does your child use an FM trainer? please help

[Anonymous]

Does your child use an FM trainer during the day at school? If so, can share on any of the following --

How old was your child when he/she first started using the device?
What is the diagnosis the FM trainer was "prescribed" for?
What kind of professional made the recommendation? (audiologist, slp, psych, etc.)
What school system provides you the FM trainer?
Did you get the FM trainer as part of an IEP or 504 plan?
Was your child on grade level in reading and/or math prior to starting with the FM trainer?
Has using the FM trainer helped your child?
How does your child tolerate using it and how do other children react to him/her?

Background -- our audiologist recommended an FM trainer for our child. At an IEP meeting the MCPS audiologist told me that MCPS doesn't provide FM trainers, they just work with hearing aids. Two years later, our child has had no FM trainer and still has troubles, but meanwhile I have seen several other kids with them in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Do you happen to know the other kids parents? Would it be too awkward to ask them about it?

I had not heard of this, but I was interested b/c my kid has auditory problems. Apparently, they're very pricey, which would probably one reason why the school might be dragging it's feet. It sounds like it's worth re-visiting at your next IEP meeting.

[Anonymous]

I believe some parents will purchase them to use for themselves and to send to school for use in the classroom. I'm surprised the school doesn't provide them - what school does he go to?

If your child is mainstreamed and depends on spoken language it is very hard to hear in background noise - and classrooms are very noisy. FMs help a lot by reducing or eliminating background noise. One negative is it reduces access to peers when they talk, unless they have the microphone.

Can you talk to your audiologist about what type they recommend and where it can be purchased? Maybe they can help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe some parents will purchase them to use for themselves and to send to school for use in the classroom. I'm surprised the school doesn't provide them - what school does he go to?

If your child is mainstreamed and depends on spoken language it is very hard to hear in background noise - and classrooms are very noisy. FMs help a lot by reducing or eliminating background noise. One negative is it reduces access to peers when they talk, unless they have the microphone.

Can you talk to your audiologist about what type they recommend and where it can be purchased? Maybe they can help you.

Honestly, it's probably not something I can afford. If I could, can I just purchase it and insist that the teacher use it? Or do I have to get the school to acknowledge the need thru an IEP or 504 plan? If they had to acknowledge the need, it seems like they would be obliged to provide it under a 504 at a minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe some parents will purchase them to use for themselves and to send to school for use in the classroom. I'm surprised the school doesn't provide them - what school does he go to?

If your child is mainstreamed and depends on spoken language it is very hard to hear in background noise - and classrooms are very noisy. FMs help a lot by reducing or eliminating background noise. One negative is it reduces access to peers when they talk, unless they have the microphone.

Can you talk to your audiologist about what type they recommend and where it can be purchased? Maybe they can help you.

Honestly, it's probably not something I can afford. If I could, can I just purchase it and insist that the teacher use it? Or do I have to get the school to acknowledge the need thru an IEP or 504 plan? If they had to acknowledge the need, it seems like they would be obliged to provide it under a 504 at a minimum.

That I am not sure about, since we don't use them. I'd ask other parents if I were you. I would have it put in the IEP or 504, because then they would be required to use it (whether you provide it or the school does).

[Anonymous]

My dd is a 6th grader in an mcps middle school and uses an fm system under a 504 plan. The system was recommended by a private audiologist for auditory processing disorder that is very severe. The school system provided the device during the first week of 5th grade for a trial, after which she used it full time for the entire year. For 6th grade we decided to purchase our own system. The one provided by mcps was not the best quality and when it would break she would be without if for about 2 weeks. Also, the mcps systems have over the head headphones like old walkmans used to have. The system we purchase just has a piece for each ear that looks like a bluetooth. It comes with a warranty for one replacement which does cover loss of the device. We haven't had any problems with it, the teachers use it, and this device is less conspicous (important in 6th grade!). If a medical profession recommends the device, they generally do not go against medical advice. They are expensive, but the ones they provide are much less so. The can't make decision based on cost. Can you give any more info about why your child needs it? Maybe I can help you strategize?

My child received this device while attending an HGC, so she was above grade level in all areas and received all A's on her report card. She currently attends a middle school magnet and this has not been used as a reason for them to not provide the device. They were going to continue providing one this year, but did not since we purchased one. The device has changed her life. She missed so much information before that we would have to reteach everyday after school. This became enormously stressful. She quickly understood the material, she just couldn't hear in background noise. This device, increases the volume of the teachers voice over the other classroom noises.

She loves using it because she knows how much it helps her. Other students don't give her a problem about it, though some are about what it is. It's never been a problem though. She tells them something like she needs to wear them for her part time job with the Secret Service and makes a joke out of it.

You do not need a hearing aid to use an FM System. Can I ask what school you are at? That's just crazy for an audiologist to say this!

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your helpful reply.

My child is in MCPS. In an IEP meeting, I presented a report from the Georgetown Hospital audiologist who recommended the assistive listening device. The IEP team determined that since there was no educational impact, there would be no assistance. No alternative was mentioned about getting the assistive listening device under a 504 plan instead of an IEP. (I now understand the 504 does not require demonstration of an educational impact.)

At the IEP meeting (at central office because it was summertime), the person who was representing MCPS audiology (who I believe was the head, but am not 100% sure) said that MCPS only provides hearing aids and does not provide non-hearing aid devices. When I said that that didn't sound right since I thought that all schools had an obligation to provide accommodation for disabilities even mild ones, she hedged and said that sometimes in very rare circumstances they will do a trial of an assistive listening device, but not in mine because it didn't fit the "guidelines", which she would not produce or reference for me.

The same woman also rejected our private audiologist's diagnosis of a "mild hearing loss" because MCPS had different guidelines for hearing loss and didn't consider what my audiologist found to be a hearing loss but rather within the spectrum of normal. This despite the fact that my audiologist worked at a major hospital and was presumably using some professional standard. When pressed by me to provide some reference to the MCPS standard, the audiologist refused.

Clearly, we got the run around. 3 years later, with many of the same problems, I am trying again. This time I hope to be more prepared.

My child constantly "mishears" things in the classroom and at home. He often fails to respond when spoken to. He has a terrible time learning a foreign language (words are wildly mangled). His hearing checks out as normal at this point (after a long history of ear infections and tubes), but I am concerned he might have auditory processing disorder. He also has been diagnosed with other language related issues (phonological disorder and mixed expressive/receptive language disorder). We are going thru an expensive round of private audiologist, speech/lang path and neuropsych testing to try to get a clear diagnosis and plan.

Can you share anything about symptoms, diagnosis or assessment experiences that lead you to the FM trainer? Is that the only accommodation that you find necessary?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My daughter has the symptoms you mention: difficulty hearing in background noise and mishearing things, mixed receptive/expressive language disorder. She also has a terrible auditory memory. This has an educational because it affects her ability to access the curriculum. Her grades have always been great, but only because she/we worked so hard at home. If you already have an IEP you can't have a 504. You either have one or the other. The FM system can be provided under the IEP. If you already have an IEP in place there is obviously some educational issue, so how can they say that hearing/listening isn't a part of that. Please, get the Auditory Processing testing done. I can make 2 recommendations:

Make an appointment with Dr. Carol Kamara in Rockville by congressional plaza. She is an slp and an audiologist. My daughter was first diagnosed with APD by TLC in Rockville but I Dr. Kamara after questioning their recommendations. She did further testing and is extremely knowledgeable. Testing is time consuming and costly. She can probably see you fairly quickly though.

Alternatively, call either GWU or Loyola U for the testing. GW does not include an slp in testing, Loyola does. Wait lists are typically long at both of these (months) and are still expensive, but less so than going with Dr. Kamara. If you can afford Dr. Kamara (maybe 2,000 if I remember correctly) I'd go with her. You need to nip this in the bud. Dr. Kamara will give you all the info by phone and is very approachable. Give her call and ask about pricing and how soon she can fit you in and see what you can manage. Also, verify that she has all of the needed equipment to do the testing. She may only be able to do a screening, but she'll inform you of the details and what the best approach would be. If you decide to go the university route, my bet is that Loyola will see you faster.

I'd really like to know the outcome, so please keep us posted and let me know if there is any other way I can help you. Darn MCPS!!

[Anonymous]

This is so helpful, thanks! I am currently trying to price out audiologists. Unfortunately, GW doesn't take any insurance, so I am still trying to get callbacks from audiologists who do take my insurance, which would fully cover the testing. I have some good recommendations and will also look at Dr. Kamara.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

OP, have you contacted Dr. Lucker? He's an expert in APD issues:

Dr. Jay R. Lucker,
P.O. Box 4177, Colesville, MD 20914-4177,
301-254-8583
http://www.ncapd.org/

I wish you a lot of luck with this. I cannot believe they said it doesn't have an educational impact!

[Anonymous]

Just wondering where the FM trainers can be purchased? We have also decided to purchase our own
thanks

[Anonymous]

We purchased a device by Phonak through Audiologist Gail Linn across from White Flint

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your child use an FM trainer during the day at school? If so, can share on any of the following --



How old was your child when he/she first started using the device?
What is the diagnosis the FM trainer was "prescribed" for?
What kind of professional made the recommendation? (audiologist, slp, psych, etc.)
What school system provides you the FM trainer?
Did you get the FM trainer as part of an IEP or 504 plan?
Was your child on grade level in reading and/or math prior to starting with the FM trainer?
Has using the FM trainer helped your child?
How does your child tolerate using it and how do other children react to him/her?

Background -- our audiologist recommended an FM trainer for our child. At an IEP meeting the MCPS audiologist told me that MCPS doesn't provide FM trainers, they just work with hearing aids. Two years later, our child has had no FM trainer and still has troubles, but meanwhile I have seen several other kids with them in the classroom.

Our DS will be using one as specified in his IEP. He is 4 and has mild hearing loss in one ear and ASD/Asperger's. His hearing loss so far does not seem to affect his language acquisition and he does very well with pronunciation at his immersion language school, Chinese. His school suggested he try using a FM trainer (they will provide) after he gets fitted for an hearing aid (we provide at the recommendation of his audiologist) next month b/c they feel it may help with attention.

[Anonymous]

We had asked for a dedicated aid so the school is offering the FM trainer and TAG - Teaching with acoustical guidance - as an alternative. We'll see how it goes.