Evolution of Soundfield for Classrooms - Impactful Findings Revealed

ListenPoint ListenPoint Evolution of Soundfield for Classrooms Dave Ellison Ellison Northwest & Listen Technologies

National Diffusion Network founded 1974

National Diffusion Network founded 1974 First Federal program to identify new education concepts

1978 MARRS Project initiated under NDN

1978 MARRS Project initiated under NDN Identified that approximately 30% in grades 3-6 have hearing loss failing a 15 dB hearing screening

1978 MARRS Project initiated under NDN Identified that approximately 30% in grades 3-6 have hearing loss failing a 15 dB hearing screening Study of students with mild or minimal hearing loss to evaluate soundfield as a means to keep them in the mainstream instead of Special Education programs

1978 MARRS Project initiated under NDN Identified that approximately 30% in grades 3-6 have hearing loss failing a 15 dB hearing screening Study of students with mild or minimal hearing loss to evaluate soundfield as a means to keep them in the mainstream instead of Special Education programs Divided into groups with and without amplification

MARRS Project Findings:

MARRS Project Findings: Test scores improved 10% - 30% over unamplified rooms!

MARRS Project Findings: Test scores improved 10% - 30% over unamplified rooms! Significant cost savings over special programs

MARRS Project Findings: Test scores improved 10% - 30% over unamplified rooms! Significant cost savings over special programs Eliminates the stigma for students for Special Ed

1982 next MARRS study

1982 next MARRS study Found improved scores in spelling tests among 131 children 2nd and 3rd grade with and without hearing loss

1982 next MARRS study Found improved scores in spelling tests among 131 children 2nd and 3rd grade with and without hearing loss First time a negative was identified students with a minimal hearing loss were viewed by the teacher as impulsive, overactive and having a weak attention span

1983 the Tape Recorder Study in kindergarten

1983 the Tape Recorder Study in kindergarten HiFi recorder placed on teachers desk playing word lists

1983 the Tape Recorder Study in kindergarten HiFi recorder placed on teachers desk playing word lists 25 words played recorder at 12 feet from students

1983 the Tape Recorder Study in kindergarten HiFi recorder placed on teachers desk playing word lists 25 words played recorder at 12 feet from students Normal hearing kids: 91% accuracy in testing

1983 the Tape Recorder Study in kindergarten HiFi recorder placed on teachers desk playing word lists 25 words played recorder at 12 feet from students Normal hearing kids: 91% accuracy in testing Hearing loss kids: 81% accuracy in testing

Recorder moved to CENTER of room.

Recorder moved to CENTER of room Normal hearing kids increased to 98%

Recorder moved to CENTER of room Normal hearing kids increased to 98% Hearing loss kids increased to 96%!!

Recorder moved to CENTER of room Normal hearing kids increased to 98% Hearing loss kids increased to 96%!! When amplified, both groups tested at 98%

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield Across the board grades improved but

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield Across the board grades improved but This time teachers and administrators were examined

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield Across the board grades improved but This time teachers and administrators were examined 85-90% of teachers found the system beneficial

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield Across the board grades improved but This time teachers and administrators were examined 85-90% of teachers found the system beneficial 90% of administrators found the system beneficial

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield Across the board grades improved but This time teachers and administrators were examined 85-90% of teachers found the system beneficial 90% of administrators found the system beneficial Why? Fewer teacher absences due to fatigue and laryngitis

1986 40 classrooms in Midwest studied for Soundfield Across the board grades improved but This time teachers and administrators were examined 85-90% of teachers found the system beneficial 90% of administrators found the system beneficial Why? Fewer teacher absences due to fatigue and laryngitis Overall improved student test scores

1990 60 additional classrooms with soundfield studied

1990 60 additional classrooms with soundfield studied 40% reduction in students sent to LD programs

1990 60 additional classrooms with soundfield studied 40% reduction in students sent to LD programs More detailed hearing screening found 43% of students had some level of hearing loss on any given day

1990 60 additional classrooms with soundfield studied 40% reduction in students sent to LD programs More detailed hearing screening found 43% of students had some level of hearing loss on any given day 75% of primary-level LD students had a measurable hearing loss

1990 60 additional classrooms with soundfield studied 40% reduction in students sent to LD programs More detailed hearing screening found 43% of students had some level of hearing loss on any given day 75% of primary-level LD students had a measurable hearing loss Children with developmental disabilities in primary school made significantly fewer errors in word identification in soundfield

1990 60 additional classrooms with soundfield studied 40% reduction in students sent to LD programs More detailed hearing screening found 43% of students had some level of hearing loss on any given day 75% of primary-level LD students had a measurable hearing loss Children with developmental disabilities in primary school made significantly fewer errors in word identification in soundfield Overall, children were observed to be more relaxed and responded more quickly in the amplified classroom environment

1993 children in 12 classrooms were identified with ongoing hearing loss and chronic ear problems

1993 children in 12 classrooms were identified with ongoing hearing loss and chronic ear problems Teachers, unaware of the target students, completed Screening Instrument for Targeting Educational Risk in Secondary Student (SIFTER) forms for 6 rooms amplified and 6 rooms not amplified

1993 children in 12 classrooms were identified with ongoing hearing loss and chronic ear problems Teachers, unaware of the target students, completed Screening Instrument for Targeting Educational Risk in Secondary Student (SIFTER) forms for 6 rooms amplified and 6 rooms not amplified SIFTER screening identified 30% of students with a hearing loss based solely on the SIFTER forms further confirming results

1994 ESL students studied in amplified vs non-amplified

1994 ESL students studied in amplified vs non-amplified ESL students experienced significant difficulty in non-amplified classrooms in understanding spoken English

1994 ESL students studied in amplified vs non-amplified ESL students experienced significant difficulty in non-amplified classrooms in understanding spoken English Significant improvement in understanding spoken English when the students were placed in an amplified classroom

1994 ESL students studied in amplified vs non-amplified ESL students experienced significant difficulty in non-amplified classrooms in understanding spoken English Significant improvement in understanding spoken English when the students were placed in an amplified classroom MARRS project ended in 1995 when funding was cut off to NDN

2001 No Child Left Behind Act soundfield goes mainstream picks up where MARRS left off

2001 No Child Left Behind Act soundfield goes mainstream picks up where MARRS left off Mass deployment of inexpensive but somewhat limited products flooded schools to realize the benefits of soundfield

2001 No Child Left Behind Act soundfield goes mainstream picks up where MARRS left off Mass deployment of inexpensive but somewhat limited products flooded schools to realize the benefits of soundfield To learn more about Listenpoint please visit my booth today

System Structure

Assistive Listening Systems For the Hearing Impaired Americans With Disabilities Act Title III

ADA Title III Eliminates physical barriers to accessibility

ADA Title III Eliminates physical barriers to accessibility Includes wheelchair ramps, handicapped parking stalls, door widths, counter heights all barriers to accessibility