Sounds of a class winner

By Bridget Brady
HEARING-IMPAIRED students at Lynbrook Primary School are all ears after the installation of a third sound field system.
The system has been installed in the school gym to cater for the hearing impaired students who can now listen to an amplified version of what a teacher is saying through their hearing aids.
Two systems have already been installed at the school, which has about 10 hearing-impaired students.
The assistant principal in charge of curriculum, Fran van Lambaart, said the teacher’s voice became clearer for students, but not necessarily louder.
“Their hearing aids automatically tune into the channel and the teacher’s voice is amplified through a necklace the teacher wears,” Ms van Lambaart said.
“They (hearing-impaired students) are loving it. It’s just making their access to the curriculum so much easier and they feel more confident.”
The sound field systems added to the school’s all-inclusive edu-cation, Ms van Lambaart said. All Lynbrook Primary School students also learn sign language.
“We do lots of different activities where they are signing all through the school. I think that’s the reason why we have attracted a lot of hearing-impaired students,” she said.
“It is another language and it benefits those children who have learning difficulties to have another strategy to help them learn.”
Connie Vesco’s son, Thomas, 9, is hearing-impaired and attends Lynbrook Primary School.
She said her son had benefited greatly from the sound field systems.
“The noise level (in the gym) is cut out now. It just gives them that huge benefit. The school has been wonderful in meeting his needs and it has been fantastic.”
Mayfield Ward councillor Amanda Stapledon donated some of her ward funds for the school’s sound field system in the gym.