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What is HAT?
What is HAT?
HAT stands for "Hearing Assistive Technology". A HAT system helps a student with hearing loss hear and understand better when in the presence of any one of these challenging factors: distance, background noise, and reverberation. HAT systems can take different forms and work by amplifying the teacher's voice above any background noise which improves the "signal-to-noise" ratio. The signal comes in more clearly. A HAT system can also help students better focus on the teacher's voice that they need to attend to and can lessen auditory fatigue (which occurs throughout the school day as children with hearing loss need to constantly be paying attention to what is being said). Three of the most common HAT systems used in the school setting are: 1. an FM/DM system which has a transmitter/microphone and a receiver that is either attached or downloaded to a student's hearing aid(s) or cochlear implant(s); 2. a remote microphone which has a microphone that is paired to a student's hearing aid(s) or cochlear implant(s). It uses bluetooth technology to send the signal directly to the student's devices; and 3. a soundfield FM system which includes a microphone that the teacher wears and a soundfield speaker that amplifies the voice of whomever is wearing the microphone to the entire classroom. This is more commonly used when a student with hearing loss does not wear a hearing aid(s) or cochlear implant(s) and needs the extra support.
Why is HAT important for a student with hearing loss? (video)
Watch this video to see how a HAT system (a FM/DM system in this video) can help a student who wears hearing aids or cochlear implants understand better in the background noise of the classroom. And see why your repetition of other students' comments and questions in the classroom is helpful for a student with hearing loss.
Useful Handouts
Useful Handouts
Teacher Tips (7)Teacher Tips for Students with Hearing Impairment
Tips for students with unilateral HL.pdfTeacher Tips for Students with Unilateral Hearing Loss
personal fm set-up with apple TVHAT System Set Up with Apple TV (audiovisual)
Turn on closed captioning.docxHow to Turn On Closed Captioning
Training Resources
Training Resources
Click the appropriate link below to access your training resources depending on your role in the district. You will find training videos and handouts on the various HAT systems that are used in our school district.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about your student's HAT system and how to use it properly to provide the most benefit to your student. We must optimize the listening and learning environments of our students who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing them equal auditory access!
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