Digital Systems

Digital assistive listening systems

These are beginning to appear in some theatres and lecture halls.  They are less costly to install and they can also be used to deliver audio description for those with visual impairment.

In 2017, the Seinhesser Mobile Connect Smartphone system was the forerunner.  It works as follows:

•  Venue links the digital system to their existing audio system.
•   User connects to the system via an App on a smartphone. The App can be downloaded in advance of going to the venue or the user can rely on the venue making available a smart device with the App already installed.
•  The App picks up the digital signal and sends it direct to the hearing aids, assuming the user has Made for iPhone hearing aids. For the majority who do not have Made for iPhone hearing aids, there are two options:

a)  Connect to the App digital signal by using a neck loop, which is made available by the venue (hearing aid must be on T-setting, assuming user has a telecoil)

b)  Connect to the App digital signal by using a streamer/intermediary device that connects to the smartphone (e.g. Widex T-Dex; Phonak ComPilot). NOTE:  It is still to be confirmed that the App does not somehow prevent streamer coupling.

•   Those who don’t use hearing aids can connect to the App by putting headphones into their smartphone.
•   Apps offer users the scope to adjust volume and tone so the sound can be personalised to a degree.

Take care – you must have enough battery life on the smartphone to use this system.  Also note, there may be some latency in the sound due to the processing speed by the App and the smartphone/device i.e. speech may be slightly behind the lip-shape of the speaker.

This is a fairly new system so there isn’t yet much data available about user experience and satisfaction.