In difficult listening situations - such as listening from a distance or in noisy environments – most hearing aid users, especially those with severe or profound hearing loss,  can benefit from assistive listening devices. These help to decrease the distance between you and the speaker or sound source.

There are three types of assistive listening devices:

FM systems
FM listening systems work by picking up the sound of the speaker's voice through a microphone placed near or worn by the speaker and transmitting it as a radio signal directly to the person wearing the hearing aid. FM systems can be used in the classroom, at home, at restaurants, at social events, or when watching television. SUMO offers a unique interlocking FM adaptor shoe to help prevent the loss of ear level FM receivers.

Direct Audio Input (DAI)

DAI cords can be used to connect your hearing instrument to an external source, such as a CD and MP3 player, and computers.   DAI connectivity transmits sound directly into your hearing aid. SUMO supports all Direct Audio Inputs by using an adjustable Direct Audio Input shoe.

Telecoil

If your hearing instrument has a ‘T’ switch, you can use it to listen to sound coming from an induction loop.  The induction loop can be portable (telephones contain induction loops) or installed, such as in a church or meeting hall . Sound is delivered via magnetic energy directly to your hearing instrument. SUMO comes standard with a telecoil and offers the highest available T-coil amplification of any super power instrument.