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FM system usage and benefit for children and young adults. Alison King Principal Audiologist, Paediatric Services Presentation to Audiology Australia National Conference 2010. Child & Young Adult FM Survey – Oct. 2009.
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FM system usage and benefit for children and young adults Alison King Principal Audiologist, Paediatric ServicesPresentation to Audiology Australia National Conference 2010
Child & Young Adult FM Survey – Oct. 2009 • Mailed to all clients <21 who had an FM system listed as a current device (n=6248) • 1337 respondents (21.4%) • 11 (0.8%) Indigenous • 72.2% had FM input to one ear; 27.8% to both ears • FM styles used with hearing aid and/or implant • Ear level (DAI) = 86% • Induction loop = 8.7% • 18% of implantees vs 6% of HA users • Body Level 4.8% • 87% satisfied or very satisfied with their FM system.
Primary device configuration Chronic Conductive Unilateral Mild
Usage Patterns • 85.8% used their FM for at least a few lessons per week in an educational setting • 58.6% “almost every lesson” • 38.6% used the FM in other situations. • 17% have to listen to >1 teacher during class on most days • 16% use in a room with Sound field system most days • 14.2% NEVER used their FM system. • Most common reasons: “I don’t think I need it” or “I don’t like to wear it” • Not related to degree hearing loss • 14.5% (164) had a transmitter that enabled the user to change microphone settings • 15.9% (30) of these changed setting in different environments.
teacher EI Gp. discuss
Which factors were related to FM benefit? • Overall benefit score derived from sum of scores across situations • Age • Younger children derived more benefit than older children • Severity of hearing loss • The more severe the hearing loss, the greater the reported benefit • Frequency of technical problems • Less benefit reported if respondent answered “often” or “all the time” for problems with distortion/interference, transmission range or intermittency.
Which factors were not related to FM benefit? • Gender • The Hearing Aid/Cochlear implant fitting configuration • Unilateral vs bilateral FM input
Summary • FM satisfaction rates were high. • FM systems are most commonly used in educational settings, but deliver significant benefit when used in other situations. • Encourage wider application of FM systems • 16-17% of respondents are in educational settings that pose additional complexities (multi-teacher, SFAS) • Challenges for instruction & support
Summary • Technical problems affect benefit of FMs • Implications for • Parent/teacher/student education • Support & follow up by family audiologist, educational audiologist and visiting teachers.
Thank you • Ron Oong, Australian Hearing • Mark Seeto, NAL • Harvey Dillon, NAL • Renay Hawkins, Australian Hearing