radio aids

The aim is to ensure that all CYP and especially those who may have a temporary or permanent hearing loss, can listen and learn effectively in their educational setting.  How intelligible speech is to a CYP will depend on the how background noise can be reduced or eliminated and the acoustic quality of the educational setting, ie how much sound reverberates (or echoes) around the room.  The greater the reverberation, the less CYP will be able to hear the person speaking.  Speech intelligibility will also depend how teaching styles are changed to the listening requirements of CYP.

Case studies

1. FM for teens booklet 2014 Ear Foundation

A study of 20 teenagers and their views of the Radio Aid systems they use both at school and beyond. It shows their usefulness but also some of the challenges encountered by the young people using them.

There are three main manufacturers of Cochlear Implants and each provide specific wireless devices to go with their product.

Cochlear  

Here are some suggestions for when things go wrong.

Hearing loss in the classroom  is a video that demonstrates the effect of using a radio aid in the classroom.

Before the lesson begins

Modern hearing aids and cochlear implants allow most wearers to hear quiet speech when the listening situation is quiet and with a known speaker.   However, in reality, the world is a noisy place and a great deal of communication takes place in less than ideal listening situations.  There will be times when a CYP may struggle to hear.

Listed below are useful references that are not included in the main texts.

Allen, S., Ng, Z.Y., Mulla, I.M. & Archbold, S. (2016). Using Remote Microphone technology with young children: the real-life experience of families in the UK, British Academy of Audiology, 10-11 November 2016, Glasgow, UK.

Boothroyd, A (2000). Management of hearing loss in children: No simple solutions. In RC Seewald (ed) A Sound Foundation through Early Amplification. Phonak AG: Stafa

The FM Quality Standards sets the standards for good Radio Aid fitting and setting up.  QS3 states ‘the personal radio aid must be set up with the child’s individual hearing aids or implants to ensure that the radio signal provides the desired advantage’.

There are a variety of Radio Aid systems available.  It is a good idea to discuss the choice with your Teacher of the Deaf or Educational Audiologist as there are a number of considerations.

The hearing aids, BAHAs, speech processors and radio aids should be checked at least daily, particularly if the child is not yet able to report faults with the system.  This will ensure that they have the best possible signal to hear the speaker's voice.

1. Look at the hearing aid and radio aid, is there any damage?

2. Check the batteries in the radio aid and hearing aids.

3. Listen to the hearing aid using a stetoclip with an attenuator.