In using a new device, there are certain rules and requirements that students as well as teachers must follow for the transition to go as smoothly as possible. As a teacher, it is important to get to know the listening device thoroughly. This may require a request for training from an audiologist who specializes in creating and modeling how these systems work. Knowing how the device will be used with the student is important and should be discussed ahead of time with the student, parents, as well as other staff members who come into contact on a routine basis with the child. The microphone, which is a mini size of a normal size microphone, should be kept 3 to 5 inches from the teachers mouth and should not be near a noise source such as a T.V. or overhead projector. Back to the audiologist, the teacher should ask this person specifically where to position the receiver and speaker for optimal use in and around the classroom. As in any new change into the classroom, the rest of the class should be aware of the new listening device an be told how they can help make the most out of the device: one student should speak at a time.
Questions and comments should be repeated again and the microphone/receiver should be passed around from student to student as they speak rather than stay with the teacher the whole time despite the fact that she may not be talking into it. The teacher should face the student when speaking just in case that student uses visual cues to help aid them in understanding. When the teacher uses powerpoint presentations, movies or other audiovisual presentations, the listening device should be used. And lastly, teachers should ALWAYS perform a listening check with the equipment on a regular basis. The teacher should get into the habit of doing this that way if there are any problems, there's ample time to fix them and less time that the student would be without the device.
In hearing about all this assistive technology talk, some of you might be wondering what really is Hearing Assistive Technology. Well my friends and followers, the term means "assistive technology that helps people who have hearing losses". Plain and simple. Any device that can aid in helping a student or person that can't hear be able to hear would be a prime example. Some examples of devices that are used are alerting devices and adaptive telephones.
How might these devices aid in helping???????? Assistive Learning Devices (ALD's), "binoculars for the ears" as they're referred to as, help to reduce the effect of an acoustically unfriendly room. This means that it can catch a sound (such as a teachers voice) and amplify it for the students who are hard of hearing. These devices are known to
- minimize background noise such as fan motors whirring, chairs moving, and talking amongst students
- overcoming the weakening effect of sound traveling through air
- reducing the effect of poor room acoustics
It is important to know that these devices are not used to replace hearing aids. Hearing aids are used all day where as ALD's are only used when amplifying a certain voice such as the teacher's.
Another important term that is used to discuss the importance that Assistive Technology has in terms of communication is Augmentative Communication, shortened from Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). Augmentative Communication means to "help individuals who cannot speak interact with each other". It serves as an alternative to speech for people who cannot talk. In communicating, which we typically do as humans through language, is the only true connection we have from one human to the next. Therefore, Augmentative Communication is so important for it allows those who are not able to physically talk communicate with the rest of the world despite their handicap of hearing.
No comments:
Post a Comment