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A radio system allows the hearing aid user to be in control of who and what they are hearing. Having autonomy over a system that allows better hearing and understanding, and being able to use it where and when you need it is extremely important to hard of hearing individuals. FM provides improved listening clarity for people with hearing loss who experience difficulty and fatigue, when trying to understand speech, because of distance, reverberation, and distracting background noise.
How Does A FM Radio System Work?
An audio input from a microphone, TV, audio player or any electronic sound source feeds into an FM transmitter, and the FM radio frequency signal is picked up by the user's FM receiver. The use of high quality, unidirectional, noise-cancelling microphones, such as the T10 microphone (pictured right), can greatly improve the clarity of the sound source. Microphone placement is also very important as it can determine whether a hearing aid user has access to clear sound.
The FM transmitter's microphone picks up a speaker's words within inches of their mouth, if a microphone such as the T10 is used. Consequently, the sound that the listener hears (via their personal receiver) is in
its optimal state: free from attenuation (natural volume decay over distance), reverberation and distortion,
and (if unidirectional, noise-cancelling microphones are used) background noise.
The FM receiver may be a miniature component such as the R20 receiver (pictured right) or a small body
pack unit w
orn on a belt-clip. Each user requires a compatible FM receiver which can be connected to a
neck loop or head/earphones.
If a neck loop or inductive ear hooks are plugged into the FM receiver, the user can switch their hearing aid to the "T" program, cut out background noise and listen to the audio transmission. Alternatively headphones
may be worn. However, headphones can cause some hearing aid users to experience hearing aid feedback.
Advantages of the Radio System
- The greatest advantage of a portable FM assistive listening system is that it is easy to set up and puts the user in complete control. For instance, the Touring Conference System (pictured below) comes in a very practical carry case. The system is portable and completely s
elf-contained. The owner of the system has total control, and is not dependent on anyone for maintenance or hygiene issues. The system is battery powered and can be taken anywhere. The user simply gives the wireless transmitter to any presenter, teacher, work associate or friend who they wish to hear. - Having autonomy over a system that allows better hearing and understanding, and being able to use it where and when you need it is extremely important to hard of hearing individuals. Attempting to hear in many challenging sound environments, without such technology, can lead to frustration, fatigue and withdrawal from participation.
- From a business perspective, businesses can install Large Area FM assistive listening systems very easily without disturbing furnishings or the building structure.
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If more than one system is needed in adjacent rooms, an additional system can be installed using a separate FM frequency without interference.
- From a user perspective, using wireless microphones that transmit to a personal receiver is the most effective method for improving the Speech-to-Noise Ratio for the hard of hearing listener and increasing their ability to comprehend what is said.
In What Situations Are Radio Systems Most Commonly Used?
Large public facilities like churches, concert halls and meeting rooms are ideal places for larger assistive FM Systems, like the Touring Guide System (pictured right).
Hard of hearing people can easily take portable assistive FM systems with them to presentations, lectures, meetings and social gatherings. Because they are completely battery powered, they can be used anywhere- indoors or outside.
Non-hearing impaired users are often impressed by how much easier it is to hear clearly in many sound environments with a greatly improved speech to noise ratio. Non-hearing impaired users will share the benefits of reduced background noise, reverberation, sound distortion and listening fatigue plus improved clarity and ease of listening at a distance.
Gordon Morris Ltd. supplies hearing equipment from Swedish company Comfort Audio. Comfort Audio FM equipment works exceptionally for the hearing impaired person, with ultimate ease of use and the highest in sound clarity.
Gordon Morris Ltd. understands the varying requirements that users have and can design a system for use in almost any location. All we need to know are the approximate dimensions of the area to be covered. Please fill out our Budget Questionnaire and we will specify the perfect system for you.
Click the link to read about our specification and supply of an FM radio system to the National Trust site, Little Moreton Hall. Click here to read about the Somerset County Council project.
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