• Registered: 2009-10-28
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Hearing in the Classroom

Can anyone recommend an assisted listening device for use in the classroom?  I am a teacher and I wear two hearing aides.  I have a wireless FM device that worked well when I taught small groups of 6-8 students, but now I teach 20 students spread out in a larger area. My listening device doesn't work in that situation unless I walk around the room with the microphone when a student asks a question. That is too slow and inconvenient.  I would appreciate any ideas and would love to hear from other HOH teachers to learn how they are able to cope.  There must be many classroom teachers with hearing lost that teach 30 – 35 students, but I’ve yet to meet one or hear from one.  I’d love to connect with other teachers and start a chat group on this website for teachers.  Love to hear from you!
Thanks,
Marilyn

  • From: Miami FL
  • Registered: 2009-10-22
  • Posts: 12

Re: Hearing in the Classroom

I saw an assistive teleloop set up advertised in one of these sites but can't remember which; it was for a room or conference setting and works if you have a T coil in your aid (or implant).  If I find it tonight I will write back in here.

www.harriscomm.com
www.deafpagers.com
www.krownmfg.com
www.ohsoez.com
www.deaf411online.com
www.deafnewspaper.com
www.garthwireless.com
www.weitbrecht.com
www.unitedtty.com  (sell a lot more than just ttys)
www.hearmore.com
www.teltex.com
www.hear-world-devices.com
www.deaftimes.net
www.deafnation.com
www.deafjoketv.com
www.deafvideo.tv
www.alldeaf.com


            Yahoo groups:

deafandhohclub
ohsoez

  • Registered: 2009-10-28
  • Posts: 3

Re: Hearing in the Classroom

Thank you for your reply.  My understanding of the inductive loop system is they are designed for one speaker who had the microphone to be heard by anyone in the audience with a receiver or T-coil.  I need the opposite situation, many kids speaking from different locations and one receiver (me).  But, thank you for the great list of websites.  I will check them out!  If the "asssitive teleloop" you mentioned is not the same as the inductive loop system, please let me know!
Marilyn

  • Registered: 2009-11-18
  • Posts: 1

Re: Hearing in the Classroom

Hi, Marilyn!

I have this exact same problem and have been trying various solutions since the end of July.  I have two sets of aid on trial right now, one with Bluetooth and the other with FM.  Apparently this problem is unique--or at least that's what I'm told.

Anyway, I think I'm getting to the end of what might work for me.  Here's what I've tried:

--a soundboard (like musicians use) with external microphones.  This works well with Bluetooth.  The problem is that it's way too cumbersome for me as I'm not in the same classroom all the time.  The cables are bulky and cumbersome and the mics are on stands.  It's not very practical and makes it hard to hear the people right next to me.

--the Comfort Contego functions as advertised but does not pick up sufficiently.  I never did figure out if I could add mics before I sent it back.  One disadvantage is that it picked up my own voice so much that it interfered with my hearing my students because it had to plug into the Siemens Tek which has to be worn around the neck.

--the Oticon Streamer.  Again, wonderful sound, just doesn't pick up a wide enough area.  I'm trying to figure out how to add additional mics but have had no luck so far.

--I have a ListenTech FM system on order.  I know it will work with conference mics and minimal cables.  It will work with my Oticon aids, but I think not the Bluetooth (Siemens.)  My guess is that it will take at least three conference mics to cover my classroom, maybe more. 

--I also have a four transmitter to one receiver wireless mic system on order that should supposedly work with either the Streamer (FM) OR Siemens (Bluetooth.)  Supposedly the conference mics will work with it.  This is the ONLY many-to-one wireless system I've been able to find.  The gentleman I spoke to said that people who use this have one aid set to T-coil or FM and the other aid set to mic only so that they can hear the person next to them. 

As I'm sure you can tell, this has been a long and frustrating road!  If you have any ideas or questions, please let me know!  It's very good to talk to someone who's experiencing the same problem!

Carol