FM Systems.. Yay or Nay?

I'm not a user but am a mom with a 3 year son in the 1/2 day school program for the auditory impaired. From what I understand the FM now switches off/on on its own when the teacher is not speaking so that the child can hear other kids in the background. I don't know how fast or slow the switch is, I have not found any documentation in reference to that. My son has an FM system for school. HTH

To me, if it's not needed they would have to pass regulation/legislation on this issue. This is what I've read...
Hearing Assistive Technology (HATS) for Children
Is there legislation that supports the provision of Hearing Assistive Technology (HATS) for Children to children?

Increased availability and usage of FM systems are due in large measure to legislation that mandates access to technology for persons with hearing and other communication disabilities: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Under IDEA, consideration of assistive technology for any child with a disability must take place as part of the development of the individualized education program. Each act in some way deals with the issue of access to instruction. Of course, for the child with hearing loss, “access” means being able to hear instruction!

FM Systems - Hearing Aid Choices - My Baby's Hearing
Research shows that children learn a lot of language by overhearing conversations. This overhearing helps children learn new words and grows their understanding of how to use language. Children with hearing loss may miss opportunities to overhear if people are talking more than 1 meter away or if it is noisy. Using the FM with a hearing aid can give a child more opportunities to overhear some conversations. This can help grow a child's vocabulary.

FAQ on Classroom Management of Children with Minimal Hearing Loss
Which has a better S/N ratio, a personal FM or a sound-field FM?
Good question. A major difference between sound-field FM units and personal FM systems is that the personal FM, if fit appropriately, can provide the most favorable S/N ratio: +20 dB to +30 dB. When a personal FM unit is used, the speech signal travels directly from the microphone transmitter, which is positioned about 6 inches from the teacher's mouth, into the ear of the child who is wearing the FM receiver. In the case of a sound-field unit, the teacher's speech is transmitted from the microphone worn 6 inches from his or her mouth to the amplifier/loudspeakers, which are located at some distance from the children. The students can be consistently closer to loudspeakers than they can be to the teacher, but not as close as a child is to the headphones of his or her personal FM receiver. Typically, sound-field FM units improve the classroom's S/N ratio by about 10 dB to 15 dB. Therefore, the decision as to which type of S/N-ratio-enhancing technology will be most appropriate depends upon the specific population of children to be served and their particular educational placements and needs.
 
auditory impaired.

Oh boy...
 
Some people are offended by the terms "hearing impaired," "auditory impaired," and the like. Some folks aren't.

Don't worry about it. The program's title is less important than how helpful it is for your son.
 
Thank you all for your input! There is SO much to think about! The FM would make speech clearer for him but I don't want him to miss out on other kids/soun ds as he plays.
Deafdyke... he will be going to school 2x week, 3 hrs per day this year. We are in tough with FSDB and have heard wonderful things about them. It is our first choice as we want total communication for him but it is a 2.5 hr. drive each way. We have considered moving the school is in a smaller town and there are not much for jobs to speak of. My husband would have to commute at the very least a hour. Not to mention the loos we would take selling our home in this economy! There is a decent total communication school within a public school setting about 45 min's from us. Right now that is our plan when he is 3. He will go 5 full days each week.
 
The FM would make speech clearer for him
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That is really important right now when he is acquiring language. Using an FM system is not (or does not have to be) an all or nothing proposition. He can use it it for story hour, for music, for talk-heavy actvities. And like another poster said above, there is a type of system that will switch on and off as the main person is speaking or not.

He can remove the system when he is outside playing with other kids and needs to get more general input.

Language acquisition is part of the "full toolbox" so anything you can do to help him in that regard seems worthwhile.
 
Actually it was useless for me. I perfer implant Cochlear because it pick up more sound than hearing aids. But it has some side effect through. It affect me only little. Even when I took it off, I would hear bell rings in my head most of the time. Some deaf don't like implant cochlear and some do. I like implant cochlear becuase I love to listen to music while I do whatever I do. It helps my mood. Just saying. Also these scar won't go away. keep that in mind. Implant Cochlear doesn't always work for everyone.
 
JoeyDeafNinja said:
Actually it was useless for me. I perfer implant Cochlear because it pick up more sound than hearing aids. But it has some side effect through. It affect me only little. Even when I took it off, I would hear bell rings in my head most of the time. Some deaf don't like implant cochlear and some do. I like implant cochlear becuase I love to listen to music while I do whatever I do. It helps my mood. Just saying. Also these scar won't go away. keep that in mind. Implant Cochlear doesn't always work for everyone.
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We're not talking about CI. We're talking about FMs in this thread. Two completely different subjects.
 
Mandamay28 said:
Wow... thanks! These are angles I had not thought about. My little one is only 2 so I try to do what I think is best for him but I really have no clue. His hearing range AIDED is around 25-30 dbs. We are all learning ASL but would like him to speak as well... then again... thats US not HIM. Thanks for making me think about it from his point of view!
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I hated FM systems throughout my life because I could only hear my teacher and not my friends. I felt more left out with them on than without, so I never wore them.

Now, I have one for my Naidas which is a little better, but I only use it in certain cases. It's good for lectures and readings, but even then, I still miss a lot. Making things louder doesn't usually help with my loss, so an FM system's help is minimal.


