Which device would best support direct instruction for a student with a moderate hearing impairment in a noisy classroom?

Which device would best support direct instruction for a student with a moderate hearing impairment in a noisy classroom?

• A. Text-to-speech
• B. Braille display
• C. Keyboard
• D. Frequency modulation (FM) system

Answer: (D)

In a noisy classroom, the key is delivering the teacher’s voice directly to the student so it stands out from the background sounds. An FM system does exactly that: the teacher wears a microphone linked to a wireless transmitter, and the student wears a receiver (often integrated with a hearing aid or cochlear implant). This setup improves the sound quality at the student’s ear, reduces the impact of distance and reverberation, and helps the student follow direct instruction more clearly. Text-to-speech isn’t aimed at enhancing live, in-the-moment speech in a noisy room. A Braille display is for reading text by touch, not for listening to instruction. A keyboard is a tool for input, not for improving auditory access. That’s why the FM system best supports direct instruction for a student with a moderate hearing impairment in a noisy setting.

In a noisy classroom, the key is delivering the teacher’s voice directly to the student so it stands out from the background sounds. An FM system does exactly that: the teacher wears a microphone linked to a wireless transmitter, and the student wears a receiver (often integrated with a hearing aid or cochlear implant). This setup improves the sound quality at the student’s ear, reduces the impact of distance and reverberation, and helps the student follow direct instruction more clearly.

Text-to-speech isn’t aimed at enhancing live, in-the-moment speech in a noisy room. A Braille display is for reading text by touch, not for listening to instruction. A keyboard is a tool for input, not for improving auditory access. That’s why the FM system best supports direct instruction for a student with a moderate hearing impairment in a noisy setting.