Final answer:
The term for any device or system that makes speech or audio more accessible to the Hard of Hearing is an assistive listening device (ALD). This includes hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other amplification devices designed to accommodate varying types of hearing loss, such as presbycusis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to any device or system designed to make speech or audio more accessible to the Hard of Hearing is assistive listening device (ALD). Assistive listening devices include a variety of instruments, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other amplification systems designed to help individuals with hearing loss. These devices work by amplifying the audio signals or by converting sounds into visual or tactile forms that can be more easily understood by someone with hearing impairments.
Hearing aids, for example, are small electronic devices that can be worn behind or in the ear. They pick up sound through a microphone, amplify it, and deliver the modified sound to the ear. On the other hand, cochlear implants can restore hearing in individuals with a nonfunctional cochlea by converting sounds into electrical impulses that are sent to the auditory nerve.
It should be noted that assistive listening devices are configured and adjusted based on the specific type of hearing loss an individual has. For instance, with presbycusis—age-related hearing loss affecting higher frequencies—sound output might be tailored specifically for the audible range of the individual. When concerning hearing aid configurations, a capacitor might be added in parallel to adjust for high-frequency hearing loss since this will create a high-pass filter effect allowing more high frequencies to pass through to the speaker.