Elder hearing aids. Infrared listening device in a geriatric day center

1. An infrared listening device (IRLD) is a device that changes an auditory signal into infrared light. This signal is delivered to an infrared receiver via light-emitting diodes. The signal is then converted back into auditory energy. 2. Nineteen percent of elders at the Day Care Center for the Elderly who participated in the survey expressed an interest in using an IRLD if it were made available to them. More than half of the clients in this group were successful in using the listening device. 3. The application of an IRLD can add a dimension of independence to the lives of older adults. For those individuals who are unable to operate a conventional hearing aid, an IRLD can offer the benefits of amplification in a form that may be easier to comprehend and operate.