Information / Resources

Glossary of Terms

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
Amplify and deliver specific sounds directly to the user. ALDs complement hearing aids by amplifying only the desired sound, and not the background noise. For some people who have a hearing loss but don't wear hearing aids, ALDs alone are sometimes sufficient.

Deaf
Refers to a profound hearing loss; usually the loss is to the degree that a person cannot hear anything without the use of a hearing aid. However, for some deaf people, hearing aids may not be effective at all.

Decibel
A decibel is a unit of the intensity of sound, a measure of loudness.

Hard of Hearing
Refers to a mild-to-moderate or severe hearing loss where the use of a hearing aid or other amplification device improves a person's sound reception.

Hearing Aid Compatible
Most non-portable telephones currently sold in the United States are "hearing aid compatible". The telephone speaker in the earpiece not only outputs the incoming sound but a magnetic signal representing the sound that some hearing aids receive and amplify. All amplified telephones by Clarity are Hearing Aid Compatible.

Hearing Impaired
Refers to a mild hearing loss where use of a hearing aid or other amplification device improves a person's sound reception.

Neck Loop
A necklace-sized loop of wire that can be plugged into assistive listening devices or telephones. Worn around the neck of a hearing aid user, it generates a signal that is heard and amplified.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Individual is exposed to harmful sounds-sounds that are too loud or loud sounds over a long time-sensistive structures of the inner ear can be damaged causing Noise Induced Hearing Loss.

Telecoil/T-Switch
A feature of some hearing aids that allows the aid to "hear" magnetic signals instead or in addition to normal audio input. A benefit is that the telecoil only "hears" the sound near the transmitting microphone. The hearing aid microphone can be turned off, so background noise near the listener does not interfere.

TTY
A device like a typewriter that has a small readout. The device connects to a phone line and can be used to send text over the phone lines. Someone who cannot hear can then use the phone by typing what they want to say and reading what the other party says. A person using a TTY can converse directly over the phone line with anyone else with a TTY (and in some cases with someone who have a computer), and a person using a TTY can converse with anyone via Relay. Most TTYs use Baudot and can only connect directly to another TTY or to any phone via Relay. Some TTYs can also use ASCII, so they can also connect to a computer. See also: TDD, Baudot, ASCII, and Relay)

TDD stands for Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. It is a name invented to describe the TTY. Deaf people, who were the primary users of TTYs, were not happy being told to call their TTY a TDD. TTYs are also used by many hard of hearing people when they can no longer hear well on a phone. You still may find the term TDD used sometimes, but the proper name is TTY (See TTY).