Hearing Difficulties and Impairments
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Hearing difficulties and impairments encompass a wide range of conditions, from slight hearing loss to deafness. People who have hearing difficulties and impairments might be able to hear some sound, but might not be able to distinguish words.<ref>http://www.microsoft.com/enable/guides/hearing.aspx</ref> To get more information about the services AMAC provides for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals please click on Captioning and Audio Services.
Assistive Technologies
- Closed Captioning is the text that goes on the bottom of the television screen to inform deaf people of what is being
- said. Look for a small box with letters ‘CC’ inside or a small box with a cartoon balloon dialogue marker, to verify if
- the programs are closed captioned.<ref>http://www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html</ref>
- Hearing aids amplify sounds for the persons with hearing loss. They can come in different sizes and shapes and may vary in
- position from behind the ear to in-the-ear. Depending upon the type of hearing loss the person may have, the sounds may
- be distorted and be too loud.<ref>http://www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html</ref>
- A Hearing Loop is a coil of wire that amplifies sound and reduces background noise. Users of hearing aids with a
- loop can set their aids to a certain setting to receive the transmission. Hearing loops can be permanently installed or
- portable.<ref>http://www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html</ref>
- Text Telephones (TTYs) are the telephones that deaf people use to communicate with others on the telephone. These look
- like small typewriters and come with an LCD screen and a cradle for the telephone. In order for a deaf person to call on
- the TTY, the person on the other end must also have a TTY. There is a national relay system that the deaf person on the
- TTY can use to call anyone who does not have a TTY.<ref>http://www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html</ref>
- Visual Alert Signalers are devices that use flashing lights to alert the deaf person to the ringing of a phone or
- fire alarm. Mobile phones and pagers also allow deaf users to send emails, faxes, pages and call people who have TTY and
- through relay.<ref>http://www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html</ref>