Carol Flexer
Rationale and use of sound field systems
1 remind sound field amplification sound field amplification exciting educational tool allows control acoustic environment classroom thereby facilitating acoustic accessibility teacher instruction children room1figure flexersound field systems similar small highfidelity wireless publicaddress systems selfcontained classroom teacher wears small wireless microphone mobility restricted positioning remote microphone close teachers mouth desired sound source creates favorable signaltonoise ratio produces nearly uniform speech level throughout room2 since purpose equipment enhance speech perception high frequencies consonants emphasized colleague cheryl deconde johnson suggests appropriate name technology sound field distribution system agree 2 sound field distribution system better term teachers parents acoustical engineers interpret labels sound field amplification classroom amplification mean sounds classroom made louder misunderstanding may give impression sound blasted room thus raising noise levels interfering instruction adjacent rooms provoking anxiety pupils actuality equipment installed used appropriately reverse true amplified teachers voice sound soothing evenly distributed throughout room reach every child room quiets students attend spoken instruction fact listener aware sound distribution ease listening equipment turned overall purpose equipment details spoken instruction continually reach brains pupils 3 mean reaching brains children children rich auditorally designated neural tissue tissue needs stimulation order grow develop3 know learning really brain access subsequent brain growth development therefore spoken instruction worthwhile pupils must actually hear listen words childrens brains process developing listen differently adults 4 ways children listen differently adults children listen way adults two main reasons one auditory neurological network children fully developed age 15 secondly children bring years listening life experience learning situation4 hence children cannot perform automatic auditorycognitive closure missed information way adults mean people fill blanks missed information information already stored brains data bank retrieve yet data banks children need sharper auditory signal adults thus classroom might sound fine adult may woefully inadequate typical children neurologically undeveloped decades language life experience means children require quieter environment louder signal adults order learn5 quieter room distinctive auditory signal better acoustic access childs brain therefore real purpose using technology assist brain development 5 makes sense tell typically happens child hear well classroom hearing problems degreewhether caused hearing loss poor acoustic environment combination twocan interfere childs development spoken language reading writing skills academic performance6 hearing problems described invisible acoustic filter distorts smears eliminates incoming sounds especially sounds distanceeven short distance 6 saying acoustic access spoken languageinstruction directly related literacy absolutely 7 explain related answer question first want review five levels auditory skill development47 detection lowest least sophisticated level detection basic perception sound present obtaining puretone thresholds measurement persons sounddetection ability discrimination involves distinguishing two speech sounds pa ba recognition recognition means selecting target sound known list alternatives closedset task identification openset task involves recognizing target infinite set alternatives comprehension highest level auditory skill development comprehension achieved person answer questions follow directions hold conversations critical note without basic detection none higher levels auditory processing attained therefore comprehension goal classroom instruction basis literacy dependent initial detection individual phonemes comprise spoken message8 sound field distribution systems properly installed used make detection possible every child class remember compared adults children require quieter environment louder signal order learn 8 americas children regarding literacy development year 2000 data showed percentage fourthgrade students reading proficient level identified national assessment governing board nagb goal students increased slightly 32 29 1992 data mean third fourth graders united states read grade level moreover scores nations highest performing students improved years scores lowest performing students declined9 critical importance closing education gap students white students members minorities specifically 2000 40 fourthgrade students white 46 students asianpacific islander could read proficient achievement level9 however 12 students africanamerican 16 students hispanic 17 students native american could read proficient level9 9 knew literacy national priority didnt know faced challenges evidence sound field distribution systems improve literacy development numerous studies reported1 recent article darai found sound field systems appropriately used provided significant improvement literacy achievement firstgrade students10 couple years ago reported study three firstgrade classrooms utah 85 children native american11 5 years prior sound field use 44 48 firstgrade children scored basic level utah state core reading test 7 months sound field use 74 54 children study scored basic level recent study found phonemic awareness skills effectively efficiently taught preschool kindergarten classrooms sound field distribution systems fact fewest atrisk readers came classrooms routinely used sound field distribution systems12 10 seems clear sound field distribution systems benefit children dont children require greater enhancement signaltonoise ratio snr several populations seem especially need snrenhancing technology include children fluctuating conductive hearing impairments unilateral hearing impairments minimal permanent hearing impairments auditory processing problems cochlear implants cognitive disorders learning disabilities attention problems articulation disorders behavior problems1 addition children mildtomoderate hearing impairments wear hearing aids might well sound field distribution systems personal fm system children english second language also benefit intelligible signal provided enhanced snr13 11 sound field technology best used treatment paradigm historically amplification technologies hearing aids personal fm systems cochlear implants recommended treatments hearing loss certainly populations enhanced snr mean difference passing failing school sound field technologies came scene treatments hearing problems viewed treatment sound field technology recommended particular child managed special education system one type sound field technology small portable desktop unit special applicability treatment individual student 12 im familiar device relatively new type sound field fm system called personal sound field unit desktop system14 small lightweight batterypowered portable loudspeaker carried class class delivers clear closeup sound right students desk foster brackett maxon found personal sound field fm system particularly helpful children cochlear implants due proximity loudspeaker child15 however recognition children benefit enhanced snr comes need move beyond thinking sound field technology treatment sound field distribution systems need integrated general education arena concept universal design useful regard 13 universal design concept universal design originated architectural domain common examples curb cuts ramps automatic doors years experience found modifications originally believed relevant people fact useful beneficial