What assistive listening devices are available for hearing loss?

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are tools designed to make particular listening situations easier, either on their own or alongside hearing aids. While hearing aids help across many everyday settings, ALDs target specific challenges such as hearing the television, using the phone, or catching announcements in a noisy hall. Many people find that combining hearing aids with one or two well-chosen ALDs makes a real difference.

Devices for the phone and television

Two of the most common trouble spots are the telephone and the television, and there are practical solutions for both:

• Amplified telephones with adjustable volume and tone
• Captioned phones that display text of the conversation as it happens
• TV streamers that send sound directly to compatible hearing aids
• Wireless TV headphones that let you set your own volume without disturbing others

These can reduce the need to turn the volume up high and help you follow speech more comfortably.

Devices for conversations and public places

Other ALDs are designed to help in meetings, venues and one-to-one chats in noise:

• Personal amplifiers with a small microphone you can point towards a speaker
• Remote microphones that a companion wears to send their voice to your hearing aids
• FM and digital systems often used in classrooms and workplaces
• Hearing loops in venues such as churches, theatres and service counters, which work with the telecoil setting in many hearing aids

Looking for the hearing loop symbol in public buildings can be a simple way to hear announcements more clearly.

Alerting and safety devices

Some devices focus on safety and awareness rather than conversation. These use louder sounds, flashing lights or vibration to alert you to:

• Doorbells and knocks
• Smoke and fire alarms
• Alarm clocks, using bed-shaker vibration
• Phone calls and text messages

Vibrating and visual alerts can be particularly reassuring at night or when hearing aids are not being worn.

Do assistive devices replace hearing aids?

Assistive listening devices and hearing aids are not an either-or choice; they often work best together. Hearing aids provide general, all-day support across most situations, while ALDs solve specific problems that even good hearing aids can find challenging, such as a very noisy room or a distant speaker. Some people who are not yet using hearing aids also find a single ALD, like an amplified phone or wireless TV headphones, is a helpful, low-cost first step. Because everyone's daily life is different, the ideal set-up is the one that targets the moments you find hardest, whether that is family dinners, phone calls, meetings or watching television.

Smartphones and choosing what suits you

Modern smartphones and tablets also offer built-in accessibility features, live captioning apps, and direct streaming to many hearing aids, which can supplement other devices at little or no cost. With so many options, the best choice depends on where you struggle most and how you like to communicate. Some devices may also be available through funding pathways such as the Hearing Services Program or NDIS for eligible people. A qualified audiologist can help match the right combination to your needs. At Hearing Help in Newport, near the Redcliffe Peninsula, you can book an appointment without a referral to explore assistive listening options suited to your lifestyle. Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.