Listening Devices, Related Technology, and Classroom Acoustics

classroom acoustics

• distance between the speaker and listener

• background noise (can ask as a masker)

• speaker voice relative to background (SNR)

• reverberation time

SNR

intensity of speakers voice compared to intensity of background noise

• the smaller the ratio, the harder it is yo understand the speaker and vise versa

• if ratio is 0, intensity of speaker and background noise is the same

reverberation time

time for signal energy to dissipate in environment

• shorter time= better (help preserve speech signal)

distance

increased distance can cause person to speak louder which can result in

• fatigue

• lose voice

• nodules

intro

patients may receive an assistive listening device (ALD) or hearing assistive technology system (HATS)

• make speech audible with distortion

• restore range of loudness experience

• augment communication through non-auditory means

• enhance personal safety or environmental awareness

one aid or two

• elimination of head shadow

• loudness summation

  • sound intensity in both ears at the same time will sound louder than sound presented mono

• localization cues given based on where sound is coming from in regard to the ear

binaural squelch

when you are listening with one ear your brain has hard time separating noise

• when using binaural hearing, brain is way better at separating speech from background noise

localization

• timing cues

• intensity cues (as sound travels farther away froms source, it loses energy/amp)

• head-shadow effect

when are HATS and ALD used

• to address

  • face-to-face communication

  • brodcast

  • telephone use

  • noisy environments

  • environmental stimuli

• when other devices are inadequate

• there are two types, wireless and hardwired

wireless options

• sound is transported from the source to the individual via radio waves or infrared signals

• individual can be far from the sound source

• signal is delivered either via earphones or through hearing aid

• example: FM system

FM system

the speaker wears a wireless microphone and the speech is frequency modulated on radio waves transmitted through the room to the listener who wears a receiver and headphones or a behind the ear hearing aid with an audio boot

other options

facilitates info that is no speech

• flashing doorbells

• flashing smoke alarms

• a baby cry alert system

• telephone ring causing lamo to flash

computer-based technology

• members of the Deaf community have quickly picked up texting and instant-messaging

• allows communication with those lacking knowledge of sign language

• twitter and facebook have enhanced communication

• sign-language via video chat

verification/assessing benefit of technology

• aided audiogram

• aided speech recognition testing and self-assessmet scales

• cochlear implant benefit

  • neural response telemetry (NRT)

• hearing aid benefit

  • probe microphone tech

  • microphone transducer

troubleshooting

• device specific and changing all the time

• get a copy of manual/troubleshooting guide from the audiologist manufacturer

• check if all components of device are clean and clear

• consult with audiologist specialist

ling soudn check

test doen by parent, teacher or SLP testing sounds of: ahhh, ooo, eee, shh, sss, mmm, silence

• say sounds in different order

• test each ear independently

• if they are having trouble producing sound that they typically produce may indicate trouble with the device

LMH test

low middle high frequency test

• /n/

• /h/

• /z/

• “jjj”

  “aa”

• “mmm”

• “eee”

• “ooo”

• “shh”

• “sss”