FM Equipment.. with Hearing Loop

We got a new system for Lotte to use her FM equipment. Previous we used this system on the right ( link to the post here).

This was in a transmitter in combination with a socalled "MicroLink" that would fit in the BTE.. Batteries would be in there as well which gave us a problem.
Lotte uses rechargeable batteries. This would mean that Lotte had to remove the rechargeable batteries from the BTE (and store them in a safe place), then insert the MicroLink into the BTE. The latter needed the disposable batteries. This meant two systems of batteries. Not very practical. And costly...
Lotte didn't like it. Probably because there's too much attention directed towards her... Basically.... it was hardly used..

The "Hjelpemiddelsentralen" here in town suggested to use a sender and receiver that would be carried around the neck... The microphone in the transmitter (on the right, the ZoomLink +) would be send to the receiver (on the left, the MyLink +) and then via  "teleslynge" ( Hearing Loop in English I believe)..  around Lotte's neck to het BTE.. The receiver can be carried under her shirt...
Ideal for sports where it's difficult to hear due to all the noise around Lotte.. A trainer would be able to coach her directly... Only his/her voice would go into Lotte's ear.
The microphone can be set to pick up sound from all around, a small cone, or only from close-by in a "beam" setting... (The three buttons on the Transmitter..)

PERFECT.!!

There's just one problem....
Lotte doesn't want to use it..... "I can hear fine"... she tells us....

OK.. still work to do... LOL..


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Links for the MyLink+ and Zoomlink+:

Microphone / Sender: ZoomLink Plus (User Guide) (Tech. Data)
Receiver: MyLink + (User Guide) (Tech. Data)
SmartlLink +, Zoomlink +, EasyLink +

Speaking & hearing & understanding for all..

Trying FM wasn't a big success. (See other posts..) The school had some meeting with the councel and got themself informed about the possibilities for making Lottes learningenvironment better.

One of the conclusions was that having a sound-system in the classroom would be of great benefit to Lotte, and the rest of the class.

So, last week, th school has installed a sound-system in Lotte's classroom. Speakers on the wall, a microphone for the teacher to have around her/his neck, and microphones for all the children.. (well, 1 for every 2 children) so that from now on everyone should be abe to hear and understand everyone else.

We haven't heard yet about how it's working. We understood that on the first day it was available, the teacher used the microphone, but not the kids. But all the kids liked it, and I'm sure they are all looking forward to using the microphone.

It's not just for Lotte, even though she's the reason it's installed. The other children will benefit from better sound, AND they will be trained in speaking in turns. 

Will keep you all informed....

Have a look here... (Norwegian)

FM equipment..

We're going to experiment with Lotte's FM equipment.
We have had it for a while, but since she didn't have problems in the classroom, we decided to wait a bit... That's.. until now. Time to experiment.

On my search for some explanations about the equipment I came across this webside..

Nice site to give an idea about using FM in a classroom with noise.
Have a try... . Adjust the parameters. For example - distance to the teacher... and the noise. Then turn on the FM-equipment.... 

Impressive demo... Not sure how real the situation is... perhaps readers that have CI and use FM may confirm that it's a good demonstration....

p.s.
Some linke (Thanks Dan..)
Acoustics: http://www.lenardaudio.com/education/04_acoustics.html
Info: http://www.babyhearing.org/HearingAmplification/AidChoices/FMSystem.asp
Question: http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-deafness&tid=4918
Acoustics in classroom: http://asa.aip.org/classroom/booklet.html

TAg For En SE i

(For the non-Norwegians.... It should be "Takk for en CI"... "Thank you for a CI".)

Lotte made a drawing for the two persons she knows from the Oslo Hospital, that

do the technical- & speech- checking..

Her right processor was damaged (fell to the floor..), so Medisan (provider for the Freedom system), sent a new one.. For Lotte, anything regarding CI comes from Tove and Ole. The two of them will get the credits.. :-)

The drawing will be in the box being returned to Medisan..... Perhaps it will make it to the hospital, but I hope the people from Medisan will find a nice place for it....

Here it says

"Til Ole og Tove"

"TAg For E" & "n SE i"

Eg har lagtteteg teinn

og TAG for en Sei

Se på en lagentent teinn te teg

FM-equipment

Lotte is getting close to going to school - in august.
One of the things we never considered is FM equipment. Lotte is hearing very well, and we are actually afraid that using the FM equipment would drop her focus..

But, we were invited to try one, and took Lotte with us (duh... obviously the best way to try..). After a brief introduction, the FM was added to the BTE. (See pictures) and I went out of the room to test it.
Lotte loved it.!! No problems with her father being in her head without being seen. (Then again... that happens often as we often call her from other rooms... But then, she can talk back.)
To her it's a great game.

For us, it's mixed. Obviously, it really is working well, and Lotte will benefit from it in some cases. In fact, my wife said that she needed two more... for the other kids..
But, there's something unethical to just get inside someones head un-announced.
Also, we don't want Lotte to change from the rechargeable batteries, to FM and back during the day. (The FM-part is using the cell-batteries..)

So, we know it works, we know Lotte has no problem with using it - on the contrairy - and we just need to find a way to test them out for real...

There was a great opportunity when Lotte was cycling and my wife was following her by foot. She did great. Stopped at intersections, waiting for her mom, could hear her at a good distance etc....
FM would have been ideal to instruct Lotte.
Only problem was - we forgot the FM-equipment..
Maybe next time...

We'll keep you all posted...



ps.. (09-2008)

Lotte showed that even in traffic, she can hear us. It shows she's tuned in on listening to us.
Having FM-equipment would make that unnecessary. She would not have to filter out the traffic-noise in order to hear us, and perhaps lose that ability.
Better to make her use the ears that she has.