Students Who Are Hard of Hearing

Some of the obstacles students who are hard of hearing face are difficulty following lectures, speech impairments, and a disadvantage during social interactions. However with the help of personal hearing aids and their skills in lip reading, they are capable of understanding speech! Most individuals who are hard of hearing have a hearing assistive technology device to help them hear. Hearing assistive technology systems (HATS) are devices that help individuals function during communication situations. HATS can be used with or without hearing aids or cochlear implants.


Here is a list of the different types of HATS and how they help:

• FM system - Teacher wears a wireless microphone clipped to his or her lapel or blouse and a small transmitter worn on a belt or waistband. The student wears a small receiver - usually headphones or a direct connection to his or her hearing aid. When the teacher speaks, an auditory signal is broadcasted to the student.
• Advantages: Student can sit and face anywhere within the system's range, can be used inside or outside
• Disadvantages: The sound broadcast may carry through walls, possible electrical interference

• Infrared system - Is very similar to a FM system (microphone, transmitter, and receiver) but they use infrared light waved for transmission. There is minimal distortion and internal amplifier noise in its signal so the sound quality can be superior to a FM system. 
• Advantages: Privacy is protected because the broadcast signal is secure within the room, sound quality better than FM systems
• Disadvantages:  Must be a direct line of sight between teacher and student, teacher is limited to movement, not effective in direct sunlight

• Induction loop system - Uses electromagnetic waves for transmission and works directly with hearing aids. A wire is looped around the perimeter of space such as a classroom or school auditorium. Sounds are picked up by the teacher's microphone, amplified, and sent through the loop. A telecoil (called a T-switch) in the student's hearing aid serves as a receiver. 
• Advantages: Can be used by anyone with a hearing aid without requiring another piece of equipment for the listener
• Disadvantages: Requires permanent installation, possible electromagnetic interference

• Soundfield amplification system- Broadcasts the teacher's voice through loudspeakers that are mounted on the walls or ceiling. A speaker can also be placed directly next to a student.
• Advantages: Serves the entire classroom; all students benefit
• Disadvantages: Helpful only for mild or moderate hearing loss