UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 Good practice in the use of FM systems….. is only one of our concerns! Elizabeth Wood South of England Cochlear Implant Centre

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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 Baha’s  Working to produce a document of Quality Standards and good practice guidelines for FM

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 Two previous surveys on fitting and the use of FM with cochlear implants in the UK showed these results Centres having a policy for fitting FM 76%66% Children with a CI who use an FM system 33%30%

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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!

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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!

UK Children’s FM Working Group BAA Conference, Telford, November 2007 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