ATS Resources: Resources

We don't have anyone with a hearing loss.

Did you know hearing loss is the #1 disability in the world? 10% of the total US population has a mild to profound hearing loss. According to the National Institute on health, 25% of us will have some degree of hearing loss by the age of 55, and by the age of 85, more than half of us will experience a hearing loss.

We consider eyeglasses for eyesight that is no longer 20/20 and would not deny an employee or client the ability to see information we were presenting. Why do you suppose we don’t supply assistive listening devices for those whose hearing is no longer 20/20?

Ignoring hearing loss is not the answer. Instead, accommodate hearing loss with assistive technology. Hearing Loss Devices (HLDs) enable an employee to be fully productive, a student to receive the same information as classmates, a patient to fully understand his/her doctor, and a family member to freely interact with loved ones again.

How can Assistive Technology help my business?

Compliance with federal ADA and HIPAA laws regarding privacy and equal access for employees and the public.
Serve the fastest growing population of 2011 as Baby Boomers begin to turn 65 in 2011
Keep an already trained and skilled workforce as your workforce becomes a 55+ demographic
Increase hard of hearing staff productivity / maximize employee skill sets
Build public image and customer loyalty by showing social responsibility and commitment to service
Improve customer service through effective and respectful communication
Join growing list of businesses supported by local chapter of the nation’s premier hearing loss advocacy group, the Hearing Loss Association of America.
Eliminate employee, client, or student frustrations
Reduce Sign Language Interpreter costs with on-demand Video Remote Interpreting

How can ATS Resources help?

Dedicated service starts with personalized evaluations and continues until your staff is educated and empowered to use new tools.
Solutions for any kind of situation, including presentations, group meetings and one-on-one interaction.
Our team has been providing services/technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities for more than 20 years.

What do I need?

If purchasing a FM System, you will need to select a Transmitter, a Receiver, and Headset/Earphone
If purchasing an Induction Loop System, you will need to determine which kit fits your needs by determining the circumference of the room. The kit will include wiring, amplifier, microphone, audio/visual cable, and power cord.
If purchasing an Infrared System, it is recommended you call and speak with one of our staff in order to find the most cost-effective solution.
The Portable Loop has a 3' radius and is ideal for small staff meetings, or for over-the-counter customer service such as pharmacies or bank tellers.
Kits Available

What is a FM System?

A Frequency Modulated (FM) System is a wireless solution to hearing in what’s being discussed and may be a solution for settings such as classrooms, conferences, staff meetings, tour guides, or in the home. Imagine taking someone’s voice from across the table/room and sending it directly into the ears with little to no interference. A FM system allows the freedom to sit in any location from a distance of approximately 1,000' of the speaker. The beauty of this is having the sound sent directly into the ear.

FM Systems are easy to use, portable, and easily expanded to suit as many hard of hearing participants as necessary. The hard of hearing user would use what’s called a Receiver which can work with or without a hearing aid. To work with a hearing aid the aid must have something called a T-Coil. The person speaking or sound source would use what’s called a Transmitter. The Transmitter would send the sound wirelessly to the users with Receivers. The Transmitter is small and similar to what most speakers use when using a traditional microphone. The only difference is now there will be someone in the audience that is receiving the sound from the microphone wirelessly into a Receiver which they will be able to listen as though the presenter were talking directly into their ear. The Transmitter can have a small lapel microphone or the microphone may be built-in. The Receiver will look identical to the transmitter with the added feature of a connection for a headset or neckloop that is compatible with hearing aids that have a T-Coil. A solution to consider that would allow the hearing aid wearer a more natural listening experience would be an Induction Loop System. This system does not require the hearing aid wearer to use any additional equipment, they only need their T-Coil equipped hearing aids. See below for more information regarding Induction Loop Systems.

What is a neckloop? A neckloop takes the place of a headset or earpiece for individuals who have a T-Coil or T-Switch built into their hearing aid. When the T-Coil is engaged the hearing aid microphones are turned off. This allows the T-Coil to receive the sound wirelessly & directly into the hearing aid at a level that has been personally prescribed to that individual - increasing sound and clarity. T-Coils come with most hearing aids; however, may not be programmed or turned on. If this is the case, the hearing aid wearer should see an audiologist to have a T-Coil installed into the hearing aid or to have the T-coil turned on and programmed.

What is an Induction Loop System?

Loop Systems offer a system that will work for clients who have t-coil equipped hearing aids or Cochlear Implants and do not require hardware, such as a Receiver, to be checked out. However, if the hard of hearing client does not have a t-coil or cochlear implant, they will need a receiver with a headset/earpiece. Induction Loop systems consist of a thin radio wire that is installed around the perimeter of a room/area. The wire may be placed under carpeting, decorative molding, in the ceiling, placed in concrete, etc. The wire is connected to an amplifier and microphone. The sound is picked up by the microphone and sent through the wire that has been laid around the perimeter and is wirelessly transmitted into the t-coil or cochlear implant. Like a FM System, Loop Systems help with removing background noise and delivering the sound directly into the ear.

Are FM Systems secure? If you are in a judicial or government environment, a FM System is not recommended. Instead, you may want to consider an infrared signal, or UHF System. With a FM System the Transmitter may be set to a particular channel that will communicate with a Receiver on that same channel. This allows you to pre-determine who you wish to receive the message by excluding the larger audience or others who may have a t-coil. FM Systems use a radio frequency which would allow a determined hacker to tap into the conversation if that was the objective. A UHF System uses a radio frequency that is on a much higher band and more difficult to hack, allowing a higher level of security necessary for government or judicial environments.

What is an Infrared / UHF System? A UHF System utilizes an infrared signal that cannot pass through walls and is not carried on a radio signal that can be ‘grabbed’ or tapped from an outside person. The infrared signal is only avail when the transmitter and receiver are located in the same room.

When might an FM System not be the solution?

Will you need to use an assistive listening device in a court of law?
In the jury deliberation room?
In a highly classified meeting?
In a situation where privacy is a top priority?

If you answered yes to all of the questions above, then an Infrared System may be a better choice.

Why a FM System?
FM Systems are ideal for situations similar to classrooms, tours, or large meeting environments. In a tour situation the FM System would benefit your hard of hearing and non-hard of hearing audience. Consider a moving tour with people in back who may not be able to hear you speaking up front.

The hard of hearing student/client would be able to hear the speaker as they moved around the room, turned to write on a blackboard or grease board, or moved throughout a multi-floor building. The Transmitter would be worn by the person speaking and would send the sound directly into the ear of the person using the Receiver, which would send the sound directly into the headset, earpiece, or t-coil - eliminating/minimizing background noise regardless of the user’s proximity.

What is a FM System and what is an Auditory Trainer? FM Systems, or Frequency Modulated Systems, are often referred to as Auditory Trainers; there is no difference between a FM System and an Auditory Trainer.

Which FM System kit do I need?