Classroom Hearing Systems Compared: Which Hearing Technology Is Best for Schools?

Classrooms are demanding listening environments.

A teacher may be several metres away, children may be talking, chairs are moving, equipment is running and sound is reflecting from walls, floors and ceilings.

For most children this is simply part of school life.

For a child with hearing or listening difficulties, however, these conditions can make understanding the teacher considerably harder.

There are several technologies designed to help — but they don't all work in the same way.

In this guide, we compare some of the main classroom hearing solutions, including personal remote microphone systems, Roger Focus II, soundfield systems, pass-around microphones and bone-conduction solutions.

Why Are Classrooms So Difficult to Hear In?

Two of the biggest challenges are distance and background noise.

A child sitting several metres from a teacher receives a less favourable speech signal than a child sitting close to them.

Add classroom noise and reverberation and speech can become harder to distinguish.

Simply asking the teacher to speak louder isn't an ideal solution.

Assistive listening technology aims to improve access to the teacher's voice without requiring them to continually raise their voice.

Who Might Benefit From Classroom Hearing Technology?

The obvious group is children with diagnosed hearing loss.

However, classroom listening difficulties are not restricted to conventional hearing loss.

Depending on professional assessment and individual circumstances, additional listening support may also be considered for children experiencing difficulties associated with:

• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
• Unilateral hearing loss
• Glue ear or fluctuating hearing
• Cochlear implants
• Attention-related listening difficulties
• Some neurodevelopmental conditions
• Difficulty understanding speech in background noise

Importantly, technology isn't automatically appropriate for every child with one of these conditions.

The child's individual needs should be considered by the relevant professionals.

Option 1: Personal Remote Microphone Systems

A personal remote microphone system places the microphone close to the teacher.

The teacher wears the microphone, and their voice is transmitted wirelessly towards equipment worn by the pupil.

One example is the Phonak Roger for Education system.

The key advantage is simple:

the microphone travels with the teacher's voice.

Instead of the child relying entirely on sound travelling across a noisy classroom, the teacher's speech is captured close to its source.

Phonak Roger Touchscreen Mic

The Roger Touchscreen Mic is specifically designed for classroom use.

The teacher can wear it around their neck during lessons.

Their voice can then be transmitted to compatible Roger receivers or hearing devices.

The microphone can also adapt to different classroom activities.

When placed appropriately for small-group work, it can support access to conversations between pupils rather than only the teacher.

This flexibility makes remote microphone systems particularly useful in modern classrooms where teaching doesn't always consist of one teacher speaking from the front of the room.

Best suited to:

• Individual pupils requiring direct access to the teacher
• Children with compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants
• Pupils using dedicated Roger receivers
• Classrooms where distance and noise are significant problems
• Schools wanting a flexible system that can expand

Option 2: Roger Focus II

Not every child experiencing classroom listening difficulties wears hearing aids.

The Roger Focus II is a dedicated wearable Roger receiver.

It can receive the teacher's voice from a compatible Roger microphone without being a conventional hearing aid.

Phonak identifies applications including children with unilateral hearing loss, auditory processing disorder and autism spectrum disorder where listening and concentration are affected by noise.

This makes it an interesting option where a child needs access to a remote microphone system but does not use conventional hearing aids.

It should not, however, simply be purchased because a child finds school noisy.

Appropriate professional assessment remains important.

Best suited to:

Children who have been assessed as benefiting from a personal Roger receiver but do not require a conventional hearing aid.

Option 3: Classroom Soundfield Systems

A soundfield system takes a different approach.

Instead of transmitting the teacher's voice only to one child, it distributes their voice more evenly throughout the classroom.

The teacher wears a microphone and their speech is reproduced through specialist classroom loudspeakers.

The Roger DigiMaster system is one example.

The objective is not simply to make the teacher loud.

It is to create a more consistent speech level around the classroom so pupils at the back aren't at such a disadvantage compared with pupils sitting close to the teacher.

Roger DigiMaster 5000 and 7000

The Roger SoundField range includes different DigiMaster loudspeakers for different room sizes.

The DigiMaster 5000 is intended for average-sized classrooms, while the DigiMaster 7000 is designed for larger classrooms, lecture rooms and similar spaces.

Soundfield can be particularly attractive where schools want a solution that benefits the wider classroom rather than identifying one individual pupil as the user of the technology.

Best suited to:

• Whole-class listening
• Larger or acoustically challenging classrooms
• Teachers who move around while teaching
• Schools wanting an inclusive classroom solution
• Situations where several pupils may benefit from improved access to speech

Personal Roger System vs Soundfield

This is an important distinction.

A personal remote microphone system transmits the teacher's voice directly towards an individual pupil's hearing device or receiver.

A soundfield system reproduces the teacher's voice around the classroom for everyone.

Neither approach is automatically better.

In fact, they can be used together.

A Roger Touchscreen Mic can form part of a network supporting both personal Roger receivers and a DigiMaster soundfield system.

This can create an inclusive classroom system while still providing additional personal support to a pupil who needs it.

Option 4: Pass-Around Microphones

One limitation of a simple teacher microphone system becomes obvious as soon as another child speaks.

The pupil may hear the teacher extremely clearly — but what about classmates?

This matters during:

• Classroom discussions
• Question-and-answer sessions
• Group work
• Presentations
• Debates

A Roger Pass-around microphone can be handed between pupils or positioned for a speaker.

This allows contributions from other children to become part of the Roger network.

For classrooms where discussion is an important part of learning, this can significantly expand what the system can do.

Option 5: Small-Group Listening

Modern lessons frequently involve pupils moving away from traditional rows of desks and working around tables.

The listening requirement changes completely.

Instead of one teacher speaking, the pupil may need to follow several children sitting around them.

Some Roger microphones can adapt to this situation.

For example, a Roger Touchscreen Mic placed appropriately on a table can operate in a mode designed to support small-group interaction.

This is one reason it is important to consider the child's whole school day, rather than simply asking how they hear the teacher.

Option 6: Bone-Conduction Listening Solutions

Bone-conduction technology works differently from conventional headphones.

Instead of placing sound directly into or over the ear canal, bone-conduction headphones transmit vibrations through the bones of the skull.

This leaves the ears relatively open to environmental sound.

In certain educational situations, bone-conduction headsets may provide an alternative way of delivering audio or supporting particular learning activities.

Potential applications can include:

• Computer-based learning
• Listening exercises
• Speech and language activities
• Individual learning tasks
• Situations where keeping the ear canal open is desirable

However, bone-conduction headphones should not be considered a direct replacement for a properly assessed classroom remote microphone system where the primary issue is hearing a teacher over distance or background noise.

They solve a different problem.

Which System Is Best?

There isn't one universal answer.

A useful way of looking at the options is:

What About Children With APD?

Auditory Processing Disorder can make it difficult for someone to interpret auditory information effectively despite having hearing sensitivity that may be within normal limits.

Background noise can be particularly challenging.

For some children with APD, reducing the effects of distance and noise can make the teacher's speech easier to access.

Remote microphone technology may therefore be considered as part of a wider support strategy.

However, APD is complex.

Technology should not replace appropriate assessment, educational support or other recommended interventions.

What About Children With Glue Ear?

Glue ear can cause temporary or fluctuating hearing difficulties.

For a child in school, this can mean their access to speech changes over time.

Classroom strategies may include seating arrangements and reducing unnecessary background noise.

In some circumstances, additional listening technology may also be considered.

Parents should discuss ongoing hearing concerns with the child's healthcare professionals and school rather than relying solely on assistive technology.

Does Classroom Hearing Technology Only Help Children With Hearing Loss?

No.

This is one of the most important misconceptions surrounding classroom audio.

Soundfield technology, for example, provides the teacher's voice throughout the classroom rather than only to children with hearing aids.

Likewise, there are personal listening solutions designed for specific children who don't wear conventional hearing aids.

The goal is not necessarily to make sound louder.

It is to improve access to speech.

Can Classroom Systems Grow Over Time?

Yes - and this is an important consideration for schools.

A classroom may initially require a teacher microphone and one pupil receiver.

Later, the school might want to add:

• Additional pupil receivers
• Pass-around microphones
• Soundfield loudspeakers
• Multimedia connectivity
• Equipment for additional classrooms

Choosing technology that can form part of a wider system can therefore be valuable.

The Phonak Roger education ecosystem is designed to allow multiple microphones and receivers to work within the same system.

What Should Schools Consider Before Buying?

Before choosing equipment, consider:

Who needs to hear?

One pupil, several pupils or the whole classroom?

Who needs to be heard?

Only the teacher, or teachers and pupils?

Where does learning take place?

Traditional classroom, group tables, assembly halls, outdoor lessons or several different rooms?

Does the child already wear hearing technology?

Check the exact hearing aid or cochlear implant model.

Is the difficulty permanent or fluctuating?

This may influence the most appropriate approach.

Will the system need to expand?

Think about future classrooms, additional microphones and other pupils.

Who will manage the equipment?

The best technology is only useful if staff understand how to use, charge and maintain it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best classroom hearing system?

There isn't one system that is best for every child or school. The correct choice depends on whether support is required for an individual pupil or the entire classroom and what listening situations are causing difficulty.

What is a remote microphone system?

A remote microphone is positioned close to the person speaking and wirelessly transmits their voice towards a listener's compatible hearing device or receiver.

Does a child need hearing aids to use Roger?

Not always. Dedicated receivers such as Roger Focus II are available for particular applications.

What is a soundfield system?

A soundfield system uses a teacher microphone and specialist loudspeaker to distribute the teacher's voice around the classroom.

Can soundfield and personal Roger systems work together?

Yes. Roger education equipment can be configured so a teacher microphone supports personal receivers while also connecting to compatible Roger SoundField equipment.

Can pupils hear other children through Roger?

Yes, appropriate additional microphones such as Roger Pass-around can allow pupil contributions to be transmitted through the system.

Is classroom hearing technology suitable for APD?

Remote microphone technology may be considered for some children with APD as part of a broader support strategy. Individual assessment is important.

Can schools buy the equipment directly?

Yes. Schools, education providers, local authorities and families can purchase assistive listening equipment, although where equipment is intended to meet a particular child's identified needs it is advisable to involve the relevant professionals.

Finding the Right Classroom Listening Solution

The best classroom hearing technology starts with understanding the problem rather than choosing the product.

Does the child struggle to hear the teacher?

Do they struggle during group work?

Is background noise the main problem?

Do they already wear hearing aids?

Would the whole class benefit from better access to the teacher's voice?

Once those questions have been answered, it becomes much easier to build an appropriate solution.

Zova Sound Solutions supplies a wide range of education and classroom listening technology, including Phonak Roger Touchscreen Mic, Roger Pass-around microphones, Roger Focus II receivers, Roger DigiMaster SoundField systems and other assistive listening solutions.

We support parents, schools, education professionals and organisations throughout the UK.

If you're unsure which components are required or need help checking compatibility, contact Zova Sound Solutions before ordering and we can help you understand the available options.