Remote Microphone Systems
When your child listens through their hearing aid(s)/cochlear implant processor(s), the speech sounds travel through the air and into the microphones on your child’s hearing device(s).
If you are close to your child and the room is quiet, your speech will be clear when it is picked up by your child’s hearing aid(s)/CI sound processor(s). However, if you are more than a few metres away, or if there is background noise, speech can be difficult to understand.
Remote Microphone systems (previously called FM systems) help children with hearing differences access speech and overcome listening challenges that can occur in noisy classrooms and/or when they are a distance away from their teacher.
How does it work?
A variety of remote microphones styles and systems are available. There are two main components of RM technology:
A transmitter with a microphone that the teacher wears
A receiver that picks up what the teacher is saying
Personal System
A receiver can be attached to your child's hearing device, which brings the teachers voice directly to their hearing aid or CI sound processor. Some hearing devices have remote microphone technologies built in.
Soundfield System
The teacher's transmitter can also send sounds to a speaker set up in the classroom. This makes the teacher's voice easier for the child to hear in the day to day classroom environment.
The appropriate RM system will be determined by the TDSB Audiologist to determine the best system for your child's hearing needs in their educational setting.
It is important to note that an RM system does not take the place of hearing aids or cochlear implants. If your child has been prescribed a personal hearing device by a clinical audiologist, we recommend their personal hearing assistive technology be worn consistently every day.