There are two basic approaches to assistive technology for auditory impairments: augmentation of existing pathways and use of alternative pathways. Augmentation involves amplifying sounds to improve reception of certain frequencies for those who are hard of hearing. Alternative pathways include tactile substitution, where sounds are felt through touch, and visual substitution, using displays to represent sounds. Examples of aids discussed include hearing aids, cochlear implants, visual alarms, and computerized speech and text.