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TV SoundShower™ ListeningLamp™ - Showers you with crystal clear sound
Discussion of Need | Existing Devices | Description | Research Summary | References
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The TV SoundShower™ ListeningLamp™ is a battery free listening device which provides
improved TV understanding without earphone use, in contrast to existing devices
such as TV Ears™. The new TV SoundShower™ ListeningLamp™ can be easily used with all
styles of hearing aids and without hearing aids.
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| It's time to hear what you're missing. The TV SoundShower™ ListeningLamp™ is a two part, infrared
wireless transmitter/receiver that connects to your TV/VCR, Radio, and other sound systems and
provides the user with increased comprehension at reduced room volume levels.
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Deluxe Floor Model
$495
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Basic Floor Model
$395
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- 30 day money back guarantee
- One year service warranty
- Improves television understanding by up to 42%
- Reduces television loudness by one half
- Developed by an ASHA Certified Clinical Audiologist
- Works with most TV/VCR, radio, sound system, satellite and cable systems
- Can be used while seated or lying down
- Wireless infrared operation
- Requires no batteries, uses standard outlet
- Requires no headphones
- Provides benefits with and without use of hearing aids
- Telecoil accessory available
- Works equally well in all homes including apartments, assisted living, and nursing homes
- Patent pending
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HOW TO PURCHASE
Purchase from our distributor:
Pak it Rite - 126 N. Wenatchee Ave - Wenatchee, WA 98801
Voice (Toll Free) - (888) 851-1374 (Pacific Time Zone)
or contact the Inventor/Developer at kullrich@nwi.net
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DISCUSSION OF THE NEED:
Many hearing impaired individuals increase their television volume to uncomfortably high levels.
Even then, the hearing impaired person may miss key parts of news commentary and accented language
programs (e.g., British programs). Listening comprehension becomes even more difficult in the
presence of competing sounds such as dish washers, running sink water, air conditioning fans,
and the conversations of others. Back to Top
EXISTING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES:
All existing assistive listening devices that improve speech understanding of television, radio,
and music systems have auditory weaknesses and/or operational inconveniences. The most acoustically
beneficial listening device is the headphone coupled directly to a sound source by wire or
wireless infrared/FM transmitter/ receiver. Although this device delivers quality sound to the
listener, reduces background noise, and eliminates reverberation, the occluding earphone cushions
isolate the listener from important environmental signals including family communications,
telephones, doorbells, and smoke alarms. There is also the inconvenience of batteries which power
the wireless systems, the discomfort of the headphones when reclining against a chair, couch, or
pillow, and the high risk of damage from sitting or rolling onto the headphone.
The most common assistive listening device for the hearing impaired person is the hearing aid
instrument. State of the art analog and digital hearing aids provide tremendous benefit to the
hearing impaired. Users and researchers agree, however, that because wanted and unwanted sounds
are often amplified together, comprehension of amplified speech continues to suffer in difficult
listening situations involving distance, indirect sound, reverberation, and noise. Back to Top
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS AND METHOD:
The device consists of two parts. Part one is an infrared wireless transmitter that connects to
and transmits from a television/VCR, radio, or music sound source. This transmitter connection is
best accomplished by hardwire directly to an audio output jack. However, if no audio output jack
exists, the wireless transmitter can receive audio input from an accessory microphone that adheres
to a speaker grill. A standard US 115-volt house outlet powers the wireless transmitter. Part two
rests beside your easy chair or couch and consists of a wireless receiver, amplifier, volume and
tone controls, speaker, flexible support tubing, vertical floor stand and power supply. The
wireless receiver, amplifier, and volume and tone controls are placed in a small control box
that must face the transmitter. To maximize the acoustical benefits and to prevent bumping of
the speaker with the head, the speaker enclosure should be center positioned 3 to 6 inches above
and slightly behind the listener’s head. The vertical stand can be positioned behind or to either
side of the listener. A standard US 115-volt house outlet also powers part two. Part two features
an audio output jack for private listening with optional headphones or hearing aid telecoil
accessory.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF APPLIED ACOUSTICAL PRINCIPLES:
Improved comprehension at reduced volume levels is accomplished by greatly reducing the distance
between the sound source and the listener and by focusing the sound directly upon both ears.
Five acoustical principles apply to provide the advantages: the inverse square law, the direct
to indirect sound ratio rule, the reverberation rule, the signal to noise ratio rule, and the
upward spread of masking (Speaks, 1992, Nabelek and Nabelek, 1994, Heifer and Wilber, 1990,
Finitzo-Hieber and Tillman, 1978, Klein et al, 1990). A thorough discussion of the specific
application of these acoustical principles and the research design is available by request. Back to Top
RESEARCH SUMMARY:The device was tested with subjects who wore and did not wear hearing
aids. Comprehension increased by an average difference of 8.7 percent for subjects with hearing
aids. The device improved unaided test subject comprehension by an average difference 12 percent.
Each listener test subject in the aided and unaided conditions experienced improved listening
comprehension; two subjects experienced improvement of 38 and 42 percent.
The device reduced room sound intensity levels in the hearing aided condition by an average
7dB SPL C scale and reduced room sound intensity levels in the unaided condition by more than
one-half (9.5 dB SPL C Scale) for every listener test subject. Back to Top
References
Nabelek AK, Nabelek IV, Handbook of Clinical Audiology 1994; Williams & Wilkins page 624.
Heifer KS, Wilbur LA, Hearing loss, aging and speech perception in reverberation and noise. Journal Speech 8 Hearing Research, 1990; Vol 33; pp 149-155.
Finitzo-Hieber T and Tillma TW, Room acoustics effects on monosyllabic word discrimination ability for normal and hearing impaired children. Journal Speech and Hearing Research, 1978; Vol 21; pp 440-458.
Speaks, Charles E, Introduction to Sound, Singular Publishing Group, 1992; pp 258, 260
Klien AJ. Mills JH. Adkins WY: Upward spread of masking, hearing loss, and speech recognition in young and elderly listeners. Acoust Soc Amer 1990:87: pp1266-1271.
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