Troubleshooting FM receivers and transmitters only, I can do that. When student's personal hearing aids enter the equation, it drives me crazy!! There are so many other variables all of a sudden.
Today I went to the Middle School. Our district is near Chicago, so we had a half day. I went in anyway, figuring I could meet with at least some of my students. WRONG! I spent the whole half day negotiating with this hearing aid! The student complaint was, "it sounds fuzzy and everyone else can hear it, too." Turns out the kid hasn't even been using his FM for the past 4 DAYS because of this fuzz. Also, I loooove interrogating students about issues they are having with their FMs or with a class. I know it is not their fault, and they truly are trying their best, but sometimes it just gets my gears going that they can't tell any other teacher besides myself that they're having a problem. Although I know that the majority of Gen Ed teachers don't know anything about FM equipment either, they can at least email me so I know there's a problem! That way it gets addressed maybe the same day - certainly not 4 DAYS LATER!! Ugh.
Anyway. I am sitting there with this hearing aid. I can hear the fuzz, so I know there's a problem. (I have had students have "phantom" noises in their hearing aids. I wasted an entire month two years ago trying to figure out a noise that just didn't exist!) The student and I sit for 30 minutes trying different combinations. His hearing aid battery door, the FM battery door+boot, with FM receiver clipped on, with FM receiver off, etc. In the meantime, his battery continues to read a strong 100%. Eventually we come to the conclusion he needs a new battery door+boot. Loaner equipment is at another location, so I go out. Clean off my car, drive on crappy roads, and pick up the equipment. Bring it back to the school after I have replaced the door+boot. Student says, "it just keeps turning off on me." AAAAAAGH!! WHAT?! As a last ditch resort, I put a new battery in (the other one is still reading 100% when tested). Now I am hearing fuzz only when the FM receiver is clipped on. Bring it to the student to explain we need a new FM receiver. He says, "it sounds fine. I don't hear anything."
I almost screamed! It is the last period of this half day, so there is no more time left to figure this out. Did the new battery fix it? (Even though the old battery was 100%?) Will I need to run for more loaner equipment? Will this student tell his Gen Ed teachers if he has the fuzz issue again, or will it wait until next time I can schedule time for him?
Today I went to the Middle School. Our district is near Chicago, so we had a half day. I went in anyway, figuring I could meet with at least some of my students. WRONG! I spent the whole half day negotiating with this hearing aid! The student complaint was, "it sounds fuzzy and everyone else can hear it, too." Turns out the kid hasn't even been using his FM for the past 4 DAYS because of this fuzz. Also, I loooove interrogating students about issues they are having with their FMs or with a class. I know it is not their fault, and they truly are trying their best, but sometimes it just gets my gears going that they can't tell any other teacher besides myself that they're having a problem. Although I know that the majority of Gen Ed teachers don't know anything about FM equipment either, they can at least email me so I know there's a problem! That way it gets addressed maybe the same day - certainly not 4 DAYS LATER!! Ugh.
Anyway. I am sitting there with this hearing aid. I can hear the fuzz, so I know there's a problem. (I have had students have "phantom" noises in their hearing aids. I wasted an entire month two years ago trying to figure out a noise that just didn't exist!) The student and I sit for 30 minutes trying different combinations. His hearing aid battery door, the FM battery door+boot, with FM receiver clipped on, with FM receiver off, etc. In the meantime, his battery continues to read a strong 100%. Eventually we come to the conclusion he needs a new battery door+boot. Loaner equipment is at another location, so I go out. Clean off my car, drive on crappy roads, and pick up the equipment. Bring it back to the school after I have replaced the door+boot. Student says, "it just keeps turning off on me." AAAAAAGH!! WHAT?! As a last ditch resort, I put a new battery in (the other one is still reading 100% when tested). Now I am hearing fuzz only when the FM receiver is clipped on. Bring it to the student to explain we need a new FM receiver. He says, "it sounds fine. I don't hear anything."
I almost screamed! It is the last period of this half day, so there is no more time left to figure this out. Did the new battery fix it? (Even though the old battery was 100%?) Will I need to run for more loaner equipment? Will this student tell his Gen Ed teachers if he has the fuzz issue again, or will it wait until next time I can schedule time for him?
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