This week we took a look at assistive technology devices that can be used for people who my have a hearing, speech, voice, or language impairment. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website along with The American Speech Language Hearing Association website, gives a generous amount of information on assistive technology and the devices that are available. I found these websites to answer many of the questions I had and to explain assistive technology is fuller detail.
Working in a school, I have seen many of these impairments and have had a chance to use some of the assistive technology devices. I know personally what a supplement the technology is to student learning, especially when it comes to communicating wants and needs. The assistive technology allows the students to express their emotions more clearly and to communicate more comfortably and confidently.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website talks about the different types of assistive devices that are available and further explains the listening devices, alerting devices, and communication devices. I have used the FM system and amplifier in the classroom before with great success. These systems allow students to hear more clearly and participate effectively in group activities. I like how the website noted that there is always research being conducted to improve assistive technology devices and to ensure that they are always working effectively.
The American Speech Language Hearing Association website describes specific situations where a person with a hearing impairment may have a hard time hearing other people. I found these situations to be interesting because it is hard to remember to think about the level in which we speak and if everyone who needs to hear us can hear us. As a teacher, in most situations we just talk at one level but not every student may be able to hear that. It is important to remember to adjust the way we speak when we are closer to students and further away from students, as well as giving processing time. In my experience in the classroom, I have worked with a few students with hearing impairments and saw how effectively the assistive technology devices help these students to hear the lesson and to hear everything that they should be hearing.
Any type of hearing or communication impairment may make learning and communicating more difficult but that does not have to be the case when there is assistive technology devices available. Many of the devices are simple and easy to use. The outcome of using these devices is more productive teaching and learning.
Jessica it was very interesting that you discussed having to adjust how we talk in order to effectively communicating to all students. I often find myself doing this however, I use it as a technique to get my students attention when they are not paying attention. For example, if I am talking and other are talking over me I will get very quiet so they have to listen closely. It is extremely nice that the devices are so easy to use. I often find that I get frustrated if I can't get something to work. Knowing that most of these devices are so easy to use helps decrease my anxiety when and if I ever have to use them in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post because I know how familiar you are with students who may have a communication impairments, as well as how well some assistive technology works for them. I am glad to hear that the outcome of using these particular devices is more productive for these students learning as well as an effective way for them to not only communicate academically but to express their wants and needs too.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. I know you have some experience with communication impairments where you work. It is a difficult task to talk in a way that is beneficial for all students. Some students need you to talk a little faster so you can keep their attention and they retain what you are saying. Whereas, other students require a slower pace in order to keep up. Volume is also a difficult one because some students require you to be louder and others are sensitive to loud sounds. It is a constant juggling act and what might work one day may not work the next.