MESHGuides

The purpose of an assistive listening device is to make speech/sound accessible in difficult listening environments for hearing aids and CIs, by reducing the effect of distance and background noise.  The assistive listening is set up and balanced before being subjectively assessed by the wearer.  Objective evaluation using speech discrimination tests assesses the benefit the wearer gains as well as their functional use of their listening package.

Assistive Listening Technology Working Group (ALTWG): Previously known as the UK Children’s Radio Aid Working Group, and prior to that as the FM Working Group.   This working group came into being in 2004 and is made up of professionals from Education, Health, Academia Charities and Manufacturers with specific interest in deaf children.  They meet online twice a year.  The Group’s principal aims are:

The equipment is getting smaller and easier to lose, discuss with your provider about replacements and insurance.  As receivers are often installed into hearing devices they are also lost if the hearing device is lost which can have a financial implication. However, this should not be a barrier to fitting and use.

The Assistive Listening Technology Working Group formerly known the UK Children's Radio Aid Working Group, working with the NDCS, produced the Quality Standards for the use of personal radio aids.  This is a resource for those who commission services for deaf CYP, practitioners who work with them and manufacturers.

In May 2022, BATOD jointly funded with William Demant Foundation, a revision of the BATOD Audiology Refreshers as an open-access resource BATOD.

The principles of setting up bone conduction aids and BCHDs with an assistive listening device are exactly the same as with a hearing aid.  However, you do need to have the correct adaptor to connect it in the test box.

The NDCS booklet How radio aids can help - A guide for families  has a section on connecting radio aids to bone conduction aids (page 16).

Sometimes there can be interference or a break in the transmission.

●      A clear line of sight between the transmitter and receiver(s) will give best results.
●      Hiding the transmitter behind books, tins etc will decrease coverage dramatically irrespective of frequency of transmission.  
●      Be aware when using the system outdoors, that obstructions and weather can get in the way of the signal from transmitter to receiver.
●      Within a room, blind spots will occur if a metal structure or other obstructions are between the transmitter and receiver.

The NDCS publication explains about your rights in the UK, for getting a Radio Aid for your child (page 35). Parents of CYP in independent schools who are not supported by the LA, may have to fund it themselves.

There are some CYP who do not have a measurable level of deafness but find listening to and processing information difficult.  Assistive listening technology can be a useful tool for these CYP.  The research below gives examples.

The MESHGuide for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) outlines specific reference for APD.

This video shows how hearing aids and a radio aid helped a girl with auditory neuropathy

Assistive Listening Device: ‘Assistive Listening Device’ (ALD), also known as assistive listening systems (ALS) and in the USA, hearing assistive technology (HAT), is used to describe personal devices which help overcome deafness.  These can be stand alone or used in conjunction with hearing devices such as hearing aids.