Example 4: Student with Hearing Impairment requiring RMHA device.

Student

Suan, aged nine.

Diagnosed with moderate to severe bilateral hearing loss.

As a result he has difficulty hearing information presented verbally.

He experiences difficulty cueing into direction of teachers voice, requiring touch or visual cues to attend.

He's slow to follow class instructions and often needs to copy what peers are doing.

He's quiet in class and doesn't participate in discussions but is able to make comments in smaller groups when prompted.

Environment

Modern learning environment with three teachers and 92 students.

The noise level can be high when students are participating in small group activities.

Acoustics of classroom are considered poor for Suan.

Tasks

Learning goals that assistive technology may support. Suan will:

  • follow teachers’ instructions in class
  • fully participate in small group and whole class discussion (making appropriate responses)
  • respond appropriately and on topic when asked by teacher.

Tools

Teacher or speaker wears microphone and student wears receivers.

Assistive technology chosen to trial

Personal RMHA system.

Notes

After a four-week trial, there was enough evidence of success to complete the assistive technology application

Progress after six months

The student turns to the teacher when they're speaking to the class.

He moves promptly in response to the verbal instruction and is now working independently alongside peers.

Completes more work and is less disruptive to others as he no longer needs to ask his peers what to do.

He raises his hand several times to contribute appropriate responses to questions posed by the teacher during whole-class discussion.

He looks at the teacher or speaker, nods or affirms ideas presented by others.

In smaller group activities, he's fully engaged with the activity and talks with peers. Assists with joint activities and contributes ideas relevant to the topic.

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