If your son can get aided back into the 20-30 range, then an FM system will be very beneficial for him in certain cases (teacher lecturing, etc). It's great that your family is learning ASL.

Is his loss progressive?
 
Mandamay28 said:
Thank you all for your input! There is SO much to think about! The FM would make speech clearer for him but I don't want him to miss out on other kids/soun ds as he plays.
Deafdyke... he will be going to school 2x week, 3 hrs per day this year. We are in tough with FSDB and have heard wonderful things about them. It is our first choice as we want total communication for him but it is a 2.5 hr. drive each way. We have considered moving the school is in a smaller town and there are not much for jobs to speak of. My husband would have to commute at the very least a hour. Not to mention the loos we would take selling our home in this economy! There is a decent total communication school within a public school setting about 45 min's from us. Right now that is our plan when he is 3. He will go 5 full days each week.
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Several of my personal friends teaches at FSDB. Great school there.
 
We are in tough with FSDB and have heard wonderful things about them. It is our first choice as we want total communication for him but it is a 2.5 hr. drive each way. We have considered moving the school is in a smaller town and there are not much for jobs to speak of. My husband would have to commute at the very least a hour. Not to mention the loos we would take selling our home in this economy! There is a decent total communication school within a public school setting about 45 min's from us. Right now that is our plan when he is 3. He will go 5 full days each week.
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Excellent!!!!!!
At least you have a decent TC program that he can take advantage of, for preschool/early childhood for a stopgap. So much better then a general early intervention preschool or even solotairing it. Maybe when the economy improves you can move closer to FSDB...it is very common for parents of dhh kids to move to places where there are good deaf schools.
Hopefully the economy will improve SOON!!!!!! Hey, at least it isn't the 50's and 60's when the only real choices were generally Deaf School (and sending little kids off to deaf school) or classes in the city or nothing at all.
Also maybe when he's older,(if you haven't moved) like in upper elementary or middle/high school he could stay in the dorms. Just throwing out an idea.....and hopefully that won't have to be an option while he's still kinda too young for living at school.
I feel for parents of dhh kids! Totally and completely feel for them!
 
Using an FM system is not (or does not have to be) an all or nothing proposition. He can use it it for story hour, for music, for talk-heavy actvities. And like another poster said above, there is a type of system that will switch on and off as the main person is speaking or not.

He can remove the system when he is outside playing with other kids and needs to get more general input.
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Exactly. Experiment with using the FM device. I think what we're trying to say is that FM is painted as a kneejerk "gotta have" accomondation.
It can be useful but it seems to be very indivdual...that is what we are saying.
Besides, what's wrong with having him sit near the person telling the story or near the music or whatever? That's what we did before home FM use was pushed.
 
Thanks! I will definitly ask about the system that turns on/off when the main speaker is talking!
His hearing has not been progressive however they can not say that they can not tell us it will not get worse throughout his life. He has sensorineural loss since birth. his unaided hearing is moderatly severe.
 
I think 2 yo is really small for using an FM system... I think I'll be considering it fro school, when he'll be 6 or 7 and really need to understand what the teacher says. While he is so small, I think teachers could accomodate him a little trying not to cover their mouths and learning some signs, too (one of them is looking forward for this). And he will have an "interpreter"(they call it "communication assistant" here and they know sign language, unfortunately I found no deaf ones, but it will be ok anyway I guess). While they're so small the time they can pay attention to something is really short...
But again, it's worth trying I guess. If it misterously get broken, you'll know it's no good for him:lol:
 
He has sensorineural loss since birth. his unaided hearing is moderatly severe.
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That is BEYOND awesome that you want him to learn both speech and sign!
You might encounter some stupid TODs who insist that hoh kids don't "need" ASL....:roll:
but on the other hand, you're in Florida where the Deaf School is very hoh friendly.
I also have a feeling that Deaf Ed programs are now going to become VERY hoh friendly...Deaf Ed finally realizes that deaf kids aren't the only ones who may benifit from a formal program, as opposed to being solotaire mainstreamed.
 
Beach girl said:
That is really important right now when he is acquiring language. Using an FM system is not (or does not have to be) an all or nothing proposition. He can use it it for story hour, for music, for talk-heavy actvities. And like another poster said above, there is a type of system that will switch on and off as the main person is speaking or not.

He can remove the system when he is outside playing with other kids and needs to get more general input.

Language acquisition is part of the "full toolbox" so anything you can do to help him in that regard seems worthwhile.
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What if he doesnt understand anything coming from the FM system? It was all garbled to me so how does a child acquire language when the sounds coming from the FM system is all garbled? That's why I wouldnt rely on it solely for language acquisition. Include ASL in the toolbox to ensure that there are no language gaps.
 
dhn121 said:
that's what they call the program. Is this not the correct term? I'm new to all of this I don't mean to offend anyone. should I have written "dhh"?
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I thought it was a spam post because we have gotten several of those before from companies trying to advertise. I didnt know you were an actual user as I didnt see your introductory thread.
 
What if he doesnt understand anything coming from the FM system? It was all garbled to me so how does a child acquire language when the sounds coming from the FM system is all garbled?
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Oh GOOD point!!!!! In addition, I wonder if the benifit from home FM usage was seen in severe/profound kids.....in other words kids who need a LOT of spoken language input.
 
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