DRAFT
To circulate to all members of the Children’s FM Working Group.
Liz Wood, Roz Pither and Richard Vaughan have drafted the following briefing paper, intended to introduce interested parties to the activities of the group. The suggestion is to send a copy to the following list of organisations and individuals, for dissemination to the members, inclusion in magazines, etc:
BATOD
BAA
PAIG
BAEA
BCIG
The Children and Young People's Group (CYPG)
Claire Lazarus, National Adviser for the SEN Regional Partnerships
Lindsey Rousseau, South East Region SEN Partnership
DELTA
CICSG
DfES SBDU
Members of the group should also forward copies to any other key contacts.
Modernising FM Services for Children
and Young People
Introducing the Children’s FM Working Group
Aims and Objectives of the group
The FM working group was constituted in February 2004, with the aim of improving mutual sharing of information, promoting joint working and good practice and encouraging developments in the field of FM technology for children and young people. A key objective was to consider what actions could be taken to support teachers, audiologists and others working in the field.
The group comprises representatives of FM manufacturers, the Modernising Children’s Hearing Aid Services Team, national organisations and practitioners in education and cochlear implant services. Key individuals are also invited to be involved in specific discussions. The group is facilitated by The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and has met on two occasions to date, with the next meeting scheduled for November 2004.
Context
A coincidence of developments prompted the establishment of the group. These included:
- The introduction of DSP hearing aids through the Modernising Hearing Aid Services Project, and the subsequent need for ongoing support and advice around practical issues and applications.
- Discussions and proposals around FM provision through the Children and Young People's Group (CYPG).
- Recent technical developments in FM products, particularly miniaturisation, integration and automatic frequency selection.
- A perceived need for agreed national procedures for verifying and evaluating FM systems and for guidance on specific issues of compatibility between different FM systems, hearing aids and cochlear implants.
- A renewed focus on classroom listening conditions and acoustics through the introduction of DfES BB93. The increasing use of soundfield systems in schools and the importance of achieving “overall integration of modern FM and ALD (assistive listening devices) into audiological practice.”[1]
- Acknowledgement of the significant changes that have taken place in teaching styles and classroom scenarios and how this effects the design and use of FM equipment.
Key Issues
Through discussions and presentations, the group has identified the following key issues:
Issue: Uneven provision of FM systems across the UK
Action to date:
- NDCS has carried out a brief survey of hearing impaired education services, regarding their policies for candidacy for provision. The results highlighted the absence of written policies in the vast majority of services, provision being determined on a case-by-case basis in most situations. A wide range of criteria is in use and provision is often determined by funding constraints.
- The group has considered that there is a significant population of children who may benefit from the use of FM system, but who currently fall outside the remit of many education services for hearing impaired children, eg. children with minimal, unilateral or fluctuating hearing loss or children with auditory processing disorders.
- The group reviewed the CYPG proposal for a national policy on provision, funding and candidacy for FM systems. Subsequently, the group considered and agreed specific recommendations, including the following statement:
“Any child who can benefit from the advantages offered by the FM transmitted signal over distance and in noise, should be offered the opportunity to have and use an FM system.”
Proposed outcomes
- The group will actively engage with key decision-makers around proposed plans for a national purchasing agreement for FM systems
Issue: Compatibility of system and components
Action to date:
- The group received a presentation from Elizabeth Wood of SOECIC on the current approaches to fitting FM for cochlear implant users. Issues and areas for further discussion were highlighted, in particular the lack of agreed fitting guidelines.
- Preliminary discussions identified significant concerns around the use of soundfield systems in combination with personal FM systems.
- The group identified a concern over the differences between transmitter microphones and over the implications of the use of a variety of transmitter/receiver/microphone combinations in a single school setting.
Proposed Outcomes
- The group will work to produce good practice guidelines.
Issue: Variable approaches to verification and evaluation
Action to date:
- The group has shared concerns about the fact that FM systems are widely considered in isolation, rather than as part of the child’s complete amplification system.
- The group has reviewed the current approaches for verifying the interface of FM systems with cochlear implants.
Proposed Outcomes
- The group will liase with key contacts in the USA and with Cochlear Europe about procedures for verifying FM systems with cochlear implants and will produce an information update. The group will be support efforts to produce nationally agreed procedures.
- The group will explore recommended FM verification and evaluation procedures.
Issue: lack of awareness of the benefits and importance of FM outside specialist services
Action to date:
- The group agreed that there was a need for ready access to a range of materials promoting the awareness of the rationale and benefits of FM technology. A poster campaign was proposed and an example considered.
Proposed outcomes:
- The group will support the development of posters, videos and other materials and will signpost the sources.
For further information, or to suggest issues for further consideration by the group, please contact the chair:
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[1] Phonak AG (2004), ACCESS: Achieving Clear Communication Employing Sound Solutions 2003, Proceedings of the First International Conference