Re: FM question

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/3/01 8:42:48 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

_Tidey@... writes:

<< Should I push for the FM? >>

Yes! Go with your instincts. You are on the right track! I think every child,

hearing or not, should have an FM system. (haha) They get the teacher's voice

right in their ears and it helps them to stay focused. Brett goes to a small

charter school here in AZ and they bought him an FM system before he had

surgery..........even though his hearing is in the normal range now post

surgery............we still have him wear it for teacher instruction and

spelling tests just because of class noise. He is getting more self conscious

at age 9 about wearing it so we are keeping it to a minimum.

Yours in Him,

Mickey

Yours in Him,

Mickey

[Guest guest]

Steve, thanks for the info about the FM system. It sounds like it

might be a good idea to push for getting this for Eva. Thanks also

for the tips on making the classroom quieter.

(Eva's Mom)

[Guest guest]

Getting in on this one late (you wouldn't believe my e-mail backlog!) but I

definitely second everything Steve said here.

1) Have the child and the teacher demo the FM system -- it answers a lot of

questions that curious kids have. One kid thought that Patty was using the

FM system to get the answers to match questions during quizzes !

2) Using it for stuff like story circles where you pass around the

microphone to the kids is also a great way to gain acceptance.

3) The soft voice stuff is so true ! Patty came home from the first day of

using her FM system and I asked her to tell me something she heard with the

FM system that she couldn't hear otherwise. She said " I heard

Waters " -- a child with a quiet high pitched voice which is where Patty's

loss is the worst. It had never crossed my mind before that point that

there would be children that Patty just flat-out couldn't hear.

4) Outside classroom stuff like PE and Cafeteria, don't bother using it.

Patty has, however, successfully used the FM system in sports (specifically

soccer and basketball) because otherwise she can't hear the coach yell at

her.

Sheri

RE: FM question

We were in exactly the same situation a couple of years ago. , with

Bilateral Atresia/Microtia, in preschool.

We decided that we should push for the FM. was doing well in the

class, but we knew from watching (at birthday parties etc) that when

there is a lot of kids, he has a lot of troubles hearing. The background

noise is tough to deal with for me, it is much harder for people/kids with

hearing aids.

We felt the FM wasn't critical for pre-school, but we should try it, and see

how it works. Turns out it was a big help, and used it without a

problem. There are times, like at free play, that the FM doesn't help, and

should be turned off. However, anytime there is a single person/child

speaking, the FM should be used.

Another reason for trying the FM, again not so critical at pre-school, but

was to get ,. as well as the other children in the class, used to it.

Every year we have 's hearing resource teacher come into the class

room, and talk about hearing aids, an FM systems, and all of the kids get a

try at using the mic. The kids understand what it is, and why, and so far,

it is not an issue. In fact, there have been times that some of the kids

were quite sad that they didn't have a hearing aid.

In fact...a little anecdote here...In 's Grade 1 class, they have show

and tell. When the children go up in front of the class, they take the FM

mic, and talk about what they brought. One girl, who is quite shy, and has

a very quiet voice was up. The teacher commented that she should try and

speak louder so all the kids could hear. One other child in the class, said

" 's lucky, even when she talks quiet, can still hear her!! " . All

the kids looked at with envy, and just sat there with a proud

smile on his face.

Now we have had great teachers so far (pre-school, kindergarden, and Grade

1) and a fantastic Hearing Resource Teacher. All have been willing to do

there best with the FM, and with helping . In fact we have recently

" modified " 's Grad 1 class to reduce the background noise. In 's

class there are tables and chairs with metal legs, and they have a hard

floor. All this makes noise when the chairs are slid around and chairs

clinking on the table legs etc. We have added tennis balls (with a hole cut

in them) to the chair feet, and foam padding on the table legs. No more

noise due to sliding, or bumping!!

The Teachers use the FM system, and the Hearing Resource Teacher does

sessions with the class on sign language, and other hearing awareness games.

The kids love it!

Anyway, I could go on, but my vote is to use the FM system. Admittedly, I

was hesitant when was starting out ( " He does fine without it " , and " it

will single him out " were in my head). But now that I have seen how he

benefits, and how the other kids accept him as they would anyone else (due

to them knowing what it is all about), I wouldn't have it any other way.

Feel free to take this e-mail to your IEP. If you or your audiologist have

any questions, let me know. I could try and answer what I can, or pass you

to our Hearing Resource Teacher.

Steve

> I have a question about whether or not I should push for an FM system

> for Eva to use in daycare. She is almost 4 and has bilateral

> atresia/microtia. She is in a daycare center in a pre-school

> classroom with about 18 kids and 3 teachers. Her language and

> cognitive development are normal to above-normal for her age. Per our

> IEP, she is periodically monitored by an audiologist who goes to the

> daycare to assess her hearing there. So far, the person monitoring

> her feels that Eva does not need an FM system. However, I'm concerned

> that even though Eva seems to be doing well and doesn't complain

> about having trouble hearing, it must be stressful to try to hear the

> teachers in that kind of environment. Has anyone been in this

> position and what did you decide to do? Should I push for the FM?

[Guest guest]

Getting in on this one late (you wouldn't believe my e-mail backlog!) but I

definitely second everything Steve said here.

1) Have the child and the teacher demo the FM system -- it answers a lot of

questions that curious kids have. One kid thought that Patty was using the

FM system to get the answers to match questions during quizzes !

2) Using it for stuff like story circles where you pass around the

microphone to the kids is also a great way to gain acceptance.

3) The soft voice stuff is so true ! Patty came home from the first day of

using her FM system and I asked her to tell me something she heard with the

FM system that she couldn't hear otherwise. She said " I heard

Waters " -- a child with a quiet high pitched voice which is where Patty's

loss is the worst. It had never crossed my mind before that point that

there would be children that Patty just flat-out couldn't hear.

4) Outside classroom stuff like PE and Cafeteria, don't bother using it.

Patty has, however, successfully used the FM system in sports (specifically

soccer and basketball) because otherwise she can't hear the coach yell at

her.

Sheri

RE: FM question

We were in exactly the same situation a couple of years ago. , with

Bilateral Atresia/Microtia, in preschool.

We decided that we should push for the FM. was doing well in the

class, but we knew from watching (at birthday parties etc) that when

there is a lot of kids, he has a lot of troubles hearing. The background

noise is tough to deal with for me, it is much harder for people/kids with

hearing aids.

We felt the FM wasn't critical for pre-school, but we should try it, and see

how it works. Turns out it was a big help, and used it without a

problem. There are times, like at free play, that the FM doesn't help, and

should be turned off. However, anytime there is a single person/child

speaking, the FM should be used.

Another reason for trying the FM, again not so critical at pre-school, but

was to get ,. as well as the other children in the class, used to it.

Every year we have 's hearing resource teacher come into the class

room, and talk about hearing aids, an FM systems, and all of the kids get a

try at using the mic. The kids understand what it is, and why, and so far,

it is not an issue. In fact, there have been times that some of the kids

were quite sad that they didn't have a hearing aid.

In fact...a little anecdote here...In 's Grade 1 class, they have show

and tell. When the children go up in front of the class, they take the FM

mic, and talk about what they brought. One girl, who is quite shy, and has

a very quiet voice was up. The teacher commented that she should try and

speak louder so all the kids could hear. One other child in the class, said

" 's lucky, even when she talks quiet, can still hear her!! " . All

the kids looked at with envy, and just sat there with a proud

smile on his face.

Now we have had great teachers so far (pre-school, kindergarden, and Grade

1) and a fantastic Hearing Resource Teacher. All have been willing to do

there best with the FM, and with helping . In fact we have recently

" modified " 's Grad 1 class to reduce the background noise. In 's

class there are tables and chairs with metal legs, and they have a hard

floor. All this makes noise when the chairs are slid around and chairs

clinking on the table legs etc. We have added tennis balls (with a hole cut

in them) to the chair feet, and foam padding on the table legs. No more

noise due to sliding, or bumping!!

The Teachers use the FM system, and the Hearing Resource Teacher does

sessions with the class on sign language, and other hearing awareness games.

The kids love it!

Anyway, I could go on, but my vote is to use the FM system. Admittedly, I

was hesitant when was starting out ( " He does fine without it " , and " it

will single him out " were in my head). But now that I have seen how he

benefits, and how the other kids accept him as they would anyone else (due

to them knowing what it is all about), I wouldn't have it any other way.

Feel free to take this e-mail to your IEP. If you or your audiologist have

any questions, let me know. I could try and answer what I can, or pass you

to our Hearing Resource Teacher.

Steve

> I have a question about whether or not I should push for an FM system

> for Eva to use in daycare. She is almost 4 and has bilateral

> atresia/microtia. She is in a daycare center in a pre-school

> classroom with about 18 kids and 3 teachers. Her language and

> cognitive development are normal to above-normal for her age. Per our

> IEP, she is periodically monitored by an audiologist who goes to the

> daycare to assess her hearing there. So far, the person monitoring

> her feels that Eva does not need an FM system. However, I'm concerned

> that even though Eva seems to be doing well and doesn't complain

> about having trouble hearing, it must be stressful to try to hear the

> teachers in that kind of environment. Has anyone been in this

> position and what did you decide to do? Should I push for the FM?

[Guest guest]

Getting in on this one late (you wouldn't believe my e-mail backlog!) but I

definitely second everything Steve said here.

1) Have the child and the teacher demo the FM system -- it answers a lot of

questions that curious kids have. One kid thought that Patty was using the

FM system to get the answers to match questions during quizzes !

2) Using it for stuff like story circles where you pass around the

microphone to the kids is also a great way to gain acceptance.

3) The soft voice stuff is so true ! Patty came home from the first day of

using her FM system and I asked her to tell me something she heard with the

FM system that she couldn't hear otherwise. She said " I heard

Waters " -- a child with a quiet high pitched voice which is where Patty's

loss is the worst. It had never crossed my mind before that point that

there would be children that Patty just flat-out couldn't hear.

4) Outside classroom stuff like PE and Cafeteria, don't bother using it.

Patty has, however, successfully used the FM system in sports (specifically

soccer and basketball) because otherwise she can't hear the coach yell at

her.

Sheri

RE: FM question

We were in exactly the same situation a couple of years ago. , with

Bilateral Atresia/Microtia, in preschool.

We decided that we should push for the FM. was doing well in the

class, but we knew from watching (at birthday parties etc) that when

there is a lot of kids, he has a lot of troubles hearing. The background

noise is tough to deal with for me, it is much harder for people/kids with

hearing aids.

We felt the FM wasn't critical for pre-school, but we should try it, and see

how it works. Turns out it was a big help, and used it without a

problem. There are times, like at free play, that the FM doesn't help, and

should be turned off. However, anytime there is a single person/child

speaking, the FM should be used.

Another reason for trying the FM, again not so critical at pre-school, but

was to get ,. as well as the other children in the class, used to it.

Every year we have 's hearing resource teacher come into the class

room, and talk about hearing aids, an FM systems, and all of the kids get a

try at using the mic. The kids understand what it is, and why, and so far,

it is not an issue. In fact, there have been times that some of the kids

were quite sad that they didn't have a hearing aid.

In fact...a little anecdote here...In 's Grade 1 class, they have show

and tell. When the children go up in front of the class, they take the FM

mic, and talk about what they brought. One girl, who is quite shy, and has

a very quiet voice was up. The teacher commented that she should try and

speak louder so all the kids could hear. One other child in the class, said

" 's lucky, even when she talks quiet, can still hear her!! " . All

the kids looked at with envy, and just sat there with a proud

smile on his face.

Now we have had great teachers so far (pre-school, kindergarden, and Grade

1) and a fantastic Hearing Resource Teacher. All have been willing to do

there best with the FM, and with helping . In fact we have recently

" modified " 's Grad 1 class to reduce the background noise. In 's

class there are tables and chairs with metal legs, and they have a hard

floor. All this makes noise when the chairs are slid around and chairs

clinking on the table legs etc. We have added tennis balls (with a hole cut

in them) to the chair feet, and foam padding on the table legs. No more

noise due to sliding, or bumping!!

The Teachers use the FM system, and the Hearing Resource Teacher does

sessions with the class on sign language, and other hearing awareness games.

The kids love it!

Anyway, I could go on, but my vote is to use the FM system. Admittedly, I

was hesitant when was starting out ( " He does fine without it " , and " it

will single him out " were in my head). But now that I have seen how he

benefits, and how the other kids accept him as they would anyone else (due

to them knowing what it is all about), I wouldn't have it any other way.

Feel free to take this e-mail to your IEP. If you or your audiologist have

any questions, let me know. I could try and answer what I can, or pass you

to our Hearing Resource Teacher.

Steve

> I have a question about whether or not I should push for an FM system

> for Eva to use in daycare. She is almost 4 and has bilateral

> atresia/microtia. She is in a daycare center in a pre-school

> classroom with about 18 kids and 3 teachers. Her language and

> cognitive development are normal to above-normal for her age. Per our

> IEP, she is periodically monitored by an audiologist who goes to the

> daycare to assess her hearing there. So far, the person monitoring

> her feels that Eva does not need an FM system. However, I'm concerned

> that even though Eva seems to be doing well and doesn't complain

> about having trouble hearing, it must be stressful to try to hear the

> teachers in that kind of environment. Has anyone been in this

> position and what did you decide to do? Should I push for the FM?