Identification

• An assistive listening device is used to help a person hear a specific sound clearer. A transmitter is placed near the source of the sound, and the person using the device listens on a receiver.
  
  

Misconceptions

• According to NCHearingLoss.org, a hearing aid is not an assistive listening device. A hearing aid is used to hear better in general, while an ALD is used to hear specific things better. An ALD is sometimes used in conjunction with a hearing aid.
  
  

Types

• According to HearingLossWeb.com, a personal ALD is used by one specific person. Group ALDs are primarily used for large gatherings that have the potential to be attended by a significant number of hearing-impaired people.
  
  

Group ADLs

• According to NCHearingLoss.org, group ALDs are offered in public places such as movie theaters, lecture halls and churches. Infrared ALDs use infrared light to transmit sound to a gathering of receivers. Loop technology uses a loop of wire around the room that picks up and amplifies a signal from the transmitter to a series of receivers. The FM radio wave method is also used for group ALDs.
  
  

Features

• Many users of ALDs have either earbuds or full-ear headphones hooked up to their receivers to help them hear better.