Good practice in the use of FM systems

1
Good practice in the use of FM systems.. is
only one of our concerns!

• Elizabeth Wood
• South of England Cochlear Implant Centre

2
The establishment of the group

• Formed in 2004 , post MCHAS, as there were still
  issues with FM despite new guidelines for setting
  up (FM advantage)
• Recent technical developments like
  miniaturisation and integral FM
• Uneven provision
• No guidelines for setting up CI/FM or Baha /FM
• Publication of BB93 which focused people on
  listening
• Members of the group

3
Aims and Objectives of the group

• Improve mutual sharing of information between
  manufacturers and users of fm systems
• Promote joint working and good practice between
  health/education and other agencies where
  appropriate

4
Aims and objectives Research and Development

• Research
• 2 pilot studies completed - posters
• Development 3 projects
• Production of a lead to enable objective
  test-box setting up of FM systems
• with Nucleus cochlear implant speech processors
• and Bahas
• Working to produce a document of Quality
  Standards and good practice guidelines for FM

5
Pilot research (1) Survey of policies on
provision of FM systems (see poster)

• 2004 short survey sent to 150 Heads of Service
  for HI
• Less than 1/3 had a policy on provision of FM and
  majority made decision on individual basis with
  different criteria
• Various factors, including funding, cited as
  criteria

6
Two previous surveys on fitting and the use of FM
with cochlear implants in the UK showed these
results
2000 2005
Centres having a policy for fitting FM 76 66
Children with a CI who use an FM system 33 30
7
Pilot research (2) Evaluation of FM systems (see
poster)

• Aim to produce a simple practical procedure to
  measure and show benefit from FM systems
• Objective speech in noise procedure developed and
  trialled with 24 normally hearing students and 8
  hearing impaired children aged 8-13
• Subjective questionnaire trialled with a group of
  12 hearing impaired children aged 8-13 years

8
Development work (1) CI/FM procedure for
verification and checking settings

• Sub-group led by technicians working in
  collaboration with Cochlear UK have developed a
  procedure and a customised connecting lead to
  enable objective test box measurements for
  setting up FM systems with Nucleus speech
  processors.
• Associated training days with CI centres are
  ongoing

9
Development work (2)Listening/testing device for
Bahas

• Sub-group led by technicians, liaising with Baha
  centres and Cochlear are developing a
  listening/testing connector to facilitate easier
  management and testing of Bahas, and better
  procedures for setting up Bahas with FM.
• Watch this space!

10
Development work (3)UK FM Quality Standards/good
practice guidelines

• Aim To support users and managers of FM across
  all phases of education
• Candidacy
• Fitting and Setting Up
• Management and Use
• Evaluation
• Linking with Soundfield FM
• Funding

11
Good practice guidelines

• Lots of good practice recommendations and tips
• Helpful links to websites MCHAS, FM
  manufacturers
• Quality Standards to be summarised
• Details of new procedures e.g. CI/FM protocol,
  speech in noise test, questionnaire
• LOOK OUT FOR PUBLICATION SPRING 2008!

12
To conclude

• Exciting progress to date all committed to
  continuing to develop good working relationships
  between all professionals
• The ultimate goal is for a deaf child to be using
  an optimally effective FM system