them.
- The NIDCD estimates that approximately 15 percent of Americans (26 million people) between the ages of 20 and 69 have high-frequency hearing loss due to exposure to noise at work or during leisure activities.
- About 2 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss. The rate increases to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64. Nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss.
- Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a hearing aid and an assistive listening device?
A hearing aid is a wearable device that amplifies sound around you, while an assistive listening device delivers sound directly and wirelessly from a specific source such as a speaker or television, so the two are often used together to overcome noise and distance in challenging environments.
How much do assistive listening devices usually cost?
Prices vary widely depending on the type and features, from relatively affordable personal amplifiers to more expensive FM or infrared systems and premium hearing aids, so it helps to compare options and, where possible, trial equipment before committing to a purchase.
Are assistive listening devices covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by region and plan, as some health insurance, government programs, or vocational and educational services may help fund devices when a documented need exists, so it is worth checking eligibility directly with your provider or relevant agency.
Can assistive listening devices connect to smartphones and Bluetooth?
Many modern hearing aids and listening systems now offer Bluetooth or wireless streaming, allowing users to connect to smartphones, televisions, and other devices, though compatibility varies by model, so it is important to confirm connectivity features before buying.
How do I choose the right assistive listening device for me?
The best choice depends on your degree of hearing loss, listening environments, and budget, so consulting an audiologist for a hearing assessment and trialing different systems in real situations helps ensure the device genuinely improves your daily listening experience.
Do assistive listening devices require professional fitting or setup?
Some devices are simple plug and play systems, while others such as hearing aids benefit from professional fitting and programming by an audiologist to match your hearing profile, ensuring comfort, correct amplification, and the best possible sound quality.
How do I care for and maintain my hearing devices?
Regular maintenance such as keeping devices dry, cleaning them gently, replacing or recharging batteries, and storing them safely helps extend their life, and periodic checkups with a hearing professional ensure they continue to perform reliably over time.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
Last updated: