Improve your television watching experience with these assistive listening devices.
One of the most common issues for people with hearing loss revolves around a seemingly simple household issue: who controls the television volume? A comfortable volume for you may be uncomfortable for family members. But if they control the volume, it may not be loud enough for you to hear clearly.
If this situation sounds familiar to you, there is good news! There are a wide variety of assistive listening devices or television features that can make it easier to follow along with your favorite shows. With these handy tools, you can enjoy watching television at a level that’s comfortable for you, and those around you.
Check out our list of some of the best assistive listening devices for TV below.
- Roku App
- Wireless headphones
- Loop systems
- Closed captions
Keep reading to learn more about the best assistive listening devices for TV.
Roku app
Several Roku devices have a convenient private listening feature where you can stream audio directly to headphones or earbuds through a remote app on your smartphone. Only you can hear the program you’re watching, and the volume is in your control. It’s a great option when you’re watching TV by yourself and don’t want to disturb others.
Wireless headphones
If you do not have a Roku device, wireless headphones are another excellent choice for amplifying and controlling the television’s audio levels without raising the volume to an uncomfortable level. Depending on what type of headphones you have, you may be able to connect them to your television through a wireless adapter or via Bluetooth. The best part? No wires to worry about – you can step away from the television without missing a word of the action as long as your headphones are in range!
Loop systems
Induction or hearing loops are an excellent option to improve sound quality when watching television for people who use hearing aids. Depending on the type of loop system, your television’s audio is sent to an amplifier loop installed around the perimeter of a room or a smaller personal loop worn around the listener’s neck. The loop picks up the incoming sound and sends it to the hearing aids in a way that’s similar to a satellite dish picking up a signal. If you enjoy watching television with friends and family, a loop system is a great option since it only amplifies the sound for people using hearing aids.
Closed captions
If you’re able to mostly follow along with the majority of the audio from your television but want to make sure you’re not missing any dialogue, another option is to enable closed captioning on your television. There are different methods of enabling captions depending on your television model and what you’re watching – check out our guides on turning on closed captions on your television, as well as on streaming services, for specific instructions.
For more helpful information about hearing loss and assistive listening devices, visit the CapTel blog!
