Assistive Listening Devices

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Assistive Listening Devices Several assistive listening devices can improve the communication ability of deaf children. According to IDEA, every child with a disability is entitled to have access to assistive technology (California Department of Education, 2004). The California Department of Education (2004) outlines IDEA’s definition of an assistive technology device. It explains that this device consists of “any item, piece of equipment or product system…that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability” (California Department of Education, 2004, p. 1). One such device is the hearing aid. According to the Kendall School Support Services Team (2003), deaf children who wear hearing aids may have increased ability to differentiate between different sounds. They can also better monitor their own voices, making it easier for them to build speech skills. Enhanced ability to understand conversation is another benefit. However, hearing aids do not make sounds clear, nor do they make hearing perfect. Further, the student must sit near the speaker, as extraneous noise makes listening an even greater challenge (Kendall School Support Services Team, 2003). On the other hand, the Kendall Support Services Team (2003) indicates that FM hearing aids allow children to hear at the same volume regardless of where they are seated. In fact, FM systems may cover over 100 feet and are portable (Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). These systems require teachers to wear microphones and students to wear special hearing aids (Kendall Support Services Team, 2003). Similarly, soundfield systems amplify the instructor’s voice, not only for the deaf students, but for the w... ... middle of paper ... ...rams. American Annals of the Deaf, 146, 60-66. Retrieved February 21, 2005 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_Qa3782/is_200103/ai_n8937896 Schirmer, B. R., & Ingram, A. L. (2003). Using online chat to foster the written language development of students who deaf. Reading online, 2-21. Retrieved March 1, 2005, from http://www.readingonline.org/articles/schirmer/ Davies, Paul. (2005). Implants stir fight over deaf education. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2005, from http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/nation/3125477 BBC Broadcast. (2005). Study examines how television can be improved for deaf children. Retrieved May 2, 2005, from http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=40028 BBC Broadcast explains its joint plan with the National Deaf Children’s Society to improve closed captioning and signing on children’s programs.

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