Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) - radio aids and proprietary remote microphone systems - optimising listening opportunities

Revised version: Contributions by members of the ALTWG (Stuart Whyte, Brian Copsey, James Mander) including Educational Audiologists from the professional associations; British Association of Educational Audiologists (BAEA) (Claire Bateson, Anne Bailey) and BATOD (Teresa Quail). | View as single page | Feedback/Impact
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
Evidence
What and why?
How?
Technical Support
Setting up
BATOD articles
What are ALDs?
Routine checks
Choosing a system
Using a test box
Further reading
Why use ALDs?
Use in educational settings
Troubleshooting
Cochlear implants
Case studies
Criteria
Use in everyday life
Connecting to other technology
Hearing aids
Glossary
Listening in noise
Costing and funding
Frequencies and transmission
Bone conduction aids
BATOD Audiology Refreshers
Supporting listening difficulties
Insurance
ALT working group
Assessing the benefits of ALDs
Good practice
Soundfield systems and ALDs
Strength of evidence
Transferability
Editor's comments
Areas for further research
Online community

Routine checks

The hearing aids, bone conduction hearing devices, speech processors and assistive listening devices should be checked at regularly, ie at least daily if the child is not yet able to report faults with the system, and at a frequency that is agreed with the young person/parent who have established checking routines. This will ensure that they have the best possible signal to hear the speaker's voice.

  1. Look at the hearing aid and assistive listening device, is there any damage?
  2. Check the batteries in the hearing aids.
  3. Listen to the hearing aid using a stetoclip with an attenuator.
  4. Attach the assistive listening device.
  5. Give the transmitter to another person or place by a sound source.
  6. Listen to the sound through the whole system. 
  7. Use the Ling sounds to check that the CYP can discriminate speech sounds through the system. Read Section 5.1 BATOD Audiology Refreshers for further details about Ling sound checks.
  8. Validation of device setup using speech in noise testing.
  9. If you are concerned go to the troubleshooting section in the next column     

How radio aids can help - A guide for families (NDCS publication), gives a full description (pages 30-34) of how to check the systems daily, how to look after the system, and how to explain the use to teachers.  

The NDCS also produced a video on how to check your radio aid system

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