August Audiology

Monica Brace, seeing patients in the clinic. The clinic is open to the public and serves
the general population from infant to adult

I am beginning to feel the first signs of the end of summer as I am busy already looking ahead to September. This brings the start of another academic school year and a busy time here in the audiology clinic. This is the time when I again start working with many area school districts, teachers and students in the area of educational audiology. We have had an ongoing relationship with the area schools, elementary through high-school, working with their hearing impaired students, those with auditory processing difficulties or attention deficits and their teachers. This involvement is in the area of FM technology and support services.  

FM systems help improve speech understanding in difficult listening settings. The technology often consists of a student wearing a receiver, typically connected to either their hearing instrument or coupled to their ear, while the teacher wears a transmitter (microphone) that wirelessly sends their voice directly to the student. This system allows the teachers voice to go directly to the students’ ear minimizing the effects of background noise and distance. It could also involve a type of system where the teacher wears a microphone but the signal is transmitted to a speaker that amplifies the room instead of directly going to one specific student. This type of system has been shown to improve academic achievement, increase learning behavior and even decrease teacher vocal strain and fatigue. These technologies are of great benefit to hearing impaired students, those that have difficulties processing and paying attention in areas of noise, and to teachers. 

We currently are involved with eight area districts and work with approximately 60 students per year.  In September, I spend time setting up the equipment and directing both students and teachers as to the proper use and care, as well as providing strategies for working with these students. Throughout the school year, I provided ongoing support and checks of the systems to ensure that everything is working and being used appropriately.  At the end of the year, I pick up all of the equipment for servicing over the summer months and then it all begins again next September! 

 Written by Monica Brace, AuD FAAA

Doctor of Audiology

Franziska Racker Centers Audiology Clinic