Teacher resources & accommodations
As you may know, our son Kenton has severe hearing loss. We wanted to share suggestions that will help Kenton succeed. Please keep in mind that hearing aids do not "fix" hearing, like glasses fix poor vision. Kenton's hearing aids help enhance his hearing, but additional assistance is still needed. We've listed some strategies that help Kenton better understand conversations and classroom lessons. We are so grateful for your help with teaching Kenton! Thank you!
1. Wear the EduMic, which wirelessly sends your voice directly to his hearing aids.
2. Direct face-to-face communication. Speak clearly and make sure he can see your face. Please do not cover your mouth with paper or books or talk with your back to him. Please wear a clear mask or remove masks so he is able to see your mouth. Clear FDA and ADA-approved masks are available upon request.
3. Use small group work when necessary. It is difficult to hear in a large group.
4. Preferential seating in the classroom near the speaker, whether it is you or other activities.
5. The background music or noise is turned off so he can hear more clearly. Kenton's hearing aids help him hear much better, but he doesn't understand what he hears, especially if the room is noisy or if people talk too fast and on top of each other.
6. Kenton uses spoken language; please don't use sign language/ASL.
Edumic guide
Edumic is a microphone that picks up the speaker's voice and sends it wirelessly directly into Kenton's hearing aids. The mic typically works within a range of 65 feet. Even when Kenton is far away from you it will sound like you are next to him talking in his ear. If you ever get out of range the mic will flash yellow.
Turn On
Turn EduMic on by pressing the button for 2 seconds until both indicator lights turn WHITE. Then, release the button.
LINK
Hold EduMic next to one of Kenton's hearing aids. Wait for 10 seconds until the status indicator turns GREEN. EduMic is now ON.
CLEAR NECK
Take off anything extra around your neck. Keys, necklaces, lanyards, scarves, and even hair will make noise that is picked up by the microphone.
Attach to Lanyard
Attach the mic to the lanyard by the clip on the back. Check if the mic is secure so it doesn't fall off. Be aware that when touching the EduMic, noise is sent to the hearing aids. Mute EduMic while you are handling it.
Adjust Lanyard
Snap the clip behind your neck and adjust the lanyard by pulling the strings until it is 8 inches from your mouth. A quick trick to measure is to use the distance from your thumb to pinkie. Make sure the mic is facing outward and not towards your chest.
Check-in
You are connected! Wahoo! Ask Kenton if it is working and he will let you know.
Pass to speaker
Pass the EduMic to whoever is speaking. It can be passed around the class during group discussions using Kenton's Minecraft torch. Explain how to use the mic to someone coming into the classroom beforehand so they aren't caught off guard. If Kenton goes to another class, pass the mic to the next teacher.
Mute
To mute EduMic, briefly press the button. The light will FLASH GREEN. To unmute, briefly press the button again. The light will be SOLID GREEN. Mute it for quiet independent work and the speaker is no longer talking. Use your best judgment for this so he isn't accidentally muted when you speak or connected when you are working with another student. Please don't forget to unmute it when you start speaking again.
Turn off
Turn off Edumic by pressing the button for 2 seconds until the status indicator turns OFF.
charge
When the day is done turn off the EduMic and plug it in the charger. It has 8 hours of battery life so this needs to be done every day after school. Please make sure to charge it in a safe place.