So what is an FM system? Well, in this video I’m talking about how an
FM system can help you hear your best in noisy places. Coming up!
Hi, I'm Dr. Derek - audiologist, audio engineer, and musician with Pro Fit
Hearing.com bringing you the best insight in today's latest hearing aids, headphones,
and audio technology to improve your life. If you have concerns about your hearing,
always consult with your local physician or audiologist.
Today, I’m talking about FM systems.
An FM system uses a microphone (called the transmitter) to send a person’s voice to
a loudspeaker (which is called a receiver). The loudspeaker amplifies the voice and helps
overcome the background noise in the room. This technology can also send a person’s
voice directly to hearing aids, so it sounds like they’re talking right into your ears.
FM stands for frequency modulation which is the technology that allows
for wireless transmission of sound. Many modern FM systems today use DM or digital modulation.
So you may hear the terms FM system and DM system used interchangeably.
Digital modulation is the preferred method today due to its flexibility and improved sound quality.
Understanding speech can be difficult especially if you have a hearing loss.
An FM system helps overcome two problems: noise and distance.
Noise and being a far distance away from the person speaking can make it much more difficult
to understand what they're saying. An FM system can be used in a classroom setting,
auditorium, movie theater, or when speaking with others in noisy situations.
Not only is it easier to hear and understand with an FM system, but it can also help reduce
listener and speaker fatigue. The listener will have less difficulty understanding and
the speaker will not have to speak louder in order to be heard over background noise.
So have you tried an FM system before? If so, what did you think of it? Let’s connect in the
comments below! Now, if you’re getting value out of this video so far please hit the like button.
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Now for children with hearing loss, an FM system is often used in a classroom setting.
This is commonly referred to as a soundfield system.
Classrooms can be noisy and the students sit different distances away from the teacher,
so this can make it difficult to hear and understand what's being said.
An example of an FM/DM system is the Phonak Roger Soundfield. It uses a digital signal
to transmit sound from the teacher worn microphone to a loudspeaker placed in the
classroom. This loudspeaker sits on a stand in the class and amplifies the teacher’s voice.
Many teachers who use an FM system for the first time report that they no longer have
to speak so loudly, and they enjoy using it. This system not only benefits the
hearing impaired student in class, but also everyone else can hear better. I’ll leave
a link in the description below to this system if you’d like to check it out.
Another example is the personal FM/DM system. This type of system can be used by children and
adults that have compatible hearing aids. The sound from the microphone is transmitted
directly to the hearing aids. Some hearing aids require an adapter to connect to the microphone,
but other newer hearing aids do not.
For example, the Phonak PartnerMic microphone streams sound directly to Phonak Marvel hearing
aids. Different FM/DM systems may be selected depending on the type of hearing aid used
and also the person’s needs and listening environments. This kind
of personal microphone may also be referred to as a remote microphone.
I’ll leave a link in the description below so you can check out this system.
So if you wear hearing aids, ask your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser
about an FM/DM system and whether it’s a good match for your needs. We all have more difficulty
understanding speech in background noise and at a far distance away. An FM system can
significantly improve our ability to hear clearly in these most challenging listening situations.
If you have any questions about FM/DM systems,
let me know in the comments below. Please like, share, and subscribe if you enjoy this video.
Check out the notes in the description, and connect with us on social media. Be a part
of the Pro Fit Hearing community! Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.