Assistive Listening Device Technology Flashcards

A patient with a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) wants to use an FM system. What coupling method is most appropriate?

Answer: Bluetooth streaming to the BAHA sound processor

Modern BAHA sound processors often support Bluetooth streaming or proprietary wireless direct audio input, bypassing the need for a telecoil or DAI shoe.

What term describes the ratio of the desired speech signal to background noise that an FM system is designed to improve?

Answer: Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

The primary benefit of an FM ALD system is improving the SNR by delivering the speaker's voice directly to the listener at a favorable level above background noise.

When verifying a personal FM system, which measure is used to confirm that the FM signal received at the hearing aid is adequate?

Answer: FM advantage (SNR improvement with FM on vs. FM off)

FM advantage is measured by comparing aided speech perception in noise with the FM system on versus off, quantifying the SNR benefit provided by the system.

A captioning telephone (CapTel) is most appropriately recommended for a patient who:

Answer: Has severe hearing loss and difficulty understanding telephone speech even with amplification

CapTel is designed for individuals who can still use their voice but need real-time captions to understand the other party due to severe hearing loss.

Which of the following is an example of a tactile alert ALD?

Answer: A vibrating pager that alerts to a baby cry monitor

Tactile alerting devices use vibration rather than sound or light to notify the wearer of environmental signals such as a crying baby.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which entity is responsible for providing assistive listening devices to patrons of a place of public accommodation?

Answer: The business or venue owner

The ADA places the obligation on the place of public accommodation (the business or venue) to provide accessible communication, including ALDs.

A digital RF ALD system operating at 2.4 GHz may experience interference from which common household or office device?

Answer: Wi-Fi router or microwave oven

Wi-Fi routers and microwave ovens both operate in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and can cause interference with digital RF ALDs using the same frequency.