Tool #7 Reduce Background Noise

Reduce Background Noise

Buzz, crackle, pop!!

It is all in the background

The second biggest challenges that students with hearing loss face are Distance & Noise. The "Get Close" toll covered the "Distance" challenge. 

The first step in overcoming the background noise challenge is to use the FM. FM's take the speakers voice and raise it above the background noise. 

Background noise is especially challenging because it is not al ways controllable by teacher or the child. Some background noise (noisy heaters/ air conditioners) require maintenance personnel help. 

At Home

At home remember to tum off things like radios, T.V's, and stereo's before trying to have a conversation. 

Many kids with hearing loss talk about how much they hate holiday dinners. Large tables, many people talking all at once, and holiday music playing in the background with low lighting! The combination of factors make for extremely challenging time to communicate. 

Phase 1 - Young Children

The young child is depending on the teacher to control the background noise as much as possible. Using the FM helps raise the teachers voice above the background noise. In phase 1 it is important the child begin to understand that background noise is part of what is making communication so challenging.

Phase 2 - Challenging Environments

The cafeteria is an extremely challenging environment. Students sometimes choose to have a friend or to eat their lunch in a quieter place like a conference room. This needs permission from the teacher / school. If the background noise can't be reduced, the child should move away from the noise and / or get close to the person speaking. 

Phase 3 - Group Work

Group work is very challenging for the student with hearing loss. Kids tend to talk at the same time and other groups around the room make more noise. To reduce the background noise, the student can, with teacher approval, move their group to a quieter place such as the hallway.