Applications of HELOS

Listen through HELOS as you watch television

Connect television audio through the USB audio adapter to the input of HELOS. Connect a small amplifier and headphones to the output of HELOS.

Listen through HELOS as you watch a DVD recording 

To make your own DVD, record a person as they speak to the camera - from the point of view of a child or adult with impaired hearing. Connect a DVD player, USB audio adapter, computer, and television as shown. Listen through HELOS as you watch the DVD recording.

Train communication partners

Train communication partners to produce clear speech and language.

Communicate through a window that separates two rooms (e.g., a glass panel in a door).  Connect microphones, amplifiers, USB audio adapter, computer, cables, and earphones as shown.

Most audiology clinics contain a 2-room test suite separated by a double-glazed window.  Connect microphones, USB audio adapter, computer, and headphones to the audiometer/talkback system as shown.

Or, you may assemble a closed-circuit video system between two rooms.  Connect microphones, USB audio adapter, computer, amplifier, headphones, and cameras/televisions as shown.

In each case, the person on the right listens through HELOS and experiences a simulated hearing impairment.  The person on the right also can experience a simulated vision impairment by looking through a thin sheet of rough-surfaced (clear) plastic that diffuses images.

Select HELOS audiogram shape, threshold, and distortion settings.  The person on the left may speak words (e.g., cat), phrases (e.g., "4 ripe tomatoes"), sentences (e.g., "My bicycle has a flat tire."), or narrative (e.g., topic: "my birthday party"). The person on the right attempts to identify each item.  Or the two people may conduct a brief conversation (topics: family, travel, food, pets, etc.).

The person who simulates sensory loss provides feedback and may request clarification.  The participants practice with different communication strategies (e.g., repetition, clear speech, contextual cues) and different amounts of hearing and vision impairment.  The communication partner learns to produce clear speech and language. 

[For more details, see Erber, 2008]