Teacher Practices

So what's a teacher to do if she or he has a student in class who uses an assistive listening system? 

First,  what is an assistive listening system? 

An assistive listening system (another term used is 'device') helps reduce the effect of an ''acoustically unfriendly room". They catch a desired sound (i.e. the teacher's voice) as clearly as possible and amplify it for students who are harding of hearing. Providing a high- quality listening environment is known to have a major impact on the academic performance of students who are hard of hearing. Assistive listening systems or devices help students by:

• Minimizing background noise such as chairs moving or students talking
• Overcoming the weakening effect of sound traveling through air 
• Reducing the effect of poor room acoustics

Now, let's answer that question above!

Here are some guidelines for teacher to support students who use assistive listening systems or devices: 

• Become knowledgeable about the device. Request training from an audiologist and/or manufacturer of the product. 
•  Discuss how the assistive listening device will be used with the student ahead of time.
• Position the microphone carefully. It should not be near a noise source. It should be 3 to 5 inches from the teacher’s mouth.
•  Consult with an audiologist about optimal positioning of the receiver or speakers.
•  Inform the entire class about how the assistive listening device will be used in classroom instruction. Remind students to speak one at a time. Be sure to repeat questions and comments from other students. When possible, pass the microphone/transmitter from student to student.
• Try to face the student in case he or she relies on visual cues to aid understanding.
• Use the assistive listening device for audiovisual presentations.
• Perform a listening check with the equipment regularly. Establish and follow a regular maintenance routine and schedule. 

Sources:
wauwatosalibrary.org 
Dell, A., Newtown, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom . (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey : Pearson Education.