Assistive Listening Devices in Schools
Assistive listening devices, support hearing impaired students in the classroom, ensure that they can understand their instructor. Assistive listening devices or ALDs are able to overcome the typically bad acoustics in a classroom setting, in addition to extraneous noises. Students who are hearing-impaired can quality for a Free Appropriate Public Education, in which the school will provide the assistive listening device at no cost to the family. There are four major ALD systems used in the classroom.
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FM Systems
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Without the need for installation, FM ALD systems are portable and easy to use. A wireless transmitter, typically worn by the teacher, broadcasts a signal using radio waves. The waves are picked up by a receiver, usually worn by the student in the form of an earpiece or hearing aid. The broadcast area can be the size of a classroom or an auditorium setting. When the teacher speaks into the microphone, the student can hear her anywhere within the broadcast area. This system can also be used to amplify movie and audio sources.
Sound Field Systems
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Also using radio waves to transmit a signal, a sound field ALD system broadcasts over loud-speakers strategically placed around a classroom or auditorium. This system is useful for all students, including those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Although this system requires installation it can benefit students by compensating for background noises. Scraping chairs, student chatter and the swish of pencils and papers can all be very distracting for a hearing impaired student trying to use a hearing aid. Assistive listening devices help students when eliminating the extraneous noise factor.
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Loop Systems
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Loop systems use telephone technology to send an electromagnetic signal through a loop that encircles a classroom or auditorium. This is the oldest system, and the most popular in Europe. The amplified sound is fed through the loop with the signal ending in the student's hearing aid. Most hearing aids already have built-in telecoils that allow them to activate this kind of ALD; therefore there is no need for a separate receiver.
CART
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CART stands for Communication Access Realtime Translation. A paid CART transcriptionist records all spoken language into text which is then displayed on a screen or monitor. This system is best for students with severe hearing loss. The transcriber records not only the teacher, but all speech taking place in the classroom, allowing students to have a much more active classroom experience. Students can utilize the written transcription as a study guide, should the teacher make it available. These systems are usually the most expensive and seen only in college and university settings.
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- Photo Credit At the lesson image by Dmitry Nikolaev from Fotolia.com
