We have therefore listed some common deaf equipment here that are designed for deaf services and that you may find handy as a deaf person. We have not discussed the standard hearing aids here but simply other deaf services devices that can make life easier for you on a day to day basis.

Doorbells For Deaf People

While most people take a doorbell for granted, those with hearing disabilities are often unable to hear the doorbell. This is a major inconvenience and as a result new deaf equipment for the hearing disabled provides deaf people new deaf services doorbell designed especially to help them answer the door.

• Flashing Table Lamp Doorbells – These doorbells are sychronized with  a flashing strobe light. Every time your doorbell rings, the lights go off indicating to you that someone is at the door.
• Dimming Lights – This doorbell system makes the lights in your home flash or dim, depending on the time of day your doorbell is rung.
• Vibrating Transmitters – These are small transmitters compact enough to fit into your pocket. Every time someone rings your doorbell, these devices will vibrate and let you know you need to get the door.

A portable flashing door light costs £20, $38 USD or 29 Euros. A simple light flashing system will be around £22, $41 USD or 32 Euros.

Alarm Clocks For Deaf People

Due to their inability to hear properly, deaf people often sleep through an alarm in the mornings causing them to run late. Manufacturers have therefore started designing deaf services alarm clocks that are particularly useful the hearing challenged.

• Extra Loud Ringing – These are pretty much the same as a standard alarm clock except the ringing feature on these alarm clocks is extra loud and is designed for those who are partially hearing challenged and can hear certain loud noises and sounds.
• Flashing Lights – The alarm clock not only emits a sound but also has a bright flashing light that goes on and off in synchronization so the deaf person can wake up due to the bright lights.
• Vibrations – This is a special type of alarm clock with a vibrating pad attached the clock. People with hearing disabilities should place this clock under their pillow at night and the clock vibrates in the morning in order to help a deaf person wake up.

These special deaf services alarm clocks have the standard features of a normal alarm clock but are designed as deaf equipment for the hearing challenged.

An alarm clock for the deaf can cost between £15 to £80which is roughly $29 to $150 USD or 22 Euros to 117 Euros.

Other Equipments For Deaf

In addition to alarm clocks and doorbell deaf equipments, there are some other deaf services equipments as well.

• Smoke Alarms – Smoke alarms for the deaf often use a combination of the technology used for alarm clocks and doorbells with the alarms often emitting shrill high pitched noises, along with a vibrating pad that one can sleep with at night. Flashing lights are also part of some alarm systems. A smoke system of this type will cost about £105, $197 USD or 153 Euros.

As people are waking up to the problems a hearing disability can cause, clever inventors are developing products and deaf equipment that will make day to day life much easier for deaf people.

Assistive Technology For Children With Austism

Autism is a brain disorder which affects 1 out of every 150 people in the United States and is usually diagnosed at a very early stage of a child. An assistive technology is any kind of product or device that is used by children with autism to assist them in their communication, education, sports and other basic daily activities. These activities would be impossible to perform if it were not for some kind of assisted technology, which helps to enhance or simply maintain a regular lifestyle. Children with Autism are able to lead better lives with the help of such assistive technology devices which are available in various forms. It is important to understand the needs of your child in order to implement the correct assistive technology device in their learning process.

Assistive technology for children can be used in many different ways:

• Touch screen computer assistive technology
• Trackballs in the place of a mouse
• Talking computers
• Electronic voice oriented assistive technology devices
• Visual representation systems
• Specialized keyboards

Visually Assisted Technology

While Autism can never be cured once it is diagnosed in a child, it is however possible to make your child’s life easier and more independent with an assistive technology device. Most children with autism find it easier to learn and communicate with visually aided assistive technology. In fact, they enjoy such computer assistive technology and are able to express themselves better by becoming proficient assistive technology users. Touch screen computers, customized keyboards and ergonomic trackballs allow your child to interact freely with assistive technology products. Some software programs that work as good assistive technology products are:

• Boardmaker,  uses line drawings and symbols in black/white and color
• Picture This, contains several commonly used real photos
• True Object Based Icons (TOBIs), cut outs of actual shapes or outlines with printed word labels
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), stack of individual picture cards with labels

Assistive technology is ever changing and newer and simpler assistive technology devices are coming out more and more often with the help of researchers who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of children with autism.  Such autism assistive technology will continue to provide support and confidence to children with the use of the numerous assistive technology products and promote a better life for them. While it is our moral duty to take care of children with autism, assistive technology, in its various ways, helps us provide unimaginable opportunities for them and helps them communicate with their loved ones.

References:

1. What is Assistive Technology – University of Washington
2. Assistive technology information – Abledata
3. Assistive Technology for Children with Autism – Special Ed US