FM systems zone
The provision and fitting of FM systems has traditionally been the remit of Education but it is essential that health and education collaborate over FM fitting and provision because:
- DSP aids need to be correctly programmed for DAI connection
- communication between health and education is essential to ensure optimal hearing aid fitting prior to introducing a personal FM system
- with the advent of integral FM audiologists will have to be involved.
Good practice guidelines and quality standards
UK Children’s FM Working Group/NDCS have now produced these (July 08). They cover provision, fitting, use, management and evaluation of personal FM systems. To obtain the Quality Standards (hard copy or pdf) and accompanying Good Practice Guide (CD or pdf) see: NDCS website
- FM Working Group
A group facilitated by National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) who aim to improve joint working, developments in FM technology and procedures and research. The group would welcome suggestions or examples which could be included in the Good Practice Guide. For training or technical support information, contact: mary.hostler@manchester.ac.uk
Resources
- 'Radio daze/include me in'
A DVD/video illustrating the benefits of FM, produced by Leicestershire specialist teaching service
Available from MCopeland@leics.gov.uk - 'Getting it Right'
A DVD/video and training notebook
Available from graham.hamilton@manchester.ac.uk - 'Beyond the Clinic - understanding and managing dsp hearing aids'
A DVD/video and study guide (section on FM)
Available from graham.hamilton@manchester.ac.uk - NDCS booklet on FM systems/radio aids
A good introductory text - Ewing Foundation website
Technical and practical advice available - Connevans website
The Connevans catalogue is a 'bible' for information on fm/DAI shoes for every hearing aid manufacturer - Phonak website
The proceedings of the First International FM conference (2003) are available to download - The second international conference (virtual) forthcoming early 2008 will be available through iLearn
- Oticon website
For information on Amigo - Electromagnetic interference (EMI) paper
Published in Ear & Hearing, Vol 26(3) June 2005 pp341-349. It is copyrighted work but permission has been granted for it to be available on this website. See: EMI paper (PDF 628 KB) - Building Bulletin 93, Acoustic Design of Schools
This document has sections on hearing aids, FM and soundfields and is available from The Stationery Office website
Key documents
- FM Working Group: Draft briefing (Word 133 KB)
- FM Working Group: Survey of policies on candidacy, provision and funding of FM systems (PowerPoint 312 KB)
- FM Working Group: Good practice in the use of FM systems….. is only one of our concerns! (PowerPoint 52 KB)
