Re: Re: neckloop for preschooler

[Guest guest]

Hi - I've never seen an FM system as you describe - which of course doesn't

mean necessarily anything - but agree with it sounds more like a pocket

talker setup than an FM... Check with your audiologist to see the difference -

the pocket talker is a commercially available product. I can't remember your

daughter's hearing loss - I'm so sorry! - but this doesn't sound like a true FM

system.

I'd also add that an FM system - the two boots and the microphone - ran around

$3,000. It uses the digital capabilities of our boys' hearing aids so it's not

just amplifying but using their hearing aids so the sound is as good as it can

be. I also like the fact that our guys can set their hearing aids to either FM

or FM + HA and get incidental conversation as well as the teacher's voice. Not

that money is everything but it seems hard to believe a $3,000 system is the

same as one costing $150?

Here's what I found about the pocket talker:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our price $149.00

plus $12 for s & h

Buy 2 to or more

@ $139.00 each

plus shipping & handling

POCKETALKER PRO #6681

by Sound

" Walkman " style amplifier to help overcome background noise and improve your

ability to communicate in difficult listening situations. This device will help

to increase volume and clarity without disturbing others in the room. The

PockeTalker Pro has a full range frequency response. It is rugged and durable,

as well as being compact and lightweight. Uses standard or rechargeable AA

batteries. An optional ear bud or headset are available. The PockeTalker is

compatible with telecoil coupler or direct audio input hearing aids.

Used by doctors, lawyers, and other professionals when counseling hearing

impaired persons.

The Pocketalker Pro meets ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations and

is a convenient way to provide communication accessibility in public places and

businesses. Sales and service personnel can use the Poctetalker Pro for easier

communication with hearing impaired customers or employees.

The Pocketalker Pro is not a substitute for hearing

aids. Any person experiencing hearing loss should be

examined by a physician to determine the cause(s)

and find treatment.

--- You wrote:

She has a neckloop plugged into a receiver pack (about the size of a deck

of cards) which they put into a fanny pack around her waist - the loop

goes under her shirt so that she doesn't grab at it. The teacher wears a

mic and a similar deck-of-cards-size transmitter and Kate's aids are set

to M/T. I think the boot set-up (with NO CORDS!) would be nicer

logistically, but if the sound quality, etc. is the same, I don't think I

can ask for that?

I don't know everything. Just what I have experienced. To me this sounds more

like a pocket-talker than an actual FM system. Maybe there are loop systems

that I have not seen. Annika had both. She had the FM system(with a separate

set of BTE because she could not use the FM boots with her current hearing

aids) and then she had the pocket talker. Basically they work the same as far

as amplification. Though I can say that her school audiologist did not like to

use the pocket talker for her because witht he system that we used we were not

able to test the volume for her. We could be blasting her out and not know it.

Annika was only 2 at the time so not able to really tell us what was going on.

So that would be my only concern is to make sure that they can really tell what

she is hearing through this system. I also think that the sound quality

between the two were different. But of course I am only talking from my

experience. We used the pocket talker in like the sa!

ndbox and the van and other places where we didn't want to chance any type of

damage to the FM system and then we used the FM system for her school settings

and other " safe places " .

--- end of quote ---

*******************************

Barbara Mellert

Manager, Social Science Computing

Kiewit Computing Services

Dartmouth College

13A Silsby Hall; HB 6121

Hanover NH 03755

Telephone: 603/646-2877

URL: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ssc

[Guest guest]

She has a neckloop plugged into a receiver pack (about the size of a deck

of cards) which they put into a fanny pack around her waist - the loop

goes under her shirt so that she doesn't grab at it. The teacher wears a

mic and a similar deck-of-cards-size transmitter and Kate's aids are set

to M/T. I think the boot set-up (with NO CORDS!) would be nicer

logistically, but if the sound quality, etc. is the same, I don't think I

can ask for that?

I don't know everything. Just what I have experienced. To me this sounds more

like a pocket-talker than an actual FM system. Maybe there are loop systems

that I have not seen. Annika had both. She had the FM system(with a separate

set of BTE because she could not use the FM boots with her current hearing aids)

and then she had the pocket talker. Basically they work the same as far as

amplification. Though I can say that her school audiologist did not like to use

the pocket talker for her because witht he system that we used we were not able

to test the volume for her. We could be blasting her out and not know it.

Annika was only 2 at the time so not able to really tell us what was going on.

So that would be my only concern is to make sure that they can really tell what

she is hearing through this system. I also think that the sound quality between

the two were different. But of course I am only talking from my experience. We

used the pocket talker in like the sandbox and the van and other places where we

didn't want to chance any type of damage to the FM system and then we used the

FM system for her school settings and other " safe places " .

Mom of 4

Marcus 14

12

Jon 10

Annika 2

bilaterally implanted 3/1/04

hookup 3/25/04________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

--- You wrote:

I'm wondering if it's what use to be known as a auditory trainer?? I use to be

a substitue teacher about 10 years ago and I subbed in a class where a child

wore something like that. (This child attended the same school that

does now). Our HI had mentioned in the beginning that might be given an

auditory trainer, but we did end up with an FM system purchased by our school

district.

--- end of quote ---

Now I've always thought they are the same? But don't know that for sure....

*******************************

Barbara Mellert

Manager, Social Science Computing

Kiewit Computing Services

Dartmouth College

13A Silsby Hall; HB 6121

Hanover NH 03755

Telephone: 603/646-2877

URL: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ssc

[Guest guest]

We booth tested my ds's FM system with direct wires and neckloop. The

neckloop didn't provide the volume he needed. He uses a neckloop now

for noncritical uses, specifically soccer, because the body worn system

has the increased power to reach across a large soccer field.

It's easier to get a wireless system if you can prove it works better,

but if all things are the same, federal law says they have to give

weight to what the student prefers.