This logo informs people that a public area is looped. ALD systems for large facilities include hearing loop systems, frequency-modulated (FM) systems, and infrared systems. All can be used with or without hearing aids or a cochlear implant. Other types are intended for personal use in small settings and for one-on-one conversations. Some are designed for large facilities such as classrooms, theaters, places of worship, and airports. Several types of ALDs are available to improve sound transmission for people with hearing loss. What types of assistive listening devices are available? Alerting devices connect to a doorbell, telephone, or alarm that emits a loud sound or blinking light to let someone with hearing loss know that an event is taking place.These devices can range from a simple picture board to a computer program that synthesizes speech from text. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices help people with communication disorders to express themselves.ALDs can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant to help a wearer hear certain sounds better. Assistive listening devices (ALDs) help amplify the sounds you want to hear, especially where there’s a lot of background noise.Health professionals use a variety of names to describe assistive devices: What types of assistive devices are available? With the development of digital and wireless technologies, more and more devices are becoming available to help people with hearing, voice, speech, and language disorders communicate more meaningfully and participate more fully in their daily lives. These terms often refer to devices that help a person to hear and understand what is being said more clearly or to express thoughts more easily. The terms assistive device or assistive technology can refer to any device that helps a person with hearing loss or a voice, speech, or language disorder to communicate. Congressional Testimony and the NIDCD Budget.Research Training in NIDCD Laboratories (Intramural).Institutional Research Training Programs.Types of Research Training Funding Opportunities.About NIDCD's Research Training Program.Scientific Workshop and Meeting Reports.Building a Diverse Scientific Workforce.