population whole terms learning universal design means assistive technology specially designed individual child small group students rather wide range students universally designed approaches implemented general education teachers rather special education teachers16 14 wont radio wave interference use technology every classroom every building certainly started using fm technology sound field systems surprisingly interference major problem locations recently infrared technology adapted classroom infrared uses lightwave rather radiowave transmission interference problem since signal contained room every classroom every building sound distribution system without signal crossover 15 use sound field distribution systems personal fm systems room yes many instances using time creates best listening learning environment fact typically recommend using serves different purpose sound field distribution system appropriately installed used mainstream classroom improves equalizes acoustic access pupils creates atmosphere room conducive listening individually worn fm system provides particular child wearing hearing aids favorable snr teacher need wear single microphonetransmitter sound field unit individual fm radio frequency personalworn fm transmitter coupled sound field amplifier 16 arent classroom acoustics variable effective utilization sound field distribution systems much better rooms acoustics effective sound field system hvac heating ventilating air conditioning systems primary sources noise reverberation noise generated speech reflected room surfaces problematic17 reverberation preceding phonemes blend following ones obscuring word sound field systems effective overcoming noise least effective overcoming reverberation therefore reverberation reduced much possible sound field distribution system installed great deal attention paid classroom acoustics last years ansi working developing national standard published year ansi s126 200 hopefully 2002 standard calls noise levels classrooms higher 35 dba standard reverberation mediumsize classrooms 06 sec large rooms 07 sec18 signaltonoise level specified implied 15 db noise level 35 dba average speech level 50 dba goal ansi standard adapted international building code icb 17 much sound field units cost school district find money cost average sound field fm infrared system 1000 per room cost divided number people could benefit 300 pupils teachers 10year span cost per child 3 bargain possible funding sources include community service groups local quota clubs lions clubs sertoma rotary parentteacher organizations local businesses statewide technology grants private foundations 18 seems sound distribution systems essential creating good educational environment could interfere effectiveness difficulties result two primary sources lack teacher administrator knowledge rationale use technology inappropriate setup function equipment initial inservices teachers administrators must emphasize brain development purpose acoustic accessibility relationship hearing literacy needs addressed fact children listen differently adults concept signaltonoise ratio needs explained microphone techniques need demonstrated teachers learn use equipment teach incidental listening strategies teachers speak much softly varied vocal inflections sound field distribution system provides vocal projection problems result teachers place limitations teaching teach way technology without second microphone classroom passaround microphone students greatly enhance teacher effectiveness equipment problems result improper placement loudspeakers fact loudspeakers probably weakest link system primary problem classroom noise place loudspeakers high coverage reduce feedback17 primary problem classroom reverberation first treat classroom acoustically minimize potential equipment problems including improper microphone placement lack sound balance room poor tuning enough high frequencies consonant enhancement feedback interference fm transmission used inadequate volume1 course teachers need ongoing support someone needs designated troubleshoot equipment replacement parts batteries microphones must readily available 19 efficacy measures used certainly need relatively easy measurement tool teachers use regularly monitor effectiveness sound field distribution system sifter screening instrument targeting educational risk one tool19 sifter relies teachers observations childs classroom performance related listening skills targets academic performance attention communication class participation school behavior teacher fills brief checklist another tool life listening inventory education selfreport inventory schoolaged children measures students perceptual change20 life consists pictures common classroom situations could provide listening challenge pupil child indicates much difficulty experienced listening situation life could administered installation equipment 6 months use 20 final comments certainly every possibility arises transform lives may simple believable sound field distribution technology amazing possibility childrens classroom learning literacy development hearing firstorder event regular education classrooms child cannot clearly hear spoken instruction entire premise educational experience undermined due poor acoustic conditions variety hearing attending problems millions children denied appropriate education increasing awareness benefits sound field distribution systems example oakland county mi detroit area amplifying 5000 kindergarten fifthgrade classrooms momentum building across country convinced effectiveness technology personal stand every classroom country sound distribution system year 2005 many suppliers sound field systems among vendors business many years audio enhancement wwwaudioenhancementcom comtek inc wwwcomtekcom lightspeed technologies wwwlightspeedtekcom phonic ear inc wwwphonicearcom sennheiser electronic corp wwwsennheisercom telex communications wwwtelexcomhearing williams sound corp wwwwilliamssoundcom ever found back room struggling hear softspoken lecturer front often room poor acoustics makes task even difficult cock head side side maybe even try peek people front pick lipreading cues matter hard try still trouble picking key words time goes frustration sets gradually distant voice lecturer replaced daydreams pleasant experiences wouldnt shame sort thing happened child classroom sound field amplification readily available technology proven enhance classroom instruction recent data show third fourth graders us reading grade level would widespread use sound field amplification improve alarming statistic researchers say yes yet many years documented benefit technology remains woefully underutilized searching audiologist devote much career championing cause improving hearing learning conditions classroom qualities dedication persistence enthusiasm would come mind many know months page ten author carol flexer phd think wed agree personifies qualities read work area second edition book facilitating hearing listening young children dr flexer professor audiology university akron past president educational audiology association american academy audiology recently received prestigious volta award alexander graham bell association deaf hard hearing research contributions children hearing loss carol tells us attending children world also finds time spend children grandchildren means frequent visits israel page ten article dr flexer clearly reviews benefits possible sound field amplificationor use term sound field distribution systems hard disagree conclusion time come become standard feature every classroom fact carol says shes committed making happen 2005 maybe help make objective reality gus mueller page ten editor