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Running Head: PERSONAL FREQUENCY MODULATOR DEVICE

Personal Frequency Modulator Device

Adam Jernigan

Coastal Carolina University

EDIT 704

July 26, 2019

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Introduction

The drive for education is to provide all students with learning opportunities that prepare

them for the world they will be growing into. A challenge that is experienced is adapting these

learning opportunities to fit the needs of all students within each classroom. The level of

variation in each classroom can be different including students ranging from different levels of

learning disabilities to students that are academically gifted. The concept between differentiation

is to use strategies, including technology software and devices, to aid in providing equal,

challenging opportunities for all students along the learning spectrum.

Assistive technology devices provide opportunities that even the playing field and help

students that learn differently better cope with learning modalities presented in the classroom.

This report will focus on one of these assistive technology devices called a personal frequency

modulator describing what it is, its history, descriptions of different models, and the effects that

it can have for students.

Personal Frequency Modulator

“A personal frequency modulation (FM) system uses radio waves to send speech and

other signals to hearing aids” (Mroz, 2018). The concept would be that the teacher/instructor

would wear a microphone that would transmit the information back to a receiver worn by the

student. This transmission of sound can help students with lack of hearing capabilities to hear

what everyone else is hearing. This helps to level the field of education for every student in the

classroom.

Hearing aids have not always been the technological marvel that they are today. “The ear

trumpet, considered the first hearing aid, was invented in the 17th century” (The History of
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Hearing Aids, 2019). These ear trumpets have been historically made from bone, animal horns,

wood, steel, and many other source materials. By the 18th century a new collapsible version has

been invented, but the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell provided new

insight into the hearing aid. “In 1898, Miller Reese Hutchison created the first electric hearing

aid. His design used an electric current to amplify weak signals” (The History of Hearing Aids,

2019). Since this time the electric hearing aid has made many transitions leading to the digital

hearing aid and cochlear implants that we now enjoy today.

Current day personal frequency modulators take several different models that depend on

the level of disability and field to which they are being employed. Individual levels of

application are frequently used in education for students with minor hearing disabilities that

detract from learning but does not inhibit them socially. The range from the personal

transmitters to inner ear hearing aids is one that depends on the level of disability of the

individual. These models can also grow to include devices that are surgically implanted, like

cochlear implants, for individuals with severe hearing disabilities that limit them educationally

and socially.

The term hearing aid does need further refinement as it can be an aid but not simply to

those with hearing deficits. It can provide ample opportunities for individuals with hearing loss,

but it has also been employed as an accommodation for individuals with attention deficit

disorder. In a study by Friederichs and Friederichs “while teachers reported a significant

improvement in classroom behavior (attention, social, and academic) following the use of the

FM-device” (Friederichs & Friederichs, 2005). Conceptually the device is used to block out

background noise that could act as a distraction to a student that suffers from problems with

focusing attention.
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Summary

Assistive technology is one aspect of the classroom that helps to create a learning

environment to which every student has the opportunity to meet with success at the same rate.

Personal frequency modulators are a hearing aid that can be used in the classroom to aid not only

students with hearing disabilities, but also students with attention deficit disabilities. The key

here is to filter out the background noise to allow students with hearing disabilities to hear only

what should be heard as well as students with attention deficit disabilities by filtering out their

distractions during the learning process. This technology can range from personal device that

can be shared between the teacher and the student, to devices that can be simply worn by the

student or implanted as a more permanent solution.

The focus of this report was to provide background information on a form of assistive

technology and a synopsis of how and why it has potential uses in the classroom. The

educational field is one that is always looking to help others to learn and find ways to help every

student learn no matter what the obstacle. Education is for everyone.

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References

Friederichs, E., & Friederichs, P. (2005). Electrophysiologic and psycho-acoustic findings

following one-year application of a personal ear-level FM device in children with

attention deficit and suspected central auditory processing disorder. J Educ Audiol, 12,

31-36.

Mroz, M. (2018, February 12). All about personal FM systems and hearing loss. Retrieved from

https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/assistive-listening-devices/fm-systems

The History of Hearing Aids: Simi Valley: Decibel Hearing. (2019, June 03). Retrieved from

https://decibelhearing.com/history-hearing-aids/