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).
