Hearing Assistive Technology Systems

What am I?

Hearing Assistive Technology Systems (HATS) are devices that can help you hear in loud or busy places. Some HATS let you see or read messages. You can use HATS with or without hearing aids or cochlear implants.

There are times when it is hard for any of us to hear. If you have hearing loss, it can be even harder. Some examples of when it might be hard to hear include:

  • When the sound comes from a distance. Sound fades as it travels. This is why it is harder to hear someone when they are across the room.

  • When there is a lot of noise in the room. Most rooms have noises that compete with what we want to hear. There might be air blowing or other people talking. The TV or radio might be on. Cars and trucks might drive by outside. This all makes it harder to hear.

  • When the sound bounces around the room. It is harder to hear in a room with poor sound quality, or acoustics. Sounds bounce off of hard surfaces, like bare walls, tables, and floors. This causes echoes, called reverberation. It is easier to hear in rooms with carpets and couches.

Distance, other noise, and echoes can happen at the same time. This makes it even harder to hear. HATS can help. From ASHA, 2020

When would a student use me?

Research suggests that this equipment may be appropriate for children with normal hearing with certain conditions such as ADHD and children with certain types/degrees of hearing loss (e.g. unilateral hearing loss, mild hearing loss). It is not appropriate for children with moderate, severe or profound hearing losses.

Hear and understanding what the teacher and others are saying in the classroom is important in the process of instruction in schools. Hearing speech better in a noisy classroom leads to a student’s ability to better understand that speech.

Take a look at this simulation of speech through a hearing aid and FM system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l37lzLIgQU

Roger Focus and Roger Touchscreen Mic

This is an in ear solution that we have to loan. If it will be used with a student with a hearing the help of an audiologist will be needed to set up the system properly.

Roger MyLink+, Roger Inspiro Mic, and Roger Pen Mic

The MyLink+ receiver is is also sometimes referred to as a neckloop. A student without hearing aids would use headphone with this device. As with the Roger Focus, the help of an audiologist to set up the system with a student who has hearing aids.