Radio Aids
A radio aid works with hearing aids or cochlear implants to make it easier for pupils to concentrate on the sounds and voices they need to hear in school.
A radio aid system is made up of two parts: a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter picks up sounds from teachers and other pupils and sends them wirelessly to the receiver so that the pupil can hear them clearly over the usual background noise in a classroom.
In Aberdeen City the Roger EasyPen and Roger On Transmitter systems are used in schools.
The Roger EasyPen and Roger On transmitters transmits the users voice directly into the ear of a deaf pupil via their hearing equipment.
Roger On Transmitter
Roger EasyPen Transmitter
A receiver or receivers, which either attach to the hearing aids or cochlear implants, or is worn around the neck on a loop system, allows the speaker’s voice to be transmitted directly into the hearing equipment.
The Roger EasyPen can also be used by pupils with a hearing loss who do not wear hearing equipment. This can be done by attaching headphones or earbuds to the neck loop above.
How do radio aids help?
Radio aids help to overcome problems which can prevent pupils from hearing well in a classroom situation such as:
· Background noise.
· Reverberation or sounds echoing off hard surfaces.
· Distance from speaker to pupil.
When the speaker is wearing either of the Roger transmitters, or indeed any kind of radio aid transmitter, it is important to avoid wearing jewellery or lanyards that will knock against the microphone.
If you would like to know more about Radio Aids/would like some advice or troubleshooting support, please contact a member of the team who will be more than happy to help you.