title: Preschool teachers' perception and use of hearing assistive technology in educational settings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored how often sound-field amplification and personal frequency-modulated (FM) systems are used in preschool classrooms, teacher perceptions of advantages and disadvantages of using hearing assistive technology, and teacher recommendations for hearing assistive technology use.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Participants were professionals who provided services to preschool-age children who are deaf or hard of hearing in public or private schools. A total of 306 surveys were sent to 162 deaf education programs throughout the United States; 99 surveys were returned (32%). Simple statistics were used to describe the quantitative survey results; content analysis was completed on open-ended survey comments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were received from teachers working at listening and spoken language preschool programs (65%) and at bilingual-bicultural and total communication preschool programs (35%). Most respondents perceived that hearing assistive technology improved students' academic performance, speech and language development, behavior, and attention in the classroom. The majority of respondents also reported that they definitely would or probably would recommend a sound-field system (77%) or personal FM system (71%) to other educators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hearing assistive technology is frequently used in preschool classrooms of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, with generally positive teacher perceptions of the benefits of using such technology.
authors.affiliation: Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA. lauri.nelson@usu.edu
authors.forename: Lauri H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005178:Faculty; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D010465:Perception; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: classroom acoustics; early intervention; hearing loss; technology