Frequent Asked Questions are answered here.
For more information feel free to contact any one of the Assistive Technology Team.
- What is an Assistive Technology Device?
- What is an Assistive Technology Service?
- What Assistive Technology Isn’t?
- What is an assistive listening device?
- What are examples of Low-Tech A.T.?
- What is the referral process?
- What are the Accommodations for the Hearing Impaired?
What is an Assistive Technology Device?
An assistive technology device is any item, piece of equipment or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
An assistive technology device is something used to bypass, work around or compensate for a disability.
What is an Assistive Technology Service?
An assistive technology service means any service that directly assist a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
- Evaluation and assessment
- Acquisition or assistive technology devices
- Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, maintaining, repairing devices
- Coordinating with other therapies or services
- Training of child, family and necessary professionals
Assistive technology is not instructional technology (but can include it). Assistive technology is not rehabilitative technology (but might become it). Assistive technology is not synonymous with computers (but can include them).
Assistive technology is not always the answer.
What is an assistive listening device?
Assistive Listening Device (ALDs) or Assistive Listening Systems (ALSs), also know as Sound Fields, are instruments that are designed to improve a person’s ability to hear in specific listening situations. Some ALDs amplify a sound signal, but the primary purpose of an ALD is to make the targeted sound (e.g., a teacher’s voice, a movie, etc.) easier to hear by isolating the sound from surrounding noise.
- Is an assistive listening device the same as a hearing aid?
- Who uses an assistive listening device?
- General Classroom Accommodations for the Hearing Impaired
Is an assistive listening device the same as a hearing aid?
An ALD is not hearing aid. Both hearing aids and ALDs have similar components (e.g., microphone, amplifier, loudspeaker, etc.), but a hearing aid combines all of these components into one device that is worn on the person’s body or in the person’s ear. An ALD has a microphone that can be placed directly near the sound source, picking up more of the targeted sound and less of the background noise. The user then listens to the amplified signal through speakers, headphones, or through their hearing aid or cochlear implant (with or without a coupling device).
Who uses an assistive listening device?
Assistive listening device are typically used by people who have some residual hearing or who are hard of hearing. People who have difficulty hearing speech or who need to hear certain sound information in noisy situations may benefit from using an ALD. Additionally, people who need to hear sound at a louder level than other people in the same area may use ALDs. These devices are essentially used for minimizing background noise, reducing the effect of distance between the sound source and person with hearing loss, and overriding poor acoustics such as echo.
What are examples of Low-Tech A.T.?
- Abacus/Calculators
- Pencil grips/wider pens
- Bolsters
- Tape recorders
- Highlighters
- Magnifying glasses
- Pocket dictionaries
- Communication Boards
What is the referral process?
A Request for Assistive Technology Consultation is required to begin the process of evaluation. Contact your school site psychologist, speech therapist or our offices for direction (619) 796-7500.
Forms & Additional information can be found at the: Assistive Technology